Warren County School District has 46 new teaching professionals

By Kate Miller, Record Managing Editor
Posted 11/8/17

When schools open in the Warren County R-III District Aug. 17, students will be greeted by some of the 46 new teaching professionals joining the district this year. Dr. Jill Schowe, co-interium …

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Warren County School District has 46 new teaching professionals

Posted
When schools open in the Warren County R-III District Aug. 17, students will be greeted by some of the 46 new teaching professionals joining the district this year.Dr. Jill Schowe, co-interium superintendent, said of the 46 new teachers, five joined the district in educational support roles. The new teachers were hired for positions at each of the district’s schools.Many of the new teachers are just starting their careers.“We have approximately 20 teachers who are brand new,” said Schowe. “The rest of them have some level of experience both in the state and out of the state.”She noted that 46 is slightly less than the number of new positions that were added last year.School officials said the district has been losing teachers to other districts.Schowe said it’s difficult to compete when teachers can go to bigger districts with bigger budgets in towns that have more housing options. She said the district recently changed its salary schedules to help attract and retain more teachers.The interview process includes multiple interviews, including one on video. While different administrators do the interviewing, they tend to look for the same qualities.“The basic thing that the district aspires to find are teaching candidates who want to engage students in their learning and are willing to build positive relationships,” Schowe said.A teacher’s knowledge is important, she said, but not the most important quality.“We can teach teachers to teach, but we can’t teach soft skills,” Schowe said.Teachers, as role models, often model soft skills to their students. Soft skills are more about character or, as Schowe said, “the ability to effectively communicate, attitude, their creativity and willingness to collaborate with others.”As an education professional, she knows how challenging the work can be. She said she has been giving the same advice to new teachers for a long time.“My advice is always treat these students the way you would want your own children to be treated,” she said.The new group of teachers is anxiously awaiting the first day of school and meeting their students.“We’re excited about the group and the level of energy they have,” said Schowe, adding the district is just about ready for the new school year.Building projects are getting wrapped up, she said, and teachers and the administration are looking forward to seeing students in the hallways.Now is the time to look ahead, she said.“I hope the 2017-2018 school year is one of the greatest in Warrior history,” she said.

New teachers are joining Black Hawk Middle School. They are, in the back row, from left, Brian McAndrew, Michael Rash, Malerie O'Brien, Jennifer Short, Lauren Meyer, Alicic Hirschbuehler and Danielle Schneider. In the front row, from left are, Emily Prier, Allie Medlin, Liz Knapp, Jessica Sullivan, and Kendra Ray. Record photo/ Kate Miller.

Several new teachers are starting this year at Rebecca Boone Elementary. They are, from left, Leslie Huff, Cindy Snider, Stephanie Baker, Amber Patton, Courtney Rolen, Courtney Booher, Lindsey Burkemper, Angie Rhoads and Aubrey Tharp. Record photo/ Kate Miller.

Warrior Ridge Elementary students will see these new teachers this year: From left are, Chelsey Shaw, Jennifer Schmidt, Terri Glover, Alina Misemer and Morgan Kraus. Record photo/ Kate Miller.


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