Ahead of the start of the upcoming school year, the Perry Community School District is looking for ways to fill coaching vacancies. 

Activities Director Katelyn Whelchel says the in the world of eduction they are seeing a teaching shortage which she says coincides with a coaching shortage as teachers often volunteer their time to be coaches as well. 

“Right now we are seeing a lot of turnover. There is just a lot of teachers that are getting out of the profession altogether. So, with that you lose your coaches. So trying to recruit community members I know for us we’ve tried to put things out on social media, we have tried to recruit word of mouth, making connections, that sort of thing.”

Whelchel tells Raccoon Valley Radio there are various coaching positions available ahead of the new school year including middle school and high school positions. Whelchel reminds those who may be interested that in order to coach at a high school or middle school level they would need to obtain a coaching authorization. 

“Obtaining that is usually kind of the hardest part so right now, with the district, what we are kind of working on and going to try and push this forward is a reimbursement process. So, people if you are interested go ahead, get that coaching authorization and then after that’s done and you’re hired for a position, we’ve considered reimbursing the price of that course for the coaches.”

Whelchel is hoping to have all coaching positions filled before the beginning of those respective sports seasons.