Schools across the division need teachers for the fall. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

northern schools

Northern Lights School Division needs 21 teachers before September, hosts recruitment event in Green Lake

Jun 21, 2022 | 4:16 PM

While students have only days left before the summer break, administration with Northern Lights School Division will be spending that time recruiting 21 teachers.

That’s according to superintendent of education Jordan Kolbeck, who explained that number is average compared to any other year. In an effort to recruit teachers for September, he held a two-day, all expenses paid event in Green Lake on June 10 and 11.

“As a school division, we were looking at new and maybe novel ways to bring teachers into our communities and our schools,” Kolbeck said. “This is the first time we have tried something like this in recent memory at least.”

Four new potential teachers attended the getaway, which included a tour of St. Pascal School, a chance to meet the community, and a Paddle Canada canoe course. Holbeck held interviews with the candidates on the second day and he is still in talks with some of them. Those who attended had their travel paid for, as well as accommodations in Meadow Lake.

“We will see how it turns out in terms of actual recruitment numbers, but I’m hopeful,” he said. “We had some folks from Prince Albert, Saskatoon and the Meadow Lake area.”

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Kolbeck mentioned staff at St. Pascal School really went out of their way to host the candidates. He also noted a similar recruitment event had been held at another school division and a fellow superintendent thought it was worth a shot for Northern Lights to try it too.

A canoe course was a highlight for those would made the trip to Green Lake. (Submitted photo/Jordan Kolbeck)

“I think it was something different and something new and I personally love teaching people how to canoe, so just in terms of getting people out on the water and showing off one of our schools, I would say that was a success,” Kolbeck said.

The Northern Lights School Division encompasses 22 schools in 17 communities in northern Saskatchewan. There were 292 classroom teachers and 3,871 students in the 2020-2021 academic year.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno