GAEL UnscriptED S2:E7 | Teach in the Peach

Georgia wants teaching to be a first‑choice career, not a fallback—and we brought in the right guide to show how. We sit down with Selena Blakenship, veteran teacher, beloved principal, district HR leader, and now the voice behind Teach in the Peach, the statewide effort to recruit, support, and celebrate Georgia’s educators. From simplifying certification to elevating classroom stories, Selena shares a clear plan to fill vacancies, strengthen schools, and keep great teachers in the profession.

We dig into the tools candidates actually need: a one‑stop website that maps steps for high school students, career changers, and out‑of‑state teachers; direct links to district HR pages and open roles; and resources for educators looking to move within Georgia. We also explore solutions that change the math on staffing—registered teacher apprenticeships that let people earn while they learn, pre‑apprentice pathways in high schools, and grow‑your‑own pipelines that lift paraprofessionals into hard‑to‑staff classrooms. Along the way, Selena shows why retention is the new recruitment, with induction and mentoring programs that push early‑career retention toward 85–90 percent.

What sets Georgia apart is not only competitive pay and a strong retirement system, but a decade of aligned support from RESAs, districts, universities, and state leaders. We talk about the new Teacher Ambassador pilot amplifying positive teacher voices, Future Georgia Educator Days that spark interest early, and Educator Signing Day that honors commitments to teach. We also highlight a simple but powerful CTA: nominate an educator on the Teaching the Peach site so the state can broadcast more of the everyday impact happening in classrooms.

If you care about teacher recruitment, school culture, and building a durable pipeline, you’ll find practical steps and fresh energy here. Listen, share with your HR team or principal group, and help us spread the word. Subscribe for more conversations with Georgia’s education leaders, and leave a review with one idea you’re taking back to your district.