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School recruits
teacher in India
By MICHELLE L. START Daily Commercial
Staff Writer
LEESBURG
June 21, 2003
When First Academy Administrator Greg
Frescoln began searching for a science teacher, he
never expected to find one half a world away.
But, that's exactly what happened.
The school registered with USA Employment, a teacher
recruitment agency based in Houston, which in turn
connected the school with Madhu Thomas, a science
teacher living in Bohpal, India.
"We have not really had problems hiring our teachers
in the past, but as you add more grades, you need
to hire teachers that are very specifically trained
in their subject area," said Frescoln.
The Christian school, which enrolls students in Kindergarten
through ninth grade, is scheduled to add the tenth
grade this year. It is expected to add the eleventh
grade in 2004 and the twelfth grade in 2005.
"The number of teachers identifying themselves
as Christian and science teachers was not that large,"
Frescoln said. "This seemed to have been a very
good alternative for us."
Aside from being qualified to teach a certain subject
area, science in this case, Frescoln wanted teachers
that spoke English fluently and identified themselves
as Christians. As India was colonialized by the British,
the educational system uses the English language for
instruction.
The recruitment agency, which does not charge schools
anything, gave Frescoln the name of three qualified
applicants that met his criteria and he in turn interviewed
each of them.
"I spent two to three hours on the phone to India.
I had the parents and teachers interview (Thomas)
on a video conference over the Internet. Then I offered
her the position," Frescoln said. "I did
not expect that we would have to do this, but as I
was looking at the resumes on the Internet, I was
impressed at how qualified these people are."
In Thomas's case, she has a Masters of Science and
a Masters of Philosophy. She also has bachelor's degrees
in science and education. Thomas, who enjoys theater
and ballet, has been teaching in India for the past
17 years.
Although she is not expected to be in the United States
by the time school starts at the academy on Aug. 11,
Thomas is expected to arrive with her husband and
two children shortly afterwards.
She will teach tenth grade biology, ninth grade physical
science and seventh grade general science.
Frescoln, who is working with local realtors trying
to find lodging for the family, has already contacted
several immigrants from India, hoping to reduce the
amount of culture shock the Thomas family may experience.
" The recruiting agency is doing all the work
with the (Immigration and Naturalization Service)
and had all the paperwork for me within two or three
days after I said I was hiring her. It was a very
streamlined process," Frescoln said.
Frescoln said the school may use the agency again
next year and the following year as they add the eleventh
and twelfth grades.
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