MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — Manatee County is growing faster than expected, and schools are trying to keep up with new teacher demands.

  • Manatee County schools have exceeded 50,000 students
  • The county held teacher job fair on Saturday
  • 69 teaching positions needed
  • More Manatee County headlines

On Saturday, the county held a teacher job fair, in hopes to quickly fill the 69 teaching positions they need.

“We have exceeded over 50,000 students for the first time in the county,” says Wendy Mengillo, Manatee County Schools Director of Personnel. “So with that, of course, comes more jobs,” says Mengillo.  

Mengillo says she hopes job fairs like these, can open the door for several educators-to-be.

“We’ve given out eight teacher offers today,” she says.  

Schools around the county have been faced with bigger classroom sizes, but educators say they will not hire teachers out of desperation. 

“We are very picky with the teachers we hire,” says Patricia Stream, Principal of Rogers-Garden Elementary school. “They need to have a passion for this.” 

The county hopes to fill these positions by the end of the year.