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WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The five GAR Memorial High School teachers suspended for an incident sources say involved alcohol at a junior high dance are relatively new to the profession, according to state certification data.As of 2014-15, the latest information available on the state Department of Education website, three of the suspended teachers had only Level I certifications, valid for six years.If a teacher does not complete the requirements to convert to level II certification in the allotted time, the certification lapses. Teachers must complete 24 college credits beyond their bachelor&#8217;s degree to get Level II certification.The district has not released the names, but sources have identified the five. Here are their certifications as of 2014-15, and the dates those certifications were received:&#8226; Mollie Evans received her level I certification in chemistry June 1, 2007, and level II certification Oct. 1, 2013.&#8226; Jason Lukachinsky received level I certification in citizenship June 1, 2013 and level I certification in social studies Aug. 1, 2014.&#8226; Jill Wujcik has the most certifications, beginning with level I for kindergarten through grade six Sept. 1, 2008, and level I for special education pre-K through 12 Oct. 1, 2011. She received level II certification in both Sept. 1, 2013.&#8226; Glenn Zimmerman received level I certification in social studies for grade 7-12 May 1, 2011. Prior to that, he had received emergency certification for day-to-day substitute teaching from the Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 twice, in February 2005 and in August 2006.&#8226; Corey Brenner received level I certification in citizenship for grades 7-12 on March 1, 2011, and level I certification in library science Aug. 1, 2012.According to Times Leader archives, Lukachinsky launched his teaching career at Wilkes-Barre Area in February 2013 as a student teacher at Meyers High School.School board minutes show Brenner and Zimmerman were both hired as full-time substitute teachers in August 2012. In September 2012, Brenner was hired as a high school librarian and Zimmerman as a high school social studies teacher.The district hires new teachers as &#8220;temporary professional employees.&#8221; If they get satisfactory evaluations, they are later appointed as &#8220;permanent professional employees.&#8221;According to board minutes, Brenner was appointed as acting head teacher during the Aug. 10, 2015, board meeting. At the Sept. 15 meeting, he and Zimmerman were classified as permanent professional employees.Brenner has also held several coaching positions in the district, including assistant varsity basketball coach at Meyers, half-pay junior high assistant wrestling coach at Meyers and, in April last year, he was appointed second assistant coach for varsity football at Meyers.<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Incident led tosuspensions offive teachers</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Mark Guydishmguydish@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish.</shirttailMeta></div>

Suspended GAR teachers relatively new to the job