Moses Lake welcomes new teachers
Teachers new to the Moses Lake School District attend an orientation at Frontier Middle School Thursday.
MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake School District welcomed 46 new teachers Thursday at a district-wide orientation.
"We're always excited for the new school year, and to have so many new staff this year is really exciting," said Special Assistant to the Superintendent P.J. De Benedetti.
When four remaining positions are filled, the district is going to welcome a total of 50 new teachers, De Benedetti said.
Knolls Vista Elementary School first-year teacher Logan Brown said he wanted to teach physical education in the Moses Lake School District because of the positive experience he and his wife had as students in the district.
"It's a hard district to get a job for, and that says something," Brown added.
Brown wanted to teach in an elementary school because young children seem most eager to be there and most excited to see their teachers.
"I'm excited because I'm teaching at the school I used to go to," he said.
High school basketball coach and Peninsula Elementary School physical education teacher Rolland Hansen moved from Arizona to Moses Lake with his wife after enjoying the area during vacations.
His wife has family in the Tri-Cities and a brother with a home on Moses Lake.
He has been teaching for 13 years, most recently in the high school. He said he is especially excited to teach younger children again.
"I'm surprised there's this many new teachers," said teacher John Heflin.
Heflin started mid-year teaching automotive and small engines to high school students, working out of Big Bend Community College. He is new to teaching.
"I was in the Navy for 21 years and I taught diesel engines. So, it seemed to go hand-in-hand," he said.
First-year teacher Mariel Odegaard accepted a kindergarten teaching position at Larson Heights Elementary School.
Odegaard has spent time getting her classroom ready and preparing lesson plans. The lesson plan for the first day of school was finished and she hoped to have the first two weeks ready by the time school starts.
"I thought it might be more manageable to be over planned," she said.