What is a Peer Recruiter?
A Peer Recruiter is a centrally funded per-session teacher role through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality (TRQ). A Peer Recruiter serves as an inclusive teacher recruitment and hiring ambassador for their school, engaging with teacher candidates and supporting their principal and school hiring team in staffing vacancies, particularly in high-need subject areas.
Which schools are eligible to have a Peer Recruiter?
For the 2026 staffing season, schools in districts 7-12, 16, 17, 19, 23, 27, 32, 75, and select ACCESS and district 79 schools within the previously listed geographical districts are eligible to have a Peer Recruiter. There are 300 Peer Recruiter spots available, one per accepted school. Since the number of Peer Recruiters is limited, a school must meet specific eligibility requirements to qualify for a Peer Recruiter, as determined by the Division of Human Resources.
In what ways can Peer Recruiters support staffing?
As an inclusive teacher recruitment and hiring ambassador, a Peer Recruiter can provide various services aimed at supporting schools in attracting teacher candidates and making new hires. Some of the ways Peer Recruiters can support a school include:
- Participating in online orientation and new teacher hiring training sessions with TRQ
- Attending virtual and/or in-person networking events on behalf of their school - cultivating a pool of candidates
- Completing assignments and participating in online discussions through Google Classroom
- Working closely with their school’s principal and TRQ to determine school hiring needs and create a structured plan for teacher recruitment, hiring, and onboarding.
- Supporting their school principal with the management of a school hiring team and the teacher selection process.
- Staying in close communication with TRQ around support needed, questions, and feedback
- Creating and/or revising school marketing materials (e.g., one-pagers, videos, social media pages, etc.)
- Screening and interviewing candidates, keeping them “warm” and engaged throughout the hiring process, and introducing them to their school’s culture
- Scheduling and running school tours for potential candidates
- Implementing the Inclusive Teacher Recruitment and Hiring Initiative (ITRHI) resources and further promoting diversity and inclusivity in their school’s existing hiring process
What subjects can Peer Recruiters support hiring for?
During the Early Commitment period (March 1 – June 15) of the 2026 staffing season, Peer Recruiters support their school in staffing vacancies in eligible Early Commitment subjects. Those subjects include:
- Special Education (all levels)
- Math
- Science
- ENL/TESOL
- World Languages
- CTE
- All Bilingual subjects
- Physical Education (District 75 ONLY)
After the Early Commitment period ends, the Peer Recruiter can assist their school in connecting with candidates to fill vacancies for all subjects and support with new teacher onboarding.
How many hours are Peer Recruiters able to work?
For the 2026 staffing season, Peer Recruiters may work up to 40 hours from March 2 through June 30. They have 2.5 hours per week that can be worked Monday through Saturday. However, work cannot be completed during school hours.
What is the cost of a Peer Recruiter to a school?
A Peer Recruiter is a centrally funded per-session teacher role through the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. There is no cost to the school.
What if a school does not expect to make any new hires during the 2026-27 staffing season?
A major focus for Peer Recruiters is supporting their school in staffing high-need vacancies and making an Early Commitment for their school before June 15. However, suppose a school later determines that it does not expect to make any new hires during the 2026-27 staffing season. In that case, their Peer Recruiter can focus their work on creating long-term support for a school’s hiring team, such as marketing materials, onboarding plans, and establishing or updating the school’s social media accounts.
What kinds of training do Peer Recruiters receive from TRQ?
As part of the Peer Recruiter program, selected teachers will receive various supports to prepare them to engage with teacher candidates and support their school in filling staffing vacancies. Upon being accepted into the program, Peer Recruiters will be invited to an orientation, where they will learn about the work of the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality. They will also be given access to the articles featured on HIRE Connections and receive training in how to use the New Teacher Finder.
In addition, Peer Recruiters will be required to complete assignments in the Peer Recruiter Google Classroom. These assignments require Peer Recruiters to review resources on different staffing initiatives, including the Inclusive Teacher Recruitment & Hiring Initiative (ITRHI), and complete tasks related to implementing them.
Peer Recruiters will also be given access to a variety of resources to assist them in interviewing candidates, including sample interview questions, questions to avoid during interviews, and a school tour checklist.
What if I have additional questions about the Peer Recruiter Program?
If you have any other questions about the Peer Recruiter Program, please submit your question through the Contact Us page of HIRE Connections, and include “Peer Recruiter” in the subject line.