As a school community, we work very hard to ensure we have the best staff possible for our students and school. Each year, as is natural in a school our size, there is staff turnover and we want to share with you a staffing update so that you are well informed.
We wish a fond farewell to some wonderful educators this year. Ramona Setzler, one of our Kindergarten instructional assistants, is retiring. Joanna May, one of our Second Grade teachers, is moving to Arizona this summer. Paige Showalter, our Spanish teacher for grades 4-8, will be moving to Los Angeles this summer. Constanza Petersen, our Middle School Health teacher, is moving to Scotland for a year. Katherine Cohn, one of our 5th Grade teachers, is taking a couple of years off to stay at home with her children. We are sad to see these teachers leave O'Hara, but we wish them all the best and send our love and prayers with them as they embark on new chapters of their lives.
We have been working very hard to fill these positions with wonderfully qualified educators. Here are the new members of our community and position changes for the upcoming year:
Mrs. Leslie Yamaka will be joining our staff as a PreSchool instructional assistant working with Mrs. Hendrix.
Mrs. Sandra
PiƱa
will be moving from PreSchool to Kindergarten instructional assistant.
Mrs. Liz McConaghie will be joining our staff as a Pre-Kindergarten instructional assistant with Miss Davis. Liz
is already a member of our community as a parent.
Mrs. Angie Relling is joining our staff as a Learning Coordinator. Angie
is already a member of our community as a parent. This is a position similar to what Mrs. Prickel has been doing these last few years, but we are growing and enhancing this area of our school. Mrs. Relling has a Masters Degree in Special Education and has years of experience working with students with special learning considerations. Mrs. Prickel and Mrs. Church have selected to work part-time roles, but will still be working with students in the school.
Ms. Rachelle Halter will be joining our staff as a 2nd grade teacher. She joins us from a Catholic school in Central Oregon. She brings over seven years of experience teaching elementary aged students.
Mrs. Carolyn Foerstler will be joining our staff as a 5th grade teacher. She is already a member of our community as a parent. She has been teaching and working with elementary aged students for over 12 years.
Mrs. Christina Woodward will be joining our staff as our middle school health teacher. She has been working for seven years at a Catholic Jr./Sr. High School in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has taught health, religion and language arts, as well as worked in administration.
Our Spanish position has not yet been filled.
Please join us in welcoming these amazing new educators to the O'Hara community. They all believe in Catholic Education and are excited to get started!