The Haines Borough School District will advertise two jobs in the coming months—for a new principal and an additional math teacher.
Image courtesy of Rene Martin
Principal Rene Martin will step down this year after 13 years at the Haines School. The school board accepted her resignation at their Tuesday night meeting.
Martin said she’s been contemplating the move for a little while and feels confident in the school’s leadership moving forward without her.
“I’m confident that the school will be fine. And I love our school and I had intended to retire from here. However, with my husband’s death… It’s just really tough to live in Haines. I just see him everywhere—in our projects and in our houses—and so my heart’s telling me it’s time to find a new purpose and career path in education,” she said.
Martin said she is exploring options that range from graduate school to principalships or superintendent positions elsewhere. Her resignation will take effect June 30 of this year.
Board President Anne Marie Palmieri looked a bit misty eyed as the members thanked Martin for her service. Superintendent Roy Getchell summed up her contribution.
“It’s been just a real privilege. The school district is in great shape and that doesn’t happen by accident. I just want to say thank you so much,” he said.
The district plans to post the job by the end of this week [WEB Feb 7 WEB]. It will select a hiring committee of seven or eight members and enlist the help of community focus groups to brainstorm traits and skills they would like to see in a new hire. The goal is to select a candidate by March 15 and make a hire by early April.
The board also approved funding for an additional math teacher next year. Pete Degen is the only math teacher for middle school and high school. Getchell says that the teaching load is too much for one person.
“Because Mr. Degen’s day is full we’re asking other people to pick up some of these math classes. Mr. Feakes is a great example. He does a great job. The kids love him,” he said.
But Getchell said when Industrial Arts teacher Mr. Feakes is teaching math, it means he isn’t in the shop teaching other classes, like small engines class or welding. Getchell added that it’s healthy for students to have more than one math teacher between middle school and graduation, so they get a sense of different teaching styles and perspectives.
The goal is to find a candidate who can also teach special education, or SPED, classes. The school says the demand for those classes is increasing, and a new teacher could reduce the load placed on paraprofessionals who take on those duties. The job will be posted for a math teacher with special education experience preferred.
