Unfamiliar faces introducing themselves to students as they enter their new classes. The campus has seen an arrival of many new teachers and staff this year. The entire district has seen a overhaul in teachers and staff.

“At the end of last year the district was not in a financial exigency anymore,” Assistant Principal Brandi Hosack said. “People were now comfortable with retiring or moving away.”

Many teachers that taught last year left the school, leaving spots to be filled for the next school year.

“We have had very low turnover before,” Hosack said. “Teachers could now leave or retire feeling secure.”

Some students enjoy the fresh faces on campus and appreciate the roster turn over.

“I like the new teachers on campus,” senior Nicole McClellan said. “We started a new year and with new teachers it makes the environment more relaxed.”

However, some students feel the hiring of so many new teachers could potentially hurt them.

“Some of the new teachers are good but some just seem shy,” Student Council President Stephanie Downs said. “I do not feel I am learning anything. My attention is distracted by their shyness.”

One question floating around the student body is why did the district hire so many new staff members when the district had budget cuts recently and let go of many teachers and staff.

“I am wondering why AISD hired so many new teachers when we just had budget cuts two years ago,” Downs said. “What happens if the budget drops again? Will Akins have to cut all the recently hired teachers?”

Teachers were assured they would have jobs here on campus for more than one year.

“Superintendent (Meria) Carstarphen said we should have our jobs here for the next two years,” first-year English teacher Joseph Kirksey said.

Teaching in a classroom has changed so much over the years, as Akins is seeing with flipped classroom, that teachers are adjusting their teaching methods and new teachers are being introduced to new ideas for the first time.

“Education has changed so much so quickly,” second-year teacher Christine Forbus said. “Because of all these new changes everything might not mesh. When we started college everything that was taught to us to become teachers is different now.”

Student proponents of the high number of new teachers feel that the new teachers could make the transition from standard teaching to flipped classroom easier.

“The new teachers are not changing any of their teaching methods because some of them are brand new teachers or teachers who recently started teaching so it’ll be easier for them to adjust,” senior Salim Elakhras said.

The hiring of so many new teachers and staff has been a topic that has been discussed highly among students.
“I just hope that students will fully learn the curriculum that we are supposed to follow,” Downs said.