Williston Basin School District welcomes more than 50 new teachers

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) - Teachers in Williston are getting ready for the new school year as classes begin next Wednesday.

Williston Basin School District staff welcomed more than 50 newly hired teachers this week for training and device assignments.

District Chief Academic Officer Darla Ratzak said these instructors, along with several substitutes and student teachers, will fill most of the positions needed to start the year.

“That’s our priority in the district, to give students a good education. We take pride in that, and we want to make sure that they are continuing to do so no matter what the classroom teacher’s degree is in, so we’ll make sure they get covered,” said Ratzak.

There are 33 core teaching positions listed on the district’s help wanted page. Seventeen of those are in elementary schools, nine are at the Middle School Central Campus and seven are at the high school.

Ratzak said she’s impressed by the number of subs they have available and there’s only a handful of “important” positions that are not covered right now.

“We are very optimistic because we are getting applications daily,” said Ratzak.

Ratzak added five student teachers are working in the district this year who could be contracted next semester.