GREAT FALLS — There are no new teaching positions in Great Falls Public Schools as the new school year approaches - but there are about 60 new teachers getting ready to lead students.
GFPS spokeswoman Becky Nelson says that the all of the new hires are due to attrition (teachers retiring, moving, changing jobs, etc), and that there are no new positions.
One of them is Alyssa Reffitt, who is a new kindergarten teacher at Longfellow Elementary School.
Reffitt is from Columbus, Ohio and moved to Great Falls with her husband, who is in the Air Force.
She’s spent the summer getting materials for her classroom.
“Over the summer I really started collecting because I knew I would be teaching kindergarten. So the Target dollar section was my favorite place to go over the summer,” said Reffitt.
Longfellow isn’t new to her. Reffitt substitute taught at the elementary school earlier this year, and enjoyed the staff. Now, she has her own classroom.
“I actually remember when I was six years old is when I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I just loved elementary school, especially my first grade teacher,” explained Reffitt.
She will teach around 20 students this upcoming school year. For Reffitt, it’s what’s beyond the books and whiteboard that she’s looking forward to the most.
“I want the environment to be inviting and a safe place for them to walk into everyday and I want them the feel they can talk to my about anything.”
