New Staff at HHS

Here at HHS, the school focuses on providing the best staff possible to help students succeed. This includes new staff each year to expand innovation and learning statistics; similar to previous years, the Harrisburg High School welcomed thirteen new staff members. When asked about their experience so far, many positive words were used to describe our school, such descriptions ranging from “great,” “welcoming,” “inventive,” and “rewarding.”

Because of Covid-19 arriving, this year has definitely started differently than usual, but these staff members have learned to adapt and work on a positive note. It's not just the staff's efforts, but their way of changing routines for the students’ sake that inspires many. “The students have been responding very well to the situation. I truly believe that we are making the most of unique circumstances,” Mr. Spencer Wahl, the new band teacher, states. An additional response received from Mr. Taylor Burkett, the automotive teacher, expands on differences this school year: “The one thing I really don’t like about it is the tensions it has caused between people in the world. I wish we all could make the best of this and take care of each other through difficult times like we’re trying to do here at HHS.”

In Harrisburg, the community knows the schools as a place where many people would love to work. Mr. Christen Hildebrandt, a social studies teacher new to the high school staff this year, chose to apply due to the reputation of innovation and his wife’s experience as the music specialist at Explorer Elementary. A response from Mr. Alex Harold, a science teacher at HHS, stuck out because it had such a positive message and reflected well on our district as a whole: “I wanted to teach at Harrisburg because I think the opportunities and support provided here are great! I love the hopeful outlook on teaching, and I am able to teach Chemistry, which I am super passionate about.”

These answers have accumulated from many different teachers with many different resumes and credentials. Some of these teachers have taught for up to 7 years, other teachers had previously not taught at all. Before he began working here, Mr. Taylor Burkett had never spent time in the educational world. “The real truth here is I have been teaching ZERO years. I was working as a mechanic or gear technician in the industry for almost 15 years. I have a degree in Forestry and when life changed things up on me, I just picked up a wrench and changed with it,” he expanded. Since starting his teaching career at HHS, Mr. Burkett has enjoyed teaching his students a variety of automotive skills and watching them implement those skills independently with his guidance. Overall, Harrisburg High School is beyond excited to call these new staff members Tigers!