First year teacher in Wake County prepares for new school year
WAKE COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- If it's your students' first year at a new school, they won't be alone-some teachers are new too.
Eyewitness News spoke with Sarah Carter, a Wake County math teacher, as she prepared her classroom for her middle school students.
"I'm so excited to form those relationships with students and truly get to know who they are as people because they're not just a number. They're not just another math student in my classroom. They're a person, they're human," she said.
Carter, 21, is stepping into her first classroom and told Eyewitness News she understands the challenges she may encounter.
"I'm a little nervous to set those boundaries and make sure that kids know where they are," she said, "and I know where they are and I don't cross them."
Meanwhile, Wake County Public School System has been busy facing their own challenges in teacher vacancies and retention.
The district has 203 schools, and this year, there are 175 teachers vacancies. This is 60 fewer than last year.
"We have the highest local supplement pay. One of the highest local support pays in our state. We are continuing to pay our teachers for their masters and their advanced degrees. We are doing incredible advertising online and through social media. We are reaching out to community partners saying, help, we need you," said Crystal Gregory, who is the director of talent acquisition for Wake.
Carter said that the dedication and support she feels are what will distinguish her during her first year. However, there is one defining reason she knew she wanted to be here.
"To give back. That's absolutely why. To give back to a community that did me so well and I don't I haven't really pictured myself leaving North Carolina ever," she said.
Wake County also says they've seen successful filling bus driver vacancies since raising their wage to $20 an hour.
