TUSD Hiring Event August 17: Bus Drivers, Custodians and Cafeteria Jobs in Tucson

Published: August 12, 2026 | By TucsonHIRED Team

TUCSON, AZ — School is back and Tucson Unified still needs people in the buildings. ARIZONA@WORK is hosting a free TUSD hiring event on Monday, August 17 at the DES Tucson East employment office on South Alvernon, and the roles on the list are the ones a district cannot run without.

Three hours, one room, seven job types. Most of them do not require a degree.

📍 Event at a Glance

🔥 The Roles TUSD Is Recruiting For

ARIZONA@WORK published the position list along with the state job order numbers, which is unusually specific for a hiring event and makes it easy to look up each role in advance on the Arizona Job Connection system.

• School Bus Driver — job order #7317868. Districts train and pay for the CDL in most cases. This is the highest-leverage role on the list.
• Custodian — job order #7476247. Steady hours, district benefits, school-calendar schedule.
• Cafeteria Worker — job order #7488272. Early shifts, done by mid-afternoon.
• Special Education Teacher Assistant — job order #7476250. The classic on-ramp into education for people without a teaching degree.
• Health Assistant — job order #7476292. A real entry point into healthcare with a school schedule attached.
• Crossing Guard — job order #7476242. Part-time, split shifts, ideal alongside another job or retirement.
• Instructional Specialist, CTE Construction — job order #7479252. If you have real trades experience, this is the one to look at.

Why School Jobs Are Worth a Serious Look

People sleep on district work because the hourly rate does not always jump off the page. That misses most of the value. TUSD positions come with Arizona State Retirement System participation, health coverage, paid holidays that line up with the school calendar, and summers that are either off or optional extra duty. For a parent, that calendar alignment is worth real money in childcare you no longer pay for.

The bus driver role deserves its own paragraph. Districts across Southern Arizona have been short on drivers for years, and most will pay for your CDL training and permit costs while you learn. You walk out with a commercial license that is portable to freight, transit, delivery and construction work for the rest of your career. That is a credential worth thousands, earned on the clock.

What It Means for Job Seekers

This is a short, targeted event with a single employer, which is the best kind. You are not competing with a convention hall of applicants for a vague "we're always hiring" table. Bring a resume, dress like the job, and be ready to talk about background-check clearance, since district roles require an Arizona IVP fingerprint clearance card.

Practical prep:

• Register in advance through ARIZONA@WORK rather than walking in cold.
• Look up your target job order number on the Arizona Job Connection system before you go.
• If you do not have an IVP fingerprint clearance card yet, ask at the event how TUSD handles the application and timing.
• Bring ID and, if you have one, your driver record for the bus driver conversation.

🔎 Search Tucson School Jobs Now

Cannot make it on the 17th? These roles post year-round across every district in the metro.

• School bus driver jobs in Tucson
• Custodian jobs in Tucson
• Teacher assistant jobs in Tucson
• Cafeteria and food service jobs in Tucson
• Health assistant jobs in Tucson
• Tucson Unified School District jobs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the TUSD hiring event free?

Yes. ARIZONA@WORK hiring events are free to attend for job seekers.

Do I need to register?

Registration is requested in advance through ARIZONA@WORK. Contact Tiffany Jones at 520-909-9971 if you have questions about attending.

Do I need a CDL to apply for the bus driver job?

Ask at the event. Districts commonly hire candidates without a CDL and pay for training toward the license, but confirm the current TUSD process directly with the recruiters in the room.

What do school district jobs pay in Tucson?

Rates vary by classification and are set by the district's published salary schedule. Inside Tucson city limits, no job may pay below the 2026 city minimum wage of $15.45 per hour. Ask for the specific range for your classification at the event.

Before You Go

Create a free TucsonHIRED account to get alerts when new education and district jobs post across Tucson, Marana, Vail, Sunnyside, Amphi and Sahuarita.

Hiring for the school year? Districts, charters, childcare centers and after-school programs can post openings on TucsonHIRED and reach Tucson candidates directly.

Related Reading

• Back-to-School Hiring Is On in Tucson: Schools and Stores Need Help Now
• Tucson Education Hiring: Teachers, Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Needed
• August 2026 Tucson Job Fairs & Hiring Events: Your Complete Guide

Alvernon and 22nd, Monday morning, three hours. If you have been circling the idea of working for a school district, that is a short drive for a real shot.