HCPS - Employment

About Us

In the Harlan County Public School District we have 9 schools, over 3400 students and a wealth of invaluable employees. Our District spans over 468 square miles and includes a number of communities where our schools call home including Baxter, Bledsoe, Cawood, Cumberland, Evarts, Harlan, Kenvir, and Wallins. No matter which area of our supportive community in which you work or are located, you’ll experience our warm and welcoming culture that values innovation and collaboration.

The focus on students’ academic excellence, employees’ success, and a supportive community is what sets us apart from other school districts. We have and will continue to improve the learning environments at each of our schools to fully engage students in the classroom and bring innovative learning practices alive.

Our commitment to equity is the foundation of our work and promotes an inclusive culture where students and staff can feel comfortable and thrive.

Certification

The Education Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is responsible for issuing and renewing certificates for all Kentucky teachers and administrators. The process for certification is outlined on their website (http://www.epsb.ky.gov/course/view.php?id=3) along with contact information for questions and information regarding the following:

How Do I Become A Certified Teacher in Kentucky?
How Do I Become Certified for Administrative Positions?
Nontraditional Pathways to Certification
Certification Renewal

What Fees, Applications, etc. are Required?
Ranks and Rank Changes
Substitute Teaching
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
The Kentucky General Assembly, under KRS 161.048 has enacted alternative routes to teacher and administrator certification for persons who have demonstrated exceptional work and/or educational experiences. There are eight options for alternative teacher certification available through EPSB with Option 6 - University Based (sometimes referred to as ALT Cert.) and Option 8 - Teach for America (TFA) being the most popular within the Harlan County Public School District. For more information about these and other traditional and non-traditional pathways to initial certification, please visit our Personnel page and Pathways to Teacher Certification.

Certified Teachers/Administrators

Ideal Candidate
The HCPSD is committed to hiring diverse candidates who bring high quality skills and knowledge. We are looking for individuals who have a growth mindset and are seeking opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and the community to create an exceptional learning experience for our children. We invite you to explore our current openings. Certified positions can be found by searching the Kentucky Educator Placement Service (https://applications.education.ky.gov/keps/JobSearch.aspx). You can select from the following: Location (Harlan County) Position(s), Subject(s), Grade(s) and Posting Duration. If there is a position posted that you are interested in, please start by reviewing the Employment Packet section which can be found below.

Ideal Teachers and Administrators
We want to work with the best and brightest administrators and teachers. If your beliefs are reflected in the following values, HCPS would be a great match for you!

Passionate - Care deeply for the success of your students, your fellow staff members, and the community as a whole.
Amazing Attitude - Make everyday a good day. Be positive about all the challenges and rewards that the day brings.
Achievement Driven - Believe that all students can learn and do whatever it takes to ensure student success. Set goals for yourself that will impact and improve your practice.

Always Prepared - Plan, plan, plan! Commit yourself to great classroom structure and organization.
Relationship Driven - Be attentive to the needs of your students and their families. Develop a strong relationship with them, rooted in trust and compassion.
Knowledgeable & Skilled - Demonstrate content knowledge and educational best practices that support student learning.

Certified Substitute Teachers

We routinely recruit, retain, and support highly qualified teachers to ensure that students receive the best learning opportunities. However, even if our schools employ highly qualified full-time teachers, we recognize that substitute teachers also have a significant impact on the education of our students. A percentage of our school’s total annual student attendance days are under the care and teaching of substitute teachers. The overall guidance given to substitute teachers, including professional development and the acknowledgement and assessment of their performance are vital to not only their success, but the success of our students.

New Substitute Teachers
If you are interested in being a substitute teacher for the Harlan County Public School District we would love to hear from you! To serve as a substitute teacher, our District requires a minimum of 64 semester hours of college coursework completed in any content area from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum GPA of 2.5. However, GPA requirements do not pertain to applicants holding a bachelor's degree or higher.

Please start by selecting a date that you can attend employee compliance training held at the Harlan County Board of Education. Dates are listed below under 'Employment Packet and Employee Compliance Training'. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Scott Pace at scott.pace@harlan.kyschools.us or call 606.573.4330, ext. 2047. Additionally, review our Employment Packet below beginning with the Employment Checklist. Please turn in all paperwork according to the order presented in the list. If you need additional information, please email Gina Cox at gina.cox@harlan.kyschools.us or call 606.573.4330, ext. 2028.

Existing Substitute Teachers
If you have worked in any capacity as a substitute during the previous school year, you will receive a packet of documents that need to be completed if you plan to work as a substitute for the Harlan County Public School system in the upcoming year. When completed, please mail or hand deliver them to Harlan County Public Schools, ATTN: Gina Cox, 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan, KY 40831.

Please also note that we are required to record your rank and the total number of college hours that you have completed with the Kentucky Educational Professional Standards Board which also determines your pay scale. If you have a change in rank and/or have completed additional college hours, please bring us a copy of your transcript so that we can update your record!

Classified Employment

Everything we do revolves around our steadfast commitment to exceptional education and student success. A key part of that commitment is ensuring our students are living healthy, active, and productive lives. Our support staff’s role in assisting in the development of the whole child is greatly valued. That’s why we need your compassion and talents within the Harlan County Public School District.

To honor our commitment to exceptional education, we work hard to make sure district operations run smoothly. We often need the following talented individuals to support our students and educators in this effort and invite you to review our Employment Packet for any positions posted within our District.

Bus Drivers/Transportation
Coaches
Community Liaisons
Custodians
Food Services
Informational Technology
Maintenance/Operations

Nurses
Office Professionals
Para educators
Professional Technical Staff
Summer Employment
Tutors

Ideal Candidates
We want to work with the best. If any of the following describes you, you would make a great fit within our school district.

Committed to Education - You understand the value of exceptional education for your community.
Team Player - Collaboration is important to you. You enjoy working alongside your fellow team members.
Hard Working - You bring a strong work ethic and dedication to your position.

Caring - You are a compassionate individual who cares deeply for others.
Great Attitude - Positivity is your strength. You often embrace challenges with a smile.

Existing Substitute Aides and Custodians
If you have worked in any capacity as a substitute during the previous school year, you will receive a packet of documents that need to be completed if you plan to work as a substitute for the Harlan County Public School system in the upcoming year. When completed, please mail or hand deliver them to Harlan County Public Schools, ATTN: Joyce Blanton, 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan, KY 40831.

Employment Packet and Employee Compliance Training

Anyone interested in either a Certified or Classified full-time position should first submit a Letter of Intent and then the appropriate application when/if required. Those wishing to become a substitute in any form should also complete the required documents outlined in the Employment Checklist and found below. All remaining applicants should wait until notification of hire.

All new staff including certified substitute teachers, classified substitutes and classified full-time employees must attend employee compliance training held at the Harlan County Board of Education generally on the first Wednesday of each month at 8 am unless specified otherwise below. New certified teaching staff will attend opening day training at their school and also new teacher orientation provided by the school district. Those hired after the opening of school will need to attend employee compliance training and should select the next training date available below. If a training is cancelled, it will be announced on the Harlan County Public Schools Facebook page. Please note that until further notice, training's will be held at the Harlan County Board of Education Conference Room and participation will be limited. Please register with Scott Pace at 606.573.4330 x2047 or scott.pace@harlan.kyschools.us. You must register to attend.

Please complete training's #1 (Restraint and Seclusion), #3 (Confidentiality for Classified Staff), #5 (Active Shooter Training) and #7 (Seizure Training; this one will have a completion certificate) on your own prior to attending. The remainder of the training's will be covered with you. The training compliance checklist is included with our employment packet and also online at http://harlan.k12.ky.us/pdf/Personnel/TrainingCompliance/TrainingComplianceChecklist.pdf.

Employee Compliance Training Calendar (Training's will begin at 8 am)

July 10, 2024
August 7, 2024
August 21, 2024
September 4, 2024
October 2, 2024
November 6, 2024
December 4, 2024 *The training for December 4th has been rescheduled for Wednesday, December 11th.*
January 8, 2025
February 5, 2025
March 5, 2025
*April 16, 2025

*The April training will be the last for each school year. Anyone wishing to be added to our substitute lists beyond this date must register for upcoming school year training's which start in July. Please note that April 10th, 2024 will be the last training for the 2024-2025 school year.

Applications for Certified Teachers, Certified Substitute Teachers and Classified Staff along with additional required documents and services must be completed/reviewed in order to complete your application for employment within the Harlan County School District. These documents can be obtained below and/or at the Harlan County Board of Education located at 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan, Kentucky 40831. Please start by reviewing the Employment Checklist which will indicate exactly which documents need to be completed along with providing information regarding any associated fees.

Applications
All applications along with a separate Letter of Intent, if not already submitted, should be mailed to Harlan County Public Schools, 251 Ball Park Road, Harlan, Ky 40831:

Certified Teacher Application - ATTN: Scott Pace
Certified Substitute Teacher Application
- ATTN: Gina Cox
Classified Application - ATTN: Scott Pace

Food Service Application - ATTN: Jessica Gross
Bus Driver Application - ATTN: Debbie Dozier

Required Documents

Employment Checklist (Start Here)
Letter of Intent
Direct Deposit Authorization (Must be picked up at Central Office)
Form I-9
Form W-4
Statement - Not Covered by Social Security
Drug/Alcohol Policy
Drug/Alcohol Signature Page

Employment Opportunities

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Interview Tips

Review common interview questions.
Make a list of questions that you would like to ask during the interview.
Be prepared.
Plan your schedule so you arrive 10 to 15 minutes early.
Look professional. Dress in a manner appropriate to the job.
Bring your sense of humor and SMILE!
Display confidence during the interview.
End the interview with a good impression.