By Derek Cornet

NLSD short 15 teachers as start of school year looms

Aug 30, 2018 | 12:00 PM

With students returning to classes in less than a week, the Northern Lights School Division is short 15 teachers throughout the North.

“It’s not from a lack of effort, for sure, from our part to be responsive to the applications that come in,” said Director of Education Jason Young. “All summer I commend my senior staff, and the principals and vice-principals out there, who have been looking and recruiting teachers.”

Currently, there are several vacancies needing to be filled in La Loche, Pinehouse Lake and Sandy Bay. A bilingual high school teacher is still needed in La Ronge, Beauval has an opening for a high school teacher, and Stony Rapids needs someone to teach Grade 4. When students return to school next week, Young noted staff at each school will assist with additional teaching duties until administration is able to fill the open spots.

There are several reasons why Young believes the division is struggling to hire and retain teachers. He said communities like La Loche, Pinehouse Lake and Sandy Bay are more remote and aren’t as close to urban centres as other places, which means the amenities applicants might want aren’t nearby. Young also noted there seems to be a shortage of teachers in Atlantic Canada and Ontario, which are places the NLSD usually looks to for teachers when they can’t find local people.

“In the long-term, we have to look at how we attract and retain teachers,” he said. “It’s something we have to pay attention to and give some thought to in terms of how we react in these instances if it does indeed become a trend.”

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Of the teachers who did apply for positions with Northern Lights, Young said offers were extended to 15 graduates from the Northern Teacher Education Program, the Indian Teacher Education Program and the Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program. Seeing applicants from those programs was encouraging, he said, as those are teachers who were trained in the province.

Some of the benefits of working for the NLSD include a northern living allowance, financial assistance with moving expenses and subsidized, furnished housing. Young added another benefit is being able to work in a cross-cultural environment within the country.

“I don’t know what it is that’s not attracting those individuals, but from my perspective, we have a lot to offer in terms of the lifestyles we live,” he said.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno