By Shareen Strauss
Photo from Castle Rock Elementary Website
Castle Rock Union Elementary School District sits on the border of Siskiyou and Shasta counties and is one of the last ten schools in the North State in its own district.
Started in 1888, Castle Rock School is a small, rural school that is tucked away just under the Castle Crags and sits along a tributary to the Sacramento River.
The family of Castle Rock School includes the staff, the Lakehead Lions club, and Shasta Gravity Adventures, along with the students, parents, and the local community.
But there is one thing that is missing from the school and that is a kindergarten/first-grade teacher.
Above; Castle Rock first graders Kai and Koltyn Ghiotto point to their self-portraits in the hall
Below; Castle Rock 1st grader, Pierce, is accompanied by his mother
Jennifer Roberts, as he points to his artwork on the wall.
The school has been searching to fill the K-1 teaching position and has found that there is a shortage throughout the state. While support staff and parents have stepped up to help, the school is seriously looking for an addition to their family of 36 students with class sizes ranging from 6 to 12 students in grades from preschool and kindergarten to 8th grade.
Though Castle Rock is a Shasta County school, they receive additional support from the Siskiyou County Office of Education Department which offers extended learning opportunities. All that is needed for this open teaching position is a minimum of a bachelor's degree and the state's prevision visual permit (PIP) offers one year to enroll in a credential teaching program.
The school is equipped with up-to-date technology such as chrome books available for each student to use, they have an in-house after-school program, and an event planning committee of not only staff and parents but is open for others to join. Other organizations such as the Lakehead Lions Club and the Shasta Gravity Adventures put on special events and offer support to the school. Students from anywhere between Lakehead and Mt. Shasta get picked up by one of the school's 2 new buses.
Shastina Simpson has been the preschool teacher at Castle Rock for 5 years. She says, "I love the kids, the community, and the campus. Being on the border of two counties, I love seeing friendships being built."
At her "dream job," the school secretary, Lindsey Hines, says that her son went through school here, and through the 8 years she has worked here, it still feels like family. Fourth and fifth-grade teacher, Jordan Norgaard, says, "I love the small school feeling here."
Teaching 6th through 8th grades at Castle Rock for about 7 years, David Sommers, says, "My fav is that the school sits in a natural setting. The class sizes are a big plus. Getting to know all the kids in school makes for an easy transition as the students move up from class to class."
For more information on joining the Castle Rock family as a kindergarten/first-grade teacher, go to https://www.edjoin.org/Home/DistrictJobPosting/1679632.
Castle Rock Union Elementary School District is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not and will not discriminate in employment and personnel practices on the basis of race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above-listed items.
Castle Rock Unified School District students, grades 2nd to 5th,
having fun getting in the groove of the Halloween spirit
Castle Rock first graders decorate their trick-or-treat bags
Castle Rock 8th grader, Charli Yaple, and 7th grader, Ava Lee
raise and lower the school's flags each school day
Shirts and accessories are given to Castle Rock students to wear and use during school or on special days like 'Spirit Days' which is celebrated each Friday
