In the latest government meeting, education officials reported significant progress in hiring and retaining diverse staff within the Waterbury Public Schools (WPS) district. Over the past school year, WPS successfully hired 208 new staff members, including 190 teachers and 18 administrators, with 27.4% of these new hires identifying as educators of color. This figure notably exceeds the state average of 11.7%, aligning with WPS's goal to maintain a 25% hiring rate for multilingual teachers and teachers of color annually.

In the last three months alone, WPS added 156 staff members, with 23.7% being staff of color, keeping the district on track to meet its diversity goals. The number of classroom teacher vacancies has decreased significantly, from 105 last year to 69 this year, marking a 34% reduction. Additionally, staff resignations dropped from 228 to 151, while retirements increased slightly to 36.

Despite ongoing challenges, particularly in special education where 37 vacancies remain, WPS has made strides in filling hard-to-fill positions. The district has utilized partnerships with recruitment services to fill 70 positions, including 18 teachers, and has successfully reduced the number of extra classes taught due to staffing shortages.

WPS has also launched innovative initiatives to support aspiring educators, including a teacher apprenticeship program that allows participants to earn while they learn, and a residency program for paraprofessionals seeking special education certification. These programs aim to address the decline in traditional student teaching routes and are designed to retain talent within the district.

The meeting highlighted the importance of community engagement, with new teachers participating in orientation activities that foster connections with local culture and businesses. The district continues to leverage various recruitment strategies, including career fairs and social media campaigns, to attract educators to critical shortage areas.

Overall, the meeting underscored WPS's commitment to enhancing educator diversity and addressing staffing challenges, reflecting a proactive approach to improving educational outcomes for students in the community.