Purple Monkey Studios, an interactive media firm, recently updated the model online teacher recruitment resource it created in 2004. Now visitors to the site will find a new “job posting/finding” tool that instantly connects Illinois school administrators with job-seeking teachers.

“We added a Post a Job/Find a Job feature in February. To date, we have 170 positions available,” said Steven Saraceno, President and co-founder of Purple Monkey Studios.

The company developed the statewide site (www.recruitillinois.net) in partnership with Lyons Township High School District 204. The district had received a federal grant to create a model web-based resource that would support the recruitment and retention of top teachers in Illinois school districts.

Purple Monkey Studios’ experience in partnering with public agencies resulted in an efficiently designed site that meets the needs of its target audiences, and links to other key players in the Illinois education system, like the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Association of School Administrators. To ensure continued improvement, Purple Monkey Studios created an online survey so users can make suggestions and offer other feedback.

Individualized paths on the Recruit Illinois home page showcase the user-friendly design characteristic of a Purple Monkey Studios project. One path is tailored for job-seeking teacher professionals, and one for school administrators.

The path for teachers includes four topic areas along with the new ‘find a job’ link:

• “Your First Teaching Job” has advice on how to search, and select a school district.
• “Market Your Skills” gives concrete tips on how to prepare for an interview.
• “What You Need to Know” talks about evaluations, appraisals, and teaching certification issues.
• “Changing Districts,” guides teachers in how to make the move to another school district.

The school administrator’s path also contains several components. These include:

• “Recruit Great Teachers” which explains what a model recruitment program looks like.
• “The Interview” gives specific information on how to screen and interview job candidates.
• “Market Your District” has advice on creating a niche for your district, utilizing job fairs, job banks, and other resources.

About Purple Monkey Studios
Purple Monkey Studios, Inc. is a ten-year-old interactive media firm located in suburban Chicago. We provide creative, customized interactive media solutions for Web, CD, DVD, PDA, and print-based mediums for our diverse clients such as The McGraw Hill Companies, Discovery Education, Marriott International, the City of Chattanooga, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, and Dominican University. For more information, visit www.purplemonkey.com or call 708-386-3086.