The district has taken a crucial step toward addressing its ongoing shortage of special education (SPED) teachers, a problem they first recognized about four years ago.
The shortage has been particularly pronounced in Oregon, where last year, 400 SPED positions were open, but only 280 qualified candidates were available to fill them. This gap in staffing placed significant pressure on districts across the state to find creative solutions.
In response to this pressing need, the district began an extensive hiring process in January 2024. The effort was led by Superintendent Terry Martin, the district’s SPED director Brian Brands and the director of teaching & learning Barbi Riggs, who worked closely with Higher Fox, an intermediary company that facilitates recruitment for schools.
“It’s been quite a lengthy process,” Martin said, reflecting on the months of interviews and coordination that took place.
Higher Fox played a pivotal role by understanding the district’s specific needs and then providing suitable candidates for review. The district conducted thorough interviews with each candidate to ensure they had the appropriate qualifications and experience. Many of the newly hired teachers come with advanced degrees and extensive backgrounds in special education.
“Some have dual master’s degrees; it’s not unusual for some to have doctoral degrees, and there’s also experience in teaching,” Martin noted.
One of the newly hired teachers has been working toward her goal of teaching in the United States since 2008. Her long journey, marked by dedication and persistence, was finally realized when she joined the district this year. Along with her, four other teachers all touched down in Oregon officially on Sept. 19.
“Talk about dedication and perseverance,” Martin said.
The teachers will be assigned to several schools throughout the district. These include Foster Elementary, Hawthorne Elementary, the junior high, and the high school. The district expressed enthusiasm about the positive impact the new staff members will have as, in addition to their professional qualifications, their arrival offers students an opportunity for broader cultural exposure.
“We will have fully certified teachers to teach our students,” Martin said. “Just being exposed to folks from a different culture, different perspective, different background, there’s value in that for the students.”
To help the new teachers acclimate and feel welcomed, the community organized several events. A dinner was held Sept. 19, followed by a barbecue the next evening. These events provided an opportunity for the community to show its appreciation for the teachers and for the teachers to begin establishing connections with the people they will serve.
“It’s been pretty special to be a part of this, because this is, at its base, the American dream. The teachers are so thankful and excited to be here,” Martin said. “The community has already availed themselves to welcome them.”
The new hires bring a sense of optimism and relief for the district, which has struggled to meet the growing demand for SPED teachers.
“They’ve had a really good beginning. This really fills a huge need for us,” Martin said. He also emphasized that the district has always had excellent and hardworking SPED teachers, but there were simply not enough of them to meet the demand.
With the school year underway, the community and district leaders are hopeful that this new chapter will lead to lasting improvements in the quality of special education services provided. While challenges remain, the arrival of these educators brings renewed energy and capability to the district’s SPED program.