Teachers at 1 Atlanta elementary school must reapply for jobs

Teachers at Perkerson Elementary School won’t be guaranteed a job next school year and will need to reapply for their positions or another open position in the district under a plan approved by the Atlanta Board of Education this week.

Teachers at Perkerson Elementary School won’t be guaranteed a job next school year and will need to reapply for their positions or another open position in the district under a plan approved by the Atlanta Board of Education this week.

Atlanta Public Schools will require Perkerson Elementary School teachers to reapply for their jobs in an attempt to improve the struggling school.

The Atlanta school board this week unanimously approved the "reconstitution," a move that allows the district to overhaul staffing at the elementary school. The plan forces 67 school employees, including teachers and paraprofessionals, to reapply and interview for their jobs, according to numbers provided by the district last month.

Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said the move will be combined with continued additional help for students, such as reading and math support specialists and wrap-around services. But, she told board members Monday that Perkerson’s failure to improve its academic performance over the last several years means that “the next level is warranted.”

“We do think that it’s right to find the right people to do some of the programming which will include some dual language immersion and not everyone can teach that not everyone has the skills for that or the interest,” she said.

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