At the end of a school year more than just seniors will be leaving Free State. Teachers are leaving as well. Some are leaving due to district budget cuts, some are leaving because they have found new opportunities elsewhere.
Some Free State teachers are leaving to pursue other interests.
“I want to take some time to explore my interests and passions,” said Lauren Adams, an English teacher who is leaving at the end of this year. “[For me] It is difficult to be a good teacher and to find a balance with other interests and passions.”
While she does enjoy working with other teachers and seeing students learn how do to something they were originally struggling with, Adams said she’s looking forward to what will come next in her life. But she does admit she will miss Free State.
“I will miss my mom,” Adams said. “Throughout my teaching career she has been just down the hall in the copy room. I will miss seeing her throughout my work day.”
Jason Pendleton is leaving to teach at a new facility.
“I’m [going] to become the head boys and girls soccer coach at the new Blue Valley Southwest High School set to open in August,” Pendleton said. “Financially [Blue Valley] is a much better paying district.”
He agrees with Adams when it comes to missing Free State.
“I’ve established some pretty good relationships with people,” Pendleton said. “I’ve known a lot of these kids not just for the time they’ve been at Free State but living in the community and [leaving those people] is pretty tough.”
For other teachers leaving Free State is not a choice.
Teachers began being notified by administrators in mid-April that they were being transferred to another school next year. Betty Kline, a librarian, received notice she will be transferred to West Junior High School.
“I approached Mr. West to see if it was possible for me to transfer,” Kline said. “I just love the middle school age group, so it is really a silver lining.”
But even though she will only be half way across town Kline knows leaving Free State will be hard.
“I’ll miss [Free State] a ton,” Kline said. “I can hardly think about it without crying.”
With these teachers leaving there will be consequences. Class sizes are going to be bigger and scheduling is going to get a lot harder.
“We’ll have a few less [periods] of the classes we offer,” Principal Ed West said. “Its going to get harder to move your classes around.”
But with legislature’s approval of a one cent sales tax in May, the possibility of more teachers leaving is less likely.
“In order to maintain what [money] we have it depends on what happens next year,” West said.Java Printing
