Chinook’s Edge School Division is excited to welcome 48 new teachers for the 2024-25 school year.
According to a press release, The group includes teachers who are new to the profession, teachers who are new to Chinook’s Edge, and teachers who joined Chinook’s Edge part-way through the previous school year. This compares to 38 new teachers who started last fall and 37 new teachers at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
"Superintendent Kurt Sacher says the division is pleased to see growth in the number of new teachers this year. He says the increase is largely due to an anticipated slight increase in student enrollment this fall and to teacher retirements at the end of the 2023-24 school year," stated the release.
Sacher welcomed the new teachers last week during the division’s orientation event. He noted that the orientation has been a longstanding tradition within the division.
"The role of a teacher is very complex and those newest to the profession typically need the greatest level of support. Our students are the beneficiaries of confident teachers. We want to ensure that new teachers receive the support they need to be successful in creating high-quality learning environments.”
The new Associate Superintendent of People Services for the division is Mike Garrow. Throughout the academic year, he and the recently appointed division principal, Jeff Thompson, will collaborate with the new teachers to facilitate their learning and development.
“I am excited about the individuals that are joining Chinook’s Edge this year,” says Garrow. “New teachers bring with them an excitement for the profession that is infectious. I am looking forward to seeing the positive impact these individuals will make with students.”
According to the release, one of the new teachers, Eric Behr, is joining Chinook’s Edge after having taught Grade 8 students in High Level for three years. Starting in September, Behr will be teaching high school English at Hugh Sutherland School in Carstairs.
“Being at Hugh Sutherland will allow me to teach a subject that I am most passionate about. I am excited about that and about the opportunities for my family here.” Behr says his favourite part about teaching is “getting to know the students. Middle school and high school students are in transition, figuring out who they are. Being a part of that and helping to build their confidence - being there for students - is awesome.”
The division has a total of 12 schools in neighbouring communities, including Olds, Mountain View County, Didsbury, Crossfield and Carstairs.
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