MACON, Ga. — The Bibb County School District will hold a teacher recruitment fair on Saturday.
The district is looking for educators to fill more than 100 teaching positions for all 38 schools in the district for the next school year.
From middle school math to high school history, they are calling all teachers to make a change in the classroom and in kids' lives.
The district says there is a high demand for teachers due to retirement, promotions, and life changes among staff.
Holly Huynh is the Bibb County School District's talent manager.
Huynh says it is crucial to find people who have the heart for working with kids.
"There's always a need for great teachers everywhere in the nation, but we want all the best ones right here in Bibb County," Huynh said. "We are really looking for anybody that wants to make a difference in their community, in the life of a child, looking for a career change or somebody that already has a degree in education."
Anna Gurley is a first-year teacher at Rutland High School and teaches science to sophomores and juniors.
"These kids, I can't say enough good things about them," Gurley said.
Gurley moved to Central Georgia from North Carolina. She says she applied the day the position opened and was contacted by the district the next day.
Gurley says it takes a good teacher to change their lives.
"The importance of going and reaching out into the community is finding those people that maybe are looking for a career change or have never considered teaching before but may be the perfect fit for it," Gurley said. "So, you want those people to bring those outside experiences into the classroom. That's valuable knowledge and experience that these people have to bring."
As a science teacher, Gurley says her students are hands-on learners so she makes sure they are on their feet every day for different activities.
She says being honest and transparent with her students helps create the trusting bond they need.
"This is a hard job but that's what makes it worth it," Gurley said. "I think that when you come in with that mindset that you have to work hard, but the reward is worth that hard work, then it makes coming here and being a teacher easy."
The Bibb County School District's teacher recruitment fair is on Saturday at Rutland High School from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The district is also looking for substitutes and paraprofessionals. You can sign up on the district's website.