At the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year at Madison Consolidated High School, all of the chatter was about the new teachers. Students checking their schedules on the first day noticed they were unfamiliar with half of the names. MCHS hired a total of 11 new teachers and a new school nurse during the summer; not counting the teachers at Ivy Tech where juniors and seniors attend two classes daily. There are new teachers for almost every department: there are two new teachers in the English department, two new math teachers, two new science teachers, a physical education coach, a Chinese instructor, and new manufacturing and culinary arts teachers.

The new additions to the Madison staff were asked questions about how they are liking being apart of MCHS. New school nurse, Kirstie Stivers said, “I originally came from my job at Hanover College and decided to leave it. I’m excited to be working at the high school. It has been a fun and interesting experience. I enjoy being able to interact with older kids and help them work through any problems they may have. I enjoy that the kids talk to me about their lives or about college. I feel like I can have an impact on kids and help them become healthy responsible adults.”

New math teacher Kenneth O’Brien is pleased with how he and his classes have improved from his first day at Madison. Mr. O’Brien said, “Since the first day of school and my first day on the job, I have gained more confidence as a teacher. I believe that as the first term has gone on my students have developed confidence in me as a teacher and no longer view me as “the new guy.” I have enjoyed how these first nine weeks have been going and look forward to the rest of this year and more years to come as a Madison teacher.”

With only eight months of school left, this school year has flown by for teachers and students. With all the uncertainty many students had on the first day about who the new teachers are and where their classrooms will be, those worries are now put to rest due to the administrations skills in finding trained, educated teachers to lead and develop Madison students. Madison students and teachers are confident in the new staff members for this year and hopefully more years to come.