Warren County Schools Opens Year With 98.47% Teacher Fill Rate

Warren County Public Schools is beginning the 2026–2027 school year with most teaching positions filled, a growing substitute pool, and new pathways to bring more people into education.

The school division starts the year with six teacher vacancies, one school counselor opening, and one bus driver position still unfilled. WCPS reports a teacher fill rate of 98.47%.

The Virginia Department of Education has not yet released statewide staffing figures for the 2026–2027 school year. The most recent state report, covering 2025–2026, listed a statewide teacher vacancy rate of 2.54%, which equals a 97.46% fill rate.

WCPS leaders say the local numbers reflect continued efforts to recruit employees, support new hires, and retain current staff.

“Our focus is on building a workforce that is committed to students and invested in our community,” said Rachel Drake, director of human resources. “We are intentional in our recruitment efforts because we know the quality of our employees directly impacts student success.”

One area school officials point to as a major part of that effort is the division’s move to an in-house substitute program.

Rather than relying on an outside system, WCPS now manages substitute recruitment, onboarding, training, and support directly. The program, led by the Deputy Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Poe, works with school administrators to prepare substitutes for classroom assignments.

Since the change, WCPS has hired 139 substitutes, with another 50 candidates currently going through the onboarding process.

The program has also become a source of full-time employees.

Of the 54 substitutes who returned from the previous school year, 12 have already moved into full-time positions within Warren County Public Schools.

“Our substitute program has become much more than filling daily absences,” Poe said. “It is now one of our strongest recruitment tools.”

She said the division wants substitutes to receive meaningful training and support while also getting a chance to learn more about working in Warren County schools.

School officials say that experience can help people decide whether they want to pursue permanent jobs in the division.

The substitute program is one part of a broader effort to develop employees from within while also recruiting experienced educators and professionals interested in changing careers.

WCPS welcomed 42 new teachers for the 2026–2027 school year. Of those, 23 are career switchers or are completing alternative teacher preparation programs.

Those employees are working toward their teaching licenses while serving in WCPS classrooms.

Alternative licensing programs can give professionals from other fields a path into teaching without following a traditional undergraduate teacher preparation route. School officials say those programs allow the division to bring people with different career backgrounds and skills into local classrooms while they complete state licensing requirements.

The division is also monitoring employee turnover as part of its retention efforts.

During the 2025–2026 fiscal year, WCPS reported an overall employee turnover rate of 9.85%. Teacher turnover was 8.28%.

School officials said the teacher turnover figure remained generally in line with national trends and reflects continued work to support employees through professional development, workplace engagement, and career growth opportunities.

“Our employees are the foundation of everything we do,” Drake said. “Whether someone joins us as a substitute, a career switcher, or an experienced educator, our goal is to provide the support, training, and opportunities they need to build a rewarding career in Warren County Public Schools.”

Staffing has remained a major issue for school divisions across Virginia and the country in recent years, particularly in hard-to-fill positions in teaching, special education, transportation, and student support services.

Warren County’s six remaining teacher openings mean the division has filled nearly all of its classroom positions as students and employees return for the new academic year.

At the same time, administrators say recruitment is continuing.

The division is still seeking candidates for its remaining teacher openings, as well as the counselor and bus driver positions.

The expanded substitute pool is expected to help schools cover employee absences throughout the year and provide another route for people interested in permanent school employment.

The 12 substitutes who have already accepted full-time positions illustrate that effort, according to division officials.

WCPS says its larger goal is to build a continuous workforce pipeline rather than relying solely on recruiting when vacancies arise.

That includes finding potential employees, training them, helping them gain experience, and providing opportunities to move into permanent roles when positions become available.

The approach also includes supporting teachers who enter the profession through nontraditional routes.

With nearly half of this year’s 42 new teachers coming through career-switcher or alternative preparation programs, those pathways are becoming a significant part of the division’s hiring strategy.

School officials say the programs can help address vacancies while bringing professionals from outside education into the classroom.

As the school year gets underway, Drake said the division will continue focusing on both recruitment and retention.

“We are excited to welcome both our new and returning employees as we begin another outstanding school year,” she said.

WCPS says it will continue working to attract, develop, and retain employees while ensuring students have access to teachers and other staff needed for instruction and support.

The statewide comparison cited by the division is based on the Virginia Department of Education’s 2025–2026 Teacher and School Staffing Vacancy Report. WCPS staffing figures reflect the division’s staffing status at the beginning of the 2026–2027 school year.

(From WCPS Press Release)