Compared to last year, many teachers have been missing from the school hallways. A large number of these educators have relocated to the new trade school, Riverside High School. 

However, for every teacher Wilsonville has lost, a new one was gained. Students may experience that nearly half of their teachers this year are new! 

Many students wonder why so many teachers came and went during the past year. Why did the past teachers move to Riverside, and why did the new teachers choose Wilsonville? Wilsonville’s principal, Ms. Schmidt, clarifies. 

When asked what exactly the hiring process looks like and what the school was looking for in new teachers, Ms. Schmidt responded, “First, we are looking for if they are properly licensed,” specifically licensed to teach in the subject area of their choosing. Next, the hiring team looks “For any experience [the teachers] may have.” The latter applies mostly to teachers teaching AP courses. 

“When looking to fill a position, it is important to find someone who would really add to the Wilsonville community and who would bring the most to our school,” Mrs. Schmidt adds. 

Mr. Esqueda is a new addition to the Wilsonville staff this year who teaches the AP US History and World History courses. There are many high schools in the Portland suburban area, so why did these teachers choose Wilsonville? Mr. Esqueda states, “I was interested in working at a smaller high school where learning could be more effective.” So far, it seems like he’s really been loving WHS.

There were many teachers from all over the district who had decided to move to the new high school, Riverside, and many students wondered what intrigued them to make the switch from AP to IB.

Mr. Mitchell, who was a teacher at Wilsonville, is now at Riverside. When asked why he chose to make the switch, Mitchell replied, “I was excited by the small size of the school and the idea of being able to teach classes in business.” Mr. Mitchell had worked at both IB and AP schools in the past, and he really enjoyed working in an IB setting more so than AP.

There are many differences between Riverside and Wilsonville, and both schools appeal to certain teachers individually. We miss our teachers who have moved to Riverside, and we have also gained some exceptional new ones.