SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. - The Indian River School District says it has approximately 33 job openings as the new school year approaches.
David Maull, the district's public information officer, highlighted the urgent need for staff in student support roles.
"Probably our greatest need right now is for some of our student support positions like speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, clinical mental health counselors," he said.
The district is also in search of bilingual teachers, paraprofessionals, and secretaries.
Abbee Tribbitt, a fourth-grade Spanish immersion teacher at John M. Clayton Elementary School, shared her passion for bridging language barriers among her students.
"I feel so accomplished when my non-Spanish speakers communicate with my Spanish speakers, and they can develop relationships and connections in my classroom, whereas outside of my walls, they might have a language barrier, and that just all kind of fades away here," she said.
The school district stresses the importance of providing bilingual services in different areas.
"It is critical that we have bilingual staff members pretty much at all levels... teachers, paraprofessionals, secretaries. It really is critical, and it just helps us provide a quality educational experience for all of our students," Maull said.
Even though the school district hopes to fill all the teacher positions by the beginning of the school year, they have a plan if they can't reach that goal.
"We're going to have to use long-term substitutes in those classrooms," Maull said. "Obviously, that's not an optimal situation because... the kids will have a different teacher eventually, and that's not really a good situation."
Maull said getting retired teachers who live in the area to substitute will help them if that's the situation. For anyone considering joining the district, Tribbitt has a message.
"If you have the ability to do it and you feel a need to help anybody, to help people, to help your community, it's a great place to work," she said. "It's a great place to start your career."
The school district is also seeking bus drivers and bus aides, among other roles. For more information or to apply, interested candidates are encouraged to visit the Indian River School District's website.
