Sean C. Morgan
Teacher turnover in School District 55 was lower than usual this year.
The district welcomed nine teachers and two returning part-time teachers at a luncheon on Aug. 26. With an additional 5.33 full-time equivalent teachers reduced in budget cuts and were not replaced, there would have been about 16 new teachers this year, down by as much as half from recent years when the district has consistently had turnover in the high 20s and 30s.
“I think more teachers are staying where they are,” Supt. Larry Horton said. It’s probably about job security. “If they lose they’re seniority by going to a new district, they are more likely to be reduced if a district needs to cut back.”
Most districts look at seniority for making decisions on whom to cut, Supt. Horton said.
Of the new teachers, five were at the junior high and five were at the high school, including the returning teachers. Only one elementary teacher, at Foster, was replaced.
“Job openings statewide, I would say are below normal,” Supt. Horton said. With the seniority issue keeping teachers in place and the budget situation, districts are not hiring even where enrollment is growing.
Supt. Horton could think of two teachers who left the state for jobs, he said. “I think the majority of the teachers realize that the economic conditions aren’t much better anywhere else. My guess is that most states aren’t hiring much more than Oregon. There also appear to be fewer teachers trying to move in from out of state.
“Stability is good,” Supt. Horton said. “I also see change as a positive too. New people bring new ideas. So really, you need a balance. You need your new staff to bring new ideas, but you need your stable staff to provide stability.”
Overall, the number of applications for positions is larger than recent years too, Supt. Horton said. One elementary opening had some 50 applicants. Normally, the district would have maybe 20 or 30 applications.
A large number of those applicants were new teachers, Supt. Horton said. Among the students that graduated college with his own children, Supt. Horton knows that one was hired after two years of looking. Another is still looking after two years, and a third has been looking for work for three years.
“There are quite a few kids graduating from the university that are not finding work,” Supt. Horton said. “That’s pretty sad.”
The staff the district did hire this year is a quality group, Supt. Horton said. They have diverse backgrounds and experience with different programs and fields.
New Teachers
Lisa Canaday – Math, Junior High
Ms. Canaday graduated in 2002 from Western Oregon University with a BS in Mathematics.
She is currently working on her master’s degree. This will be her first teaching assignment.
Stephen Curtis – Language Arts, High School
Mr. Curtis obtained his BA in education from Western Oregon University in 2003. This will be his first year as a teacher.
Kory Langley – Science, High School
Ms. Langley obtained her BS in Science Education from Pace University, New York in 1999. She recently completed requirements for her master’s degree at OSU. She has two years teaching experience in New York and one in Oregon.
Matt Leitzen – Language Arts, Junior High
Mr. Leitzen has a BS in education from Southern Illinois University in 2001. Mr. Leitzen taught for two years in Illinois.
Rachel Markell – 6th grade, Foster Elementary
Mrs. Markell obtained her BS in Education from OSU in 2001 and her MA in Teaching from OSU in 2002. Mrs. Markell graduated from Sweet Home High School and taught in a temporary assignment for the district last year at Hawthorne and Oak Heights Schools.
Jamie Rumage – Science, Junior High
Ms. Rumage graduated from Western Illinois University with a BS in 1996 and is currently working on her master’s degree at OSU. This is her first teaching assignment.
Karl Schmidtman – Social Studies, Junior High
Mr. Schmidtman graduated with a BS in 2002 from OSU and a MA in teaching from Willamette University in 2003. This will be his first year as a teacher.
Jana Smith – Health Occupations/Wellness, High School
Ms. Smith has a BS in education from Western Oregon University from 2002 and a MA in Teaching from OSU in 2003. This is her first teaching assignment.
Craig Wilson – PE/Health, Junior High
Mr. Wilson obtained his BS in 2002 from OSU and a MS from OSU in 2003. Mr. Wilson is a graduate of Sweet Home High School and this will be his first year as a teacher.
Returning teachers
Jennifer Davis will return to the High School part-time after a leave of absence to teach Family/Consumer Studies and Language Arts.
Chuck Thompson will return half-time after retiring from Sweet Home High School to be the Career Center Coordinator.