As hard it is to say goodbye to long time teachers here, the administration finds the situation a new start for not only the individuals leaving, but also for the school.

According to principal John Koch, the retiring staff includes Tim Ramstad, Mark Mayko, Karen Ford and Kathy Kowaleski, the staff that have taken new positions are Sarabeth Leitch, MaLynda Wolfer, Chris Smith, Tim Collins and Doug Goodwin, the one staff member leaving for Texas is Emily Blanshan and the one staff member leaving to attend college is Brandi Kruse.

For the administration, this change in staff has brought a lot of work due to the interview process for many new positions that are being offered.

Assistant principal Aki Mori is in charge of the new math department, finding one teacher to take up Wolfer’s classroom and another teacher to fill the shoes of a completely new position.

“When interviewing potential teachers, I personally look for whether this teacher would be able to connect to students, give energy and be committed to serving the Gresham community. We have found two math teachers that are qualified in all of these areas,” Mori said.

For assistant principal Danelle Heikkila, the interview process is bit more of a handful, as the person in charge of finding new teachers to fill the four positions in the English department.

“It’s a lot of work for the rest of us, sitting through 17 interviews, reinterviewing 16 people [at the end of the year]. While it’s taking a great deal of work, it’s been fun talking about what we’re looking forward to in candidates [with the rest of the English department],” Hiekkala said.

However, despite the extra work brought to the plates of the administration, they could not be any more happy for the departing staff, as they accomplish what they want in life.

“It’s good to see that people are growing and that is healthy to see too. It’s also okay that [the teachers are leaving] because all teachers are free to find employment. Of course, it’s hard to [see them go because] I love the teachers here in this building. I really do,” Mori said.

According to Koch, this change in staff was almost expected, due to the conditions that teachers here are working under.

“I see that the lack of resources over the last five to six years is causing some significant challenges to people and when you combine that with a feeling of being unsupported, it makes people want to look for change,” Koch said.

For Mori, this dilemma is a bigger problem than just for the school itself.

“We hope the state would increase funding for schools to improve working conditions for staff. We have to do the best with what we have,” Mori said.

According to Hiekkala, the matter relates back to the teachers’ own happiness, as it is difficult to work under the pressure of having so many kids in one classroom with less preparation time.

“I know how hard they work and the number of students are large. I understand and value that and they deserve to be happy. The four teachers leaving [in the English department] tells me that they are ready for a change,” Heikkala said.

However, the teachers leaving are not the only ones willing to embrace change.

“Change is a constant in this world. Those who are most successful are adapt to that change. [This school] will be that adapt,” Koch said.