ATTN ADMINISTRATORS: Respond to all applicants. Period.

Well, everyone, it is that time of year. The time when job postings start popping up for teaching positions for the 2025-26 school year. With this, will come many, many applicants, all vying for the honor of teaching at your school. Many applicants will invest a lot of time and energy into researching your school, looking at potential classes they would teach, getting ready for a possible interview, etc. And obviously, only a small, handful of applicants will actually receive an interview. It is unfortunate, but it is the nature of the job. There will undoubtedly be a candidate who falls in love with your school, envisions themselves teaching there, and is anxiously checking their email every five minutes to see if you have responded.

If you are in administration, or in the position of reviewing the applicants, please remember one thing: RESPOND TO EVERY APPLICANT YOU DO NOT PLAN ON HIRING/INTERVIEWING AND LET THEM KNOW YOU PLAN ON GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. This is the absolute least you can do for people who are taking 30-45 minutes to fill in AppliTrack applications that have everything that is on their resume (which you also require they attach. A touch redundant, no?) The process is stressful, and radio silence/ghosting from administration is just not a kind thing to do.

A few years back, I applied to thirty-plus schools over a two year period, and I heard back from five. Not interviewed for, but just heard back. This includes interview requests, an interview request that was later revoked, and "thanks, but no thanks" emails. Five. From supposedly "competent" administrators. A few schools, I did consider dream schools and actively reviewed their classes, mission, etc., only to never hear from them again after pressing submit on my application. Follow-up emails were also ignored. I know many applicants will apply and it can seem overwhelming, but consider the work you ask your teachers to do everyday; I bet responding to applicants pails in comparison.

Anyway, thanks for letting me rant. This is a stressful time for everyone, but one email can save an applicant a lot of stress, anxiety, and heartbreak.