Every year, the failing Algebra 2 students from second semester are recommended to move down to Algebra 1.5 so that they do not lose a full credit. With most of the failing students moving down, a new Algebra 1.5 class is needed, while one full Algebra 2 class can be folded.
Math teacher Wendy Switzer is on leave for this second semester. Due to this, the administration had to find a long-term substitute and make big schedule changes.

Switzer taught Algebra 1.5 and Algebra 2, leaving the future substitute having to learn two new curricula, as well as the rules of the school. To make things less complicated for both the administration and for the substitute, the administrators changed the master math schedule.

Every class has a master schedule set up on one huge spreadsheet. When a big schedule change is made, the administration goes to these master schedules to see what will work out. Assistant principal Danelle Heikkila explained what changing the master schedule was like.

“You can see how enormous of a jigsaw puzzle it is,” Heikkila said, referring to a computer screen with the master picture on it.
When a class is folded, it means that a whole class is taken out of the schedule, and a new class can be put in its place. This is exactly what happened. Depending on the number of students failing in each Algebra 2 class, the math department looks at whether or not another Algebra 1.5 class is needed. According to math department chair Olivia Green, the teachers already knew that an Algebra 2 class would be folded and an Algebra 1.5 class added.

Math teacher Mark Jacobsen lost one of his Algebra 1.5 classes to the new substitute Alecia Martin. To fill the empty period, he was given Switzer’s second period Algebra 2 class. Switzer’s fourth period Algebra 2 class was folded and the students from the other Algebra 2 period were scattered throughout the other math teachers, including Christopher Forrester, Teresa Hubbard and MaLynda Wolfer. Martin now only has Algebra 1.5 classes.

“There were lots of things about this job that made it difficult to fill,” assistant principal Tim Collins said, “It’s always a challenge to find a person to fill a position for only part of a year, part-time.”

Finding a long-term substitute is difficult and finding one to work for only one semester part-time is even more difficult. According to Collins, administration could not find a substitute in the normal fashion, which means going to the substitute pool, finding someone certified, and then seeing if that person will do the job. For this position, administration had to post a job offer like they would if they needed a new teacher.
Administration finally found three people qualified enough to be interviewed, but none of those who came in worked out. They finally found Martin, who has had a lot of experience teaching math in California. The problem was that Martin was not familiar with the Oregon curriculum. Therefore, Green is mentoring Martin.

“They do [always need mentoring], it depends on how new they are to the building and the curriculum,” Green said.

Green is also mentoring Martin on how to use all of the technology in the building, including eSIS. Martin also needs to know all of the emergency procedures and is learning the PBIS expectations.

Not only have administration had to make changes, but also the students involved. Students who were not in Switzer’s second period class have had to make their own schedule changes.

“His class is quite a bit further away from where my sixth period class is,” sophomore Christine Sherrell said. “I get to the door right as the bell is ringing almost every day.”

Sherrell was in Switzer’s third period class, and when that spot became open, her chemistry class was moved into that spot. She now has Jacobsen seventh period instead of chemistry.

Sophomore Joel Diedrich also had a schedule change. His first three periods were switched around. He also had Switzer third period and now has Jacobsen second period.

Not only have these students had to adjust to their new schedules but also the new teacher.

“Jacobsen and Switzer were pretty close together when it comes to what we have been learning in class,” Diedrich said.

According to Sherrell, Jacobsen takes notes quite a bit faster than Switzer did. Other than that, both students have adjusted well to the change in teachers.

Sherrell and Diedrich were not the only students affected. All of Switzer’s students will have had schedule changes. Some students may have had minor changes, just having the teacher switched. Others have had more major changes like Sherrell and Diedrich.
Switzer leaving made it hard for the administration because they had to find a substitute, but because of one of the Algebra 2 classes was folded, it made it easier for the math department to mentor the substitute. Students have also had to adjust to the change, adapting to different teaching methods and changing their class-to-class routes.