BDS is looking to fill over 100 vacancies for next school year

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Summer is here, students are out of school, but educators in Bay County are working hard to staff schools before the next school year begins. With the national teacher shortage, that hasn’t been an easy task.

88% of public schools in the Southern U.S experienced difficulty filling teaching vacancies before the start of the last school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“When we are looking at statistics and all, everywhere we have a nationwide shortage,” said Holly Buchanan, Executive Director of Human Resources.

That’s true in Bay County. For the 2025-26 school year, the district currently has 120 jobs that need to be filled, including instructional, administrative, and support personnel positions.

“What we offer is the beautiful beaches, we offer our wonderful benefit package, starting out at $50,000 a year, and so we’re hoping to attract many qualified and certified teachers,” said Buchanan.

To help fill those open spots, Bay District Schools is hosting a job fair on June 23 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the A. Crawford Mosley High School MMTC Building, 501 Mosley Dr., Lynn Haven, FL, 32444. The MMTC building is located next to the flagpole. Teaching positions will be interviewed from 8:00 am to noon, and support positions (paraprofessionals, bus drivers, clerical, etc.) will be interviewed from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

“We’re looking for people who want to work with children, people who believe in our vision, and that’s putting the A back in Bay,” said Ilea Faircloth, Hiland Park Elementary School Principal. She says her school has ten open teaching jobs of multiple grade levels, and she’s optimistic that the right people are out there.

“We want folks that have a heart for kids, and ultimately that’s where educators start right, we all have our ‘why’, on why we go into education,” said Faircloth.

Florida offers a clear path to teacher certification for anyone with a four-year degree. Bay District Schools provides support and training for those ready to step into the classroom and make a difference.

Interested applicants are encouraged to create a profile and complete their application through Bay District Schools’ website.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WJHG on Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Email news@wjhg.com. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Keep up with all the biggest headlines on the WJHG News app, and check out what’s happening outside using the WJHG Weather app.