October 15, 2026 — As school districts across the country work to fill vacancies and recruit educators, Cobb Schools continues to attract and retain talented teachers and staff through opportunities for professional growth.

Through a partnership with the University of West Georgia (UWG), the innovative Georgia's BEST program allows Cobb Schools educators to earn advanced degrees at no cost.

"Georgia's BEST is different because it was built for Cobb. Every course reflects the knowledge, instructional practices, and leadership skills our educators need today, while maintaining the academic rigor expected from one of Georgia's leading universities. By combining university faculty with experienced Cobb educators in every program, we have created a learning experience that is both research-based and immediately applicable in our classrooms," Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said. 

Now in its third year, Georgia's BEST continues to benefit educators and students alike. As Cobb educators earn advanced degrees, they gain new skills, advance their careers, and bring additional knowledge into the classroom.

Since its launch in 2023, Georgia's BEST has enrolled 1,576 educators, with 824 graduates and 752 continuing their journey toward advanced degrees.

“It’s amazing that we have such a wonderful district and superintendent who really cares about helping his teachers be the best that they can be, and he's putting his money where his mouth is. And we really appreciate his support through all of this,” said Elisabeth Gibbon, a fifth-grade teacher at Eastside Elementary School.

Cobb Schools invests more than $2 million annually in Georgia's BEST as part of its commitment to recruiting and retaining high-quality educators. That investment helps the district keep experienced teachers in Cobb classrooms while providing opportunities for continued professional growth. 

The opportunity to earn advanced degrees without the financial burden benefits educators and strengthens Cobb Schools as a whole.The numbers speak for themselves: Cobb educators who earn degrees through Georgia's BEST are staying in the district and applying what they have learned to benefit more than the estimated 100,000 students.

Georgia's BEST participants have a 99% retention rate in Cobb Schools, and this past school year, there were 55,000 applications to work in Cobb. This allows Cobb Schools to be fully staffed with the best educators possible, who continue to grow personally and professionally to help students.

West Georgia College of Education Dean Mike Dishman said, “The Georgia Professional Standards Commission reports there are 5,000 open positions in Georgia’s classrooms, in the middle of the school year. The Department of Education made it one of its legislative priorities for the second year in a row. You have built the solution to this problem, and you’ve proven it. As recently as today, Senator Greg Dolezal talked about the severity of the problem across the state and how this program could solve it.” 

For Cobb educators like Alana Davis, Georgia's BEST provides opportunities to advance their careers while continuing to serve Cobb students. 

"Now that I have my doctoral degree, it definitely incentivizes me to stay in the district, because now I can utilize all the knowledge that I gained on school improvement efforts and actually apply it in the field every day in the position that I'm in,” said Ms. Davis, who serves as the science K-12 learning coordinator for Cobb Schools.

Georgia's BEST is allowing Cobb not only to recruit the best and brightest minds in education to help guide students to success, but also to keep them here, where they can continue to share their knowledge with others.

When 74 Cobb educators earned their doctoral degrees in July, many immediately looked beyond their own accomplishments and thought about how this program would help students in the long run. 

For these new doctoral graduates and other Georgia's BEST participants, coursework and research are directly connected to the specific needs of Cobb Schools and its students.

Curriculum and research are focused on each educator's area of expertise, as they work alongside others in similar roles to develop creative, innovative solutions that help every student succeed. Whether it's workshopping everyday lesson plans or developing district-wide strategies to meet the needs of every student, Georgia's BEST is truly changing lives through education and professional development, no matter the circumstances.

“I think that's one of the great things about this program, that they have you looking at issues that they are trying to improve upon. So, we're taking that data, and we're making a real difference for the kids in our district,” said Lindsay Martin, SLP at Timber Ridge Elementary.

While the growth for educators and impact on students is clear, the financial aspect of Georgia's BEST can't be understated. 

These Cobb Schools educators are earning these degrees for free thanks to the partnership with UWG. This means they're able to stay out of debt while gaining the skills and knowledge needed to continue to earn promotions and advancement within the district. 

The amount of money they're able to save and set aside for life outside the classroom is noticeable. 

"I never thought there would be time or money to do this. And the partnership that Cobb County had with the University of West Georgia and how they believed in their employees was an experience I knew I had to have,” said Heather Cooper, an eighth-grade science teacher at Simpson Middle School

The financial benefits extend beyond individual educators. Cobb Schools Chief Strategy Officer John Floresta highlighted the broader return on the district's investment.

Mr. Floresta said, “We have seen the impact in Cobb, with a relatively small investment of 7,000 dollars per educator, providing a return in 1,500 paychecks and classrooms. It’s encouraging when policymakers who understand education and are committed to action support better options for both educators and families.”

Each teacher, staff member, or administrator who enrolls in the Georgia's BEST program has their own story on why they enrolled, but the impact this program has had and will continue to have on students is the same.

In its third year, Georgia's BEST continues to make a lasting impact on hundreds of educators, thousands of students, and their families, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.

As the partnership with UWG and Georgia's BEST continues to grow, you can learn more about it by clicking HERE.