Math, music teachers needed. Know one?

Resignations of a junior high math teacher, a half-time  high school math teacher and K-12 music teacher have left administrators at Perkins County Schools scrambling just a bit.

At this month’s regular board meeting April 19, Superintendent Phillip Picquet said they have received no applicants for these open positions thus far.

There’s also an elementary teaching position open but he remains hopeful that position can be filled. 

He noted it’s getting late in the hiring season and informed board members they are looking at alter-natives and options if they can’t get the positions filled.  He put out the call: “If you know anyone, or have friends … .” 

He complimented existing staff members who’ve offered to fill in but that can also create a domino effect within the system, he said. 

Perkins County isn’t the only school looking for a music teacher. He knows of three other area schools in the same boat.

Using distance learning for math may also be an alternative, he said.“There’s been a lot of retirements and there’s not a lot of students that are coming out of the colleges right now,” he said. 

Music and math are two very difficult positions to fill right now, he said. 

“But we do have options; we do have some plans. We’ve talked through all those, it just comes down to moving the pieces of the puzzle and making it, making it work,” he told the board. 

Resignations accepted by the board last week include elementary music teacher Emily Hauck, second grade teacher Madison Seamann, junior high math teacher Alexandria Linnerson and half-time high school math teacher Troy Kemling. 

The board did approve a contract with Angie Dickey of Imperial to teach Title I. She will fill the position currently held by Dana Freiberg.  Activities Director Jeremy Struckman provided the list of coaching and activity sponsors for the 21-22 school year. 

One of the glaring positions not assigned at the time of the meeting was that of boys head basketball coach.  Shawn Cole has held that position since Larry Pritchett stepped down after the 2008 season. Picquet said this week that Coy Gager of Ogallala has been hired for the position. Gager is a former Wheatland Schools graduate.