CATOOSA, Okla. — Job searching is gloomy in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, even for an assistant principal.
Catoosa Public Schools made cuts back in February. They go in effect mid-July. Seven people with the district are less than two months away from unemployment, including Dr. Andrea Williams, an assistant principal for Cherokee Elementary. Williams spent all 29 years of her career with the district.
“It really has been a good journey and I should be thankful it lasted as long as it did," Williams said.
She is five years from retirement and applied to as many openings she could find, but the pandemic is not helping.
“Very bad timing, not only for me but the other administrators that were terminated. They can’t find a job either,” Williams said. “There’s not a lot of places hiring right now. Hopefully, that will change when the virus dies down and life gets back to normal.”
The Oklahoma State Department of Education recommends a couple resources. They have a job match tool online. There is also teachoklahoma.org.
“I was just born to be a teacher or an educator. If I have to go back into the classroom, that’ll be a blessing, too,” Williams said.
If she does not have an offer before time is up, Williams will file for unemployment.
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