The Cobb County School District is proud to announce the expansion of its innovative recruitment and retention program for educators, Georgia’s BEST (Building Educator Success Together). Following the ground-breaking program’s one-year anniversary, this expansion is another example of the District’s continued commitment to supporting educators and ensuring the success of Cobb students. 

Last year, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced that Cobb educators could apply for the opportunity to pursue a tuition-free advanced degree through the new partnership with the University of West Georgia (UWG), the leading college of education in Georgia. Since its inception, almost 500 Cobb educators have enrolled in the Georgia’s BEST program, with the first class of Georgia’s BEST educators set to graduate very soon. 

Today, Cobb educators can begin submitting their applications of interest here for the next cohort of Georgia’s BEST educators, who will start classes in August 2024. Approximately 200 new Cobb educators will be added to the program for a total of 700 teachers who will better their careers and classrooms through Georgia’s Best.

“I’ve been a teacher and administrator in schools for a long time. I think teachers come to schools and stay in classrooms where they are valued. I have never heard our Team more excited about anything, or feel more valued, in my 30 years in Cobb,” said Cobb Schools Board member Brad Wheeler.

Certified staff and paraprofessionals interested in enrolling in the August 2024 cohort will need to submit their application of interest by 5:00 pm on May 10th. (Those who have applied for Georgia’s BEST in the past will need to fill out a new application of interest.) 

If selected for the August 2024 cohort, the educators will receive a request from the University of West Georgia asking them to continue the application process. 

All the information you need to apply for is here on the District’s page for Georgia’s BEST. 

Quick Facts on Georgia’s BEST: 

• About 455 seats are opening in Georgia’s BEST over the next year. 
• Applications of Interest are being accepted now! Click here. 
• By retirement, a Georgia’s BEST teacher could have $642,825 more in investments. 
• More than $2.1 million—the potential savings to the District related to the cost of teacher turnover. 
• More than 98% of Cobb educators plan to return to support Cobb students in the 2024-2025 school year. 

“I am thankful to the Cobb County Board of Education for unanimously approving the costs associated with keeping Cobb as the place where educators from across the state and country want to teach. Georgia’s BEST benefits our entire team of students, staff, families, and taxpayers, and I could not be happier with the expansion of the historic program following a successful first year,” said Superintendent Ragsdale.