Twelve new hires started the school year this week in the Lincoln County School District.
First-year school superintendent Pam Teel said, “New grant money we got helped facilitate the hirings. It was a good year for some of those hires.”
Caliente has the most new hires numbering five. Teel said they include, at C.O. Bastian, Doug Peterson in Social Studies, John Willingham in Mathematics, Kristine Dauge, a paraprofessional, Debbie Gill in Special Education and Rachel Baker as Alternative Education Secretary. Anna Chouquer is a part-time Adult Education paraprofessional.
In Panaca, Jeremy Derkovitz will be a counselor at Lincoln County High School, Anna Gloeckner as a parapro at LCHS, Dan Hunt, counselor at the elementary and middle schools in Caliente, Panaca and Pioche, Helen Crooks as the adult education teacher, and Shai River, the new Read by Third Grade Learning Strategist to cover all K-3 grades in the county.
Pioche has Chantel Grape as a new teacher at the elementary school and Ruth Scott as a parapro there.
In Alamo, April Shumway begins at Pahranagat Valley Elementary, and Lori Pitt, is the new Alternative Ed and Music teacher at PVHS.
The new teachers who are taking their first positions are Doug Peterson, John Willingham and Debbie Gill.
Teel said she did not have any direct involvement in hiring the new positions. “We allow the principals, or administrators, to do the interviews and make the recommendations.”
Teel, who has served as principal at both Caliente and Pioche Elementary before taking the position of superintendent said, “It’s always good to get new people in and move forth with some new stuff, and veteran teachers usually come with a wealth of experience as well.”
Some of the buildings in the district have made some improvements over the summer or as school was ending last spring. However Teel said she did not know all of the things that may have taken place. “Because we allow such autonomy at each site, I just am not aware of the fresh-ups and retouches, painting, etc.”
The vision for the distinct as school begins, she said, “is to move kids to where they need to be and be successful at their goals.”
She added at the last board meeting, “We had some very positive notes about the effort that teachers, administrators and staff put in for the school year even before contract time. Lights are on, teachers are getting ready, staff is in place, even before their pay period starts.”
