SLO County Office of Education | Are You Called to Service

SLOCOEDU

Are You Called to Public Service?

BY JAMES BRESCIA, ED.D. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTOF SCHOOLS

Happy New Year! Do you have what it takes to serve in the public sector? If so, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education may be able to help. Grants, scholarships, and partnerships with local university preparation programs are available. January’s article reflects on the past, a call to service, and assistance in becoming a public sector employee. The private and public employment sectors have benefits and drawbacks. I encourage anyone considering the public sector to weigh the advantages, priorities, and preferences to make an informed choice, as I did more than 35 years ago.

As I completed my undergraduate education at the University of California, San Diego, my career path suddenly came to a screeching and confusing halt. While applying for graduate school to become a clinical psychologist, I realized this was not my path. As part of the graduate school application process, I had been volunteering at a group home for children in San Diego for a year. However, I did not see myself serving the community as a psychologist. During the next few weeks, I spoke with family and friends about my uncertainty. My father, an engineer, encouraged me to follow the emerging boom in high-tech, grandma wanted me to become a priest, and the rest of my family or friends said to pursue something I enjoyed. Finally, I phoned a former mathematics teacher from my high school with whom I had maintained contact throughout college.

Brother Jerome Gorg, a Marianist who dedicated his life to service, had encouraged me to work in the math lab at my high school to tutor other students for credit and then as a volunteer. He often quoted Ben Franklin, “Tell me, and I forget. Teach me, and I remember. Involve me, and I learn.” Brother Jerry involved me in mathematics and teaching. He had a Socratic way of responding to a question with another question designed to make one think. During our phone conversation, he reminded me of my service and asked why I continued volunteering after completing my required elective time. I responded that I enjoyed assisting others and grew in my passion for learning as a tutor. Brother Jerry said, “I think you have an answer to your question.”

In dedicating my career to public service, I have worked as a custodian, teaching assistant, classroom teacher, college instructor, and administrator. The first ten years of my teaching career were in service to English language learners and students living in poverty. The past twenty-five has been as an administrator dedicated to promoting high-quality programs. Gandhi said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Public service is a place to promote social justice for a democratic society. It is the responsibility of all concerned about our country to encourage highly qualified and dedicated public sector employees. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education has written and received several grants offering scholarships, program subsidies, and tuition reimbursements that can address the recruitment of public sector employees.

California continues to experience employee shortages across the state because of the economy, retiring baby boomers, and a reduction in avenues for training. Business leaders in private industry, the public sector, and local small businesses are experiencing a shortage of employees. Surveys conducted by organizations such as Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and the Society the Human Resource Management (SHRM), report that some sectors have nearly 48 percent of current employees considering leaving for better work opportunities. Will the tight labor market continue in 2023, and how can business leaders address employment challenges? Research indicates that employees are empowered to go where they feel valued, directly impact positive workplace outcomes, and have opportunities to improve skills.

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education works with all districts, charters, and childcare centers to scholarship pre-apprentices, apprentices, interns, substitutes, and current employees interested in obtaining additional training. Individuals interested in public sector employment found in our local school districts, such as administration, classroom service, fiscal services, human resources, IT, maintenance and operations, support services, and transportation, should consider the support we can provide. Please contact your local school district or the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education for additional information. Our taxpayer-funded system controls whom we train and employ in our organizations. We should prioritize the value of highly qualified and locally trained employees. We must now encourage intelligent young people to consider public-sector employment. Our secondary and post-secondary education leadership should promote expanding capacity and recruiting highly qualified public sector employees. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools. 