Upper Adams School District welcomed 15 new teachers at the start of the school year.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Joseph Albin introduced the teachers to the public and the school board Tuesday. The newcomers include six teachers at the high school, two at the middle school, two at the intermediate school and five at the elementary school.
The new teachers are as follows:
• Maryanne Bass – Science – Biglerville High School
• Henry Baust – English Language Arts (ELA) – Upper Adams Middle School
• Amber Clouser – Grade 1 – Biglerville Elementary School
• Daniel Coy – Mathematics – Upper Adams Middle School
• Mackenzie Crawford – Grade 1 – Biglerville Elementary School
• Delilah Garcia – Grade 1 – Biglerville Elementary School
• Alejandra Garibay – English Language Learner (ELL) Teacher – Upper Adams Intermediate School
• Chelsey Holt – Special Education – Biglerville Elementary School
• Daniel Mundford – Vocational Agriculture – Biglerville High School
• Tammy Rentzel – Special Education – Biglerville High School
• Irving Rojo-Rodriguez – Spanish – Biglerville High School
• Heather Stine – Grade 5 – Upper Adams Intermediate School
• Nicole Stultz – Mathematics – Biglerville High School
• Heather Swope – School Counselor – Biglerville High School
• Stephanie Wiley – Speech & Language Pathologist – Biglerville Elementary School
The last two years represent a record number of new hires, Albin wrote in an email. Last year, he said the district hired 21 new teachers.
In the past, Albin said the district on average hired between six and eight new teachers annually. He said the recent increase is not limited to Upper Adams.
“With the decline in teaching certificates being issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) each year, coupled with the impact of the pandemic a few years ago, everyone has been experiencing a teacher shortage which has led to more openings around the state than in previous years,” Albin wrote. “These openings become enticing to teachers who wish to move closer to home, move to a different grade level or content area, and/or looking to advance their career professionally or financially by switching school districts.”
These factors contribute to a fluid applicant pool unlike any Albin has ever seen.
“There is more movement among teachers between school districts now than in any other time I have experienced in my 25-plus years in education,” he wrote.
Despite the challenges, Albin believes Upper Adams has found a promising group of teachers. Their experience level ranges from those who are fresh out of student teaching to those with several years under their belts.
“In this time where it can be very challenging to find quality teaching candidates, we are so fortunate to have this group of individuals on board with us,” Albin wrote. “We truly look at it as a partnership. … We choose them as much as they choose us, and we could not be happier to have them as new family members here in the Upper Adams School District.”
Two open positions remain. As of Sept. 18, the district is seeking an elementary life skills teacher and a middle school learning support teacher.
In addition, substitute teachers are always needed, according to Albin. The Upper Adams School District partners with Kelly Education to manage substitute teachers. Interested candidates can go to https://forms.office.com/r/SNfEEdz0QG for more information about how to become a substitute teacher in the Upper Adams School District.
Mary Grace Kauffman, freelance reporter, worked six years as a full-time reporter for newspapers in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She has covered topics including business, crime, education, government and features. Mary Grace has a bachelor's degree in communication/journalism from Shippensburg University. She resides in Adams County.