Public Schools Fill 32 of 33 Teacher Positions With First Day On The Horizon

Superintendent of Schools Beth Hallett provided a teacher staffing update during Tuesday’s school committee meeting, announcing that 32 of the district's 33 staff job openings have been filled ahead of the first day of school on Tuesday, September 3.

"This is very exciting. This is a huge feat - we have not been able to fully staff our schools for more than three years," Hallett said. "I feel we have made such great efforts to show that Nantucket is a fantastic district and a really great place to live and work."

Hallett said that contracts for all 32 teachers have been signed, and that hiring a high school English Language Arts teacher is all that remains – but she added meetings with candidates for that position will take place this week. She added that she also has a meeting with a special education teacher at the high school in the near future as well.

“This is the first time we have really been fully staffed since before the pandemic,” Hallett told School Committee member Shantaw Bloise when asked about what the remaining open position was.

Hallett thanked school principals and directors for their efforts this summer, as well as human resources specialist Eillen Taveras for their work in recruiting, getting the positions filled, assisting new teachers with finding housing, and helping newly hired teachers through the necessary paperwork.

"We were very lucky," Hallett told the Current. "I think we have an excellent teacher contract so that, I think, is a great advantage. I also think that people are realizing that Nantucket is a special place to live and work, so we're very lucky.