Hiring blitz held Saturday for Wake County special ed teachers

With only 16 days until the start of the school year, the school system still needs 38 additional special education teachers. 

Nearly 100 teachers pre-registered for the two-hour event in the hopes of landing on of those positions. 

"We hit a point where we knew we had to do something different to market and target this group of people to get them in," said Douglas Thillman, the school system's assistant superintendent for human resources.

Dianne Hiatt is one of 250 teachers applying for the special education openings in Wake County.  

"With this, I'll have benefits and be able to make a good living," she said. 

With about two weeks until the start of the school year, Wake leaders say the blitz will help ensure they're absolutely ready. 

The district says applicants should expect calls back from principals early next week and that many of the positions should be filled in a week and a half.

Demand for highly qualified teachers in special education is high, and the district is offering existing teachers a $100 referral incentive through Oct. 15.