Twenty-five percent of its /*teachers*/ will be eligible for retirement in the next few years.
Wake is the largest school system in the state and growing, so even thought nearly 1,000 new teachers were hired this year, school leaders still need more.
"To date, we have hired over 950 new teachers new to the /*Wake County Public School System*/," WCPSS Asst. Superintendent Maurice Boswell said.
New teacher Nicole Tolp moved to the Triangle from Colorado, enticed by the area and thankful for the job opportunity.
"It's got everything we want," Tolp said. "We love the climate, we love the activities that are here, it's great for our own children, who we want a great education for also."
According to the census bureau, Wake was the 7th fastest growing county in the nationa last year.
Now, the school system is just trying to keep up, having to hire new positions to fill newly built school, vacancies from turnover and retirement.
"NC only produces about 3,000 teachers statewide, yearly, and yet we've hired 10,000 - 12,000," Joan Kister, WCPSS recruitment, said. "So it's a challenge."
To help fill jobs, the Wake school system relies on recruitment partnerships with different universities across the country. In fact, 50 percent of this year's new hires are from out of state.
And with more than 150 schools to fill, demand for educatots will continue.
"We want talented and high quality teachers," Kister said. "You can make a difference in children's lives that will go on into eternity."
As of right now, the county only has 21 more spots to fill.
