FALL RIVER — Fresh out of college, not sure what to expect, Faith Murphy showed up to B.M.C Durfee High School for a job fair two years ago with a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach.
That feeling subsided, however, once she stepped through the doors and received a friendly welcome from school administrators and staff who greeted her, then helped her find a position and a school that fit her perfectly.
“Immediately, I was welcomed with a lot of happy, smiling faces, and people who wanted to get to know me,” said Murphy, who’s now 25, in her second year of teaching in a substantially separate special education classroom at Silvia Elementary School. “It was an amazing experience to go around to all the representatives from different schools in the district and meet with faculty and administrators. You could get the vibe of what the school had to offer and the positions available. That was really helpful in deciding where my best fit would be.”
Faith is not alone in her experience. Many individuals just like her have come to Fall River in search of ideal teaching jobs that offer a work-life balance. And they have found exactly that in this school district that abounds with diversity, student achievements, and plenty of opportunities for professional development and advancement.
Fall River Public Schools is hosting a job fair from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, at B.M.C. Durfee High School, located at 460 Elsbree Street. School district representatives will be on hand to get to know job seekers, answer questions and use electronic devices to assist guests with submitting job applications.
Currently, there are 66 teacher vacancies districtwide. Positions are available both immediately and for the 2025-26 school year.
For Faith Murphy, the job fair was a window into a supportive environment that she would soon step into. And what she saw was what she got.
“In Fall River, I never felt lost. I never felt like I didn’t have someone to turn to. I felt so supported,” said Murphy, a Swansea native. “It started with the job fair, highlighting how many doors that were opened for me in an authentic way. I met Mr. Lenz, the principal of Silvia. We connected very quickly. We both went to Providence College. That was something we both had in common. I was able to come into the school, meet with people there and discuss the different positions available. I was hired to a position that I otherwise would not have applied to on paper. But when I got to meet with them and go into the classroom, I realized it was an amazing fit for me.”
Then, after getting into the thick of the job, Murphy said she was always provided guidance, through a mentoring program and an administrative team that was available to answer all of her questions.
“I also felt respected and honored for what I bring to the table, even though I am a younger teacher,” Murphy said. “In other places, in many cases, you hear horror stories about first years in teaching. That fear was quickly diminished when I saw the support I had around me. I was nervous about being prepared and handling all the stresses that come with teaching. But I took full advantage of the mentoring program. And I still have the same mentor today. I’ve enjoyed success in my first years of teaching, in my interaction with students and other staff. The support and guidance I had through it all made that possible.”
The benefits and compensation for being a teacher in Fall River Public Schools are also very competitive, especially after a newly negotiated contract was reached by the district and the teacher’s union this year.
The updated salary scale for teachers in Fall River Public Schools for the 2025-26 school year goes from a minimum of $54,028 to a maximum of $100,156. The district also provides a $4,000 stipend for licensed special education teachers working in substantially separate classrooms.
New parents get four weeks of paid parental leave. The district also offers a $400 stipend for perfect attendance. And Fall River Public Schools provides plenty of incentives for continued education, including tuition reimbursement for graduate courses, up to $2,000 per school year, along with a $2,000 stipend for licensed teachers working at Resiliency Preparatory Academy, and a $2,000 stipend for nurses who hold a school nurse national certification.
For teaching positions, the district prefers licensed candidates, but it can make exceptions and provide support to candidates who are unlicensed, helping them with licensure when they accept a job.
Candidates for a teaching job or an administrative position must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
While speaking multiple languages is not required to teach in Fall River, being bilingual is considered a major plus. And if you are not bilingual but are interested in speaking a second language, Fall River Public Schools has supported teachers in their efforts to learn new languages, such as its recently launched Spanish for Educators program that’s now being offered to staff free of charge.
“For all positions, Fall River Public Schools is seeking highly motivated, reliable, student-focused candidates,” said Director of Human Resources Brian J. Lally. “Bilingual capabilities are a huge plus for candidates, as we have a large population of students and families whose first language is not English.”
Paraprofessionals and Special Education teachers for all grade levels are the most in-demand positions in the district. Other open positions include English Language Arts coaches/interventionists for kindergarten through 12th grade; math coaches and interventionists for kindergarten through 12th grade; speech language pathologists for kindergarten through 12th grade; speech language pathologist assistants for kindergarten through 12th grade, elementary school teachers for 1st grade; principals for elementary school; network manager for the district’s technology department; and Board Certified Behavior Analysts for kindergarten through 12th grade.
As for paraprofessionals, requirements include an associate’s degree, or at least 60 college credits, or a passing score on the ParaPro assessment.
Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley wants to welcome applicants to the job fair on May 3, encouraging them to consider the Fall River Public Schools experience, which offers a welcoming environment, competitive salaries, respect, safety and stability.
“I have spent most of my career working in the Fall River Public Schools and can’t imagine a place where I would enjoy the work more,” Dr. Curley said. “We support a range of teachers in terms of experience levels — people committed to providing excellent instruction to all of our students. We have high expectations for our staff who, in turn, have high expectations for our students. I look forward to welcoming the next generation of educators to our district.”
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