According to Wake County, there are a total of 252 open teacher spot positions plus 130 instructional assistant openings. Due to this shortage, it may cause difficulty for teachers to give students the help they need. Many teachers may be overworked from having double the amount of work compared to how much they would have if they had smaller class size. 

Recently, new teachers have joined FVHS and they have had a positive impact on our classes. One of our new teachers is Stacia Koutroumpis, who joined us on Oct. 23. Koutroumpis took over the French class, which had an absence of a teacher for almost two months. 

Senior Anylah Williams said, “It’s a new experience because our new teacher speaks in all French, yet she knows when to speak English when we don’t understand. It is nice and easier to comprehend with a teacher that’s here to stay.” 

We also have another teacher who joined FVHS. They are a junior English teacher. 

Teacher Hurley said, “Watching my father teach his students and interact with his students really inspired me to want to have that same kind of rapport with students.”

As students adapt to having a new teacher, some kids may not be used to certain rules or may not be at the expected level.

Teacher Hurley said, “It’s been very hard establishing rules and expectations, but I feel that with the grace that I’ve shown them and my willingness to help them and making myself available to support them in any way that I can has really helped build my student rapport.”

These new teachers will make a wonderful addition to the FVHS staff. Please welcome them to our school and be kind and respectful.