CARSTAIRS – Hugh Sutherland School’s new high school English teacher is excited about being 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,” Bear told Chinook’s Edge School Division staff who added his comments to the recent announcement about the number of new teachers in the division.
Behr is joining Chinook’s Edge after having taught Grade 8 students in High Level for three years.
While he is one of six new staff members at Hugh Sutherland for the 2024-25 school year, he is also one of 48 new teachers hired by Chinook’s Edge since partway through the previous school year, school division officials note.
The newbies also include teachers who are new to the profession and teachers who are new to Chinook’s Edge and starting this fall.
According to the division, the number of new teacher hires compares to 38 new teachers who started in the fall of 2023 and 37 new teachers at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Division superintendent Kurt Sacher said the increase is largely due to an anticipated slight increase in student enrolment this fall and to teacher retirements at the end of the 2023-24 school year.
The new teachers were welcomed by division staff in recent weeks during what has been an annual new teacher orientation event held for many years.
The division says Mike Garrow, the new associate superintendent of people services and new division principal Jeff Thompson, formerly the principal of Grandview School in Bowden, will work with the new teachers throughout the school year to support them in their learning and growth.
“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,” Garrow said in the division’s new teacher announcement.
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.”
Hugh Sutherland’s five other new staff members include Tyson Youngs (Grade 5), Lexi Hammond (Grade 6), Riley Wiebe (foods), Logan Vanderham (physical education) and Shallan Holinaty (concession).
