Johnston County Public Schools (JCPS) hosted its annual job fair at Smithfield-Selma High, drawing nearly 450 pre-registrations and applicants from states including Ohio, Minnesota, Washington, Virginia, Tennessee, and New York. The event set a new attendance record with 306 job seekers present, surpassing previous years’ totals of 143 in 2024 and 206 in 2025.
Representatives from all 50 schools in the district and several central office departments participated in the fair. They met candidates to discuss employment opportunities, answer questions, and offer early contracts. Attendees included those interested in classified, certified, and administrative positions within JCPS.
Linda Edmundson, JCPS Chief of Human Resources, said: “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.”
Two early contract signees for the upcoming school year were Kiara Kornegay and Anna Kate McKenzie. Both expressed enthusiasm about starting their educational careers with JCPS.
Shelley Siegert, JCPS Director of Recruitment and Retention, stated: “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. 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.”
Edmundson added: “It was great seeing all of the candidates and seeing the lines full of people.”
The job fair is part of ongoing efforts by Johnston County Public Schools to recruit highly qualified educators for its student body. Another initiative is Welcome Wednesdays at the Evander Simpson Building in Smithfield each week from 2 PM to 3 PM. These sessions provide information on available jobs and help with applications.
JCPS serves over 37,000 students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across Johnston County communities according to its official website. The district is recognized as the largest employer in Johnston County while providing services such as student transportation and nutrition programs according to its official website. It also fosters cultural diversity among students and families representing more than 45 languages according to its official website, operates state-of-the-art facilities supported by community backing according to its official website, and embraces a vision focused on empowering students for global success according to its official website.
Those interested in joining JCPS can find current job openings at https://www.johnston.k12.nc.us/hr.
