It's back to school season, and the Clark County School District has some exciting news!
When the school year begins on August 11, CCSD will have its lowest number of teacher vacancies since in three decades.
The last time the schools were fully staffed was 1994. Currently, CCSD reports 280 classroom vacancies, compared to over 1,000 at this time last year.
"We know that having a quality teacher in every classroom is the most important thing for learning," said Jesse Welsh, CCSD Deputy Superintendent. "Knowing that we're able to staff up in all of our classrooms has a huge impact on everything when it comes to learning and our students."
Earlier this week, more than 800 educators attended a new teacher orientation at M Resort. One of those teachers is Ammir Aziz, a 2014 Durango High School graduate.
He even credits a high school teacher for helping turn his life around. "It's a big full circle moment," shares Ammir. "When I was a sophomore in high school, I was homeless. She showed me all these resources I didn't know schools actually had.
Ammir is now getting ready to kickoff his first year teaching and coaching at his alma mater. "Three of my old teachers are still there," he says with a big smile.
The district's challenge now is keeping teachers, and officials say they're on the right track, with the most recent data showing a 94.4% retention rate.
CCSD says they still have 280 classroom vacancies they're hoping to fill. If you or someone you know is interested in a teaching position, it's not too late to apply here.