Gwinnett reports major hiring gains, new teacher academy to support provisional teachers

Gwinnett County Public Schools reported substantial recruitment progress at the July 16 board meeting, with Chief Human Resources Officer Kathy Harden saying teacher vacancies decreased from 68 to 22 and the district hired 1,149 new teachers for the 2026–27 year.

Harden told the board, "Teacher vacancies have decreased from 68 last month to 22 this month," and provided a breakdown of hires: 772 regular‑education teachers and 377 special‑education teachers. Harden described active recruitment efforts, including campus events, a signature hiring event, partnerships with technical colleges and Teach For America, a grow‑your‑own pipeline, and targeted early hiring at schools that historically struggle to fill positions.

Staff development leaders outlined the New Teacher Academy (NTA), which will support first‑year provisional teachers with an initial orientation and three additional learning days across the year, plus mentoring and coursework to meet certification requirements. The NTA grew from pilot work with the Alt Cert Institute and aims to improve classroom skills, retention, and timely entry into teacher preparation programs.

The board moved to approve the monthly human resources report following the presentation; the motion passed by voice vote. Members asked for follow‑up trend data on Title I school counts and for continued updates on retention and mentoring outcomes.

What happens next: HR will share requested trend data in the weekly update and provide additional NTA progress reports to the board.