Shaped by shifting generational values, emerging technologies, and changing motivations, faculty and staff recruitment is evolving. As school leaders navigate the complex task of building exceptional teams, they will need to consider how candidates bring distinct expectations to the workplace and understand what draws educators to independent schools, whether it’s the promise of pedagogical autonomy, smaller class sizes, or mission-driven communities. Artificial intelligence and other tech tools are transforming traditional hiring processes and helping schools craft compelling job descriptions, track applicants, and identify promising candidates.
What drives and motivates Generation Z teachers? How can schools better understand and attract this emerging workforce? As Gen Z is projected to make up a significant portion of the workforce by 2030, learn more about their unique characteristics, priorities, and expectations in the teaching profession.
From career motivations and workplace preferences to recruitment strategies and practical recommendations, this framework offers suggestions on how to adapt previous recruitment approaches while addressing both the opportunities and challenges in engaging this new generation of educators.
We’ve collected essential recruitment tools and strategies to help schools enhance, streamline, and organize their hiring efforts during the critical spring season. Beginning with the SAIS Career Center’s platform and moving through practical resources like our applicant tracking template, we explore strategies for navigating the evolving recruitment landscape. Innovative approaches, the integration of AI, detailed examples, and actionable recommendations will help schools modernize their recruitment practices while maintaining focus on finding mission-appropriate candidates who will enrich their communities.
