Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) held its annual job fair at Smithfield-Selma High, with nearly 450 pre-registrations and applicants from as far as Ohio, Minnesota, Washington, Virginia, Tennessee, and New York, hoping to be team members with the school district.
This year’s job fair boasted record-breaking numbers, underscoring JCPS’ regional attraction to educational professionals. Not only were there a record number of pre-registrants, but the job fair also saw a significant increase in attendance, welcoming 306 job seekers, eclipsing 2024 and 2025 totals of 143 and 206, respectively.
Administrators from all 50 schools and various central office departments were at the fair, greeting candidates face-to-face to discuss job opportunities, answer questions, and sign early contracts. The job fair allowed prospective classified, certified, and administrative JCPS team members to learn more about each school, department, and the school district.
“Our school system's job fair was a tremendous success, bringing together passionate educators and dedicated staff who are eager to make a difference in students' lives. The overwhelming turnout and positive energy reflected our community's strong commitment to excellence in education and opportunity for all," Linda Edmundson, JCPS Chief of Human Resources.
Kiara Kornegay and Anna Kate McKenzie were two early contract signees for the 2026-2027 school year. Both were excited to attend the event and eager to begin their educational career with JCPS. Kornegay and McKenzie were two of many educators in many positions, pursuing a great place to begin their careers and find a home.
“The Johnston County Public Schools Job Fair was a huge success, connecting us with a strong pool of candidates across multiple areas. In addition to recruiting talented teachers, we were excited to meet prospective employees for transportation, child nutrition, and other essential departments,” said Shelley Siegert, JCPS Director of Recruitment and Retention. “The event highlighted the strength of our district as we ensure that our students receive the best education possible, supported by highly qualified employees dedicated to their success.”
The annual job fair is one of many initiatives in Johnston County Public Schools’ ongoing efforts to ensure that highly qualified educators are providing top-notch instruction and services to students each day.
“It was great seeing all of the candidates and seeing the lines full of people,” Edmundson added.
Another effective district hiring initiative is Welcome Wednesdays, held every Wednesday from 2 PM to 3 PM at the Evander Simpson Building at 2320 US 70 Business Hwy East, Smithfield, NC 27577. Interested candidates can learn about job opportunities and receive assistance with an application.
Candidates interested in joining the JCPS team can go to https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/hr for a list of job openings.