Tuscaloosa seeks 30 teachers ahead

Tuscaloosa City Schools is still trying to hire about 30 teachers with the first day of class set for Monday, August 10, according to a report by ABC 33/40. The gap leaves the district recruiting in the final days before students return. District leaders told the station they have a plan to make sure every classroom is covered as school opens. (abc3340.com) The timing matters because Tuscaloosa is not starting weeks from now. The district’s 2026-27 academic calendar lists August 10 as the first day for students. (abc3340.com) That means any hires made now will be entering schools at the end of staff workdays and summer preparation. (resources.finalsite.net) ### How large is the staffing gap this close to opening day? About 30 teaching vacancies remained in Tuscaloosa City Schools as of the ABC 33/40 report published this week. The district serves more than 11,000 students across 21 schools, according to its website. More than 100 new educators have already joined the system for the 2026-27 year, ABC 33/40 reported in a separate story two weeks earlier. (abc3340.com) That means the district has already added a substantial number of hires, even as it continues trying to close the remaining gap. ### Why are some openings still unfilled in August? (resources.finalsite.net) Late summer resignations are one reason some jobs are still open, according to school officials in Tuscaloosa. At Paul W. Bryant High School, Principal Eric Hines said two English language arts positions and one Spanish position were still vacant as of August 5. “A couple of these vacancies came available late July, early August,” Hines told CBS 42. “So when you have a vacancy this late in the summer, it’s very difficult to find qualified candidates.” He said the shortage had been “exacerbated by the lateness of the resignations.” (abc3340.com) ### What is the district doing to fill classrooms now? (abc3340.com) Tuscaloosa City Schools is continuing to recruit through its district careers page, which says the system is hiring teachers, bus drivers and support staff. The page lists featured teaching jobs, including special education teacher openings starting at $46,686, and says Tuscaloosa pays 3.5% above the Alabama state salary schedule base. (cbs42.com) School-level administrators are also conducting direct recruiting. At Bryant High, Hines said the school held on-the-spot interviews on Wednesday and was still taking interest from applicants by email and phone pending school board approval of hires. (cbs42.com) ### Does this mean students will walk into empty classrooms? District leaders told ABC 33/40 they have a plan to ensure every classroom is staffed when school starts, even with vacancies still open. The report did not detail every staffing workaround, but Tuscaloosa’s careers page also directs prospective substitutes to apply through Kelly Education, giving the district another staffing pool. (tuscaloosacityschools.com) John McCarter, a candidate interviewed at Bryant High, said administrators described mentoring for new hires so they would not be “thrown into the classroom without any training,” according to CBS 42. That comment reflects how schools are trying to bring in teachers quickly while still providing some support before students arrive. (cbs42.com) ### Who is overseeing the district as hiring continues? Mike Daria is superintendent of Tuscaloosa City Schools, according to the district website. The system says it serves more than 11,000 students and operates 21 schools across the city. Monday, August 10, is the next key date. That is when students report for the first day of the 2026-27 school year, while the district continues filling openings through its online jobs portal and school-level recruiting. (abc3340.com) (resources.finalsite.net) (tuscaloosacityschools.com) (cbs42.com)