KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Knox County Schools will hire a recruiter as part of an effort to attract more top teachers.

The recruiter will work with area colleges to attract their best students, The Knoxville News Sentinel (http://bit.ly/2ezzWYS) reported. He or she will be responsible for developing relationships with colleges of education at the University of Tennessee, Maryville College, Carson-Newman University, Lincoln Memorial University and other teacher preparatory programs in the region.

Buzz Thomas, interim superintendent of schools, said he wants to model Knox County's recruiting strategy off Teach For America's process, which places top college graduates into charter and public schools around the country.

"Not long ago I talked to one of the former directors for Teach for America, and they recruit teachers like most people recruit athletes," Thomas said. "If we're going to be the best school system in the South, we've got to have the best talent pipeline in the South and the only way to do that is aggressive recruiting."

Kelly Drummond, the district's human resources director, said she hopes to have the position filled by Dec. 1.

Drummond also said she hopes that the new recruiter will have experience working in colleges already. Depending on the candidate's qualifications, the new recruiter will likely be paid in the mid-$60,000 range.