Newport News reports 3.7% teacher vacancy rate and expands 'grow your own' recruiting
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Summary
Human-resources officials reported a 3.7% teacher vacancy rate for 2025–26 and described recruitment strategies including apprenticeship grants, university partnerships and targeted hiring to address teacher and support-staff shortages.
Newport News Public Schools told the board it has reduced historic vacancy levels and reported a 3.7% teacher vacancy rate for the 2025–26 school year (as of Oct. 1), while continuing to recruit for hard-to-fill positions in elementary and special education and support areas such as bus drivers and nurses.
The division's executive director for human resources said the district has expanded "grow your own" pathways, partnerships with local universities, and an apprenticeship program funded in part by a grant of approximately $300,000. "For the 2025–26 school year, we have a 3.7% teacher vacancy rate as of October 1," the presenter said.
Officials described multiple recruitment strategies: early hiring, university partnerships, residency pipelines, military hiring pathways, sign-on bonuses for critical positions, targeted job fairs and geo-fencing advertising. The teacher apprenticeship program (TAP) is grant-funded and provides tuition-free degree pathways and a commitment to teach in the division for three years; the first apprenticeship cohort is expected to yield graduates in May 2026.
Board members praised the district's progress and asked for additional salary-context charts comparing median pay across neighboring divisions. HR staff said they will continue to refine recruitment, monitor vacancies and report back.