web1_download-8-.jpg

Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority receives Governor’s Award for excellence

web1_Letter-to-the-editor1.jpg

Your voice: Citizenship question will cost us all

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Former Wilkes-Barre Area School Board member Christine Katsock has acquired an emergency teaching permit from the state and is substitute-teaching one day a week in the district at the Mackin building, which houses grades nine and 10 for Coughlin High School.</p><p>&#8220;I taught many, many years ago at Ss. Peter and Paul in Plains (Township), at a Byzantine school, and I even taught college music at Penn State (in Lehman Township) and at Luzerne County Community College,&#8221; said Katsock. &#8220;I enjoyed it and I knew there was a need in the district.&#8221;</p><p>Katsock, who opted not to run for re-election last year, said she has a full-time job and can only teach once a week. But she is attending classes at Susquehanna University and that could lead to teacher certification. She has both a bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s degree, and the university&#8217;s teacher intern program allows her to qualify for state certification after getting 30 credits within three years.</p><p>Katsock got the emergency certification through the Luzerne Intermediate Unit&#8217;s guest teacher program designed to help anyone with a bachelor&#8217;s degree receive a temporary state teaching permit. The program is intended to help with chronic substitute teacher shortages both locally and statewide.</p><p>While on the Wilkes-Barre Area board, Katsock did serve as the district representative on the LIU board, which is comprised of representatives from the school boards of each member district.</p><p>The certification is for one school year. According to state records, Katsock&#8217;s permit was issued Feb. 1 and expires July 31. The state allows a one-year renewal, and she expects to apply for a second year.</p><p>Katsock was hired to work in the district by Source4Teachers, a firm contracted by the schools to help with the substitute shortage. The company pays substitutes it provides and makes sure they have clearances and certifications. It also provides insurance coverage.</p><p>When the school board voted to contract with Source4Teachers, Katsock was on the board and she voted against it.</p><p>Katsock&#8217;s experience in teaching music doesn&#8217;t help her now. The substitute work is to step in wherever needed.</p><p>If she did get full certification in the subject, she could conceivably apply for any potential openings in the new, half-day performing arts academy the district will launch this fall. But Superintendent Brian Costello said current plans call for beginning the program with existing staff.</p><p>Costello expects to offer four disciplines within the academy &#8212; drama, art, instrumental music and dance &#8212; by rearranging class schedules, though he added that depends on the number of students who apply. The application process, still under development, should begin later this spring, he said.</p><p>Katsock acknowledged that substitute-teaching in the district will likely evoke criticism. But she noted that during her tenure on the board (she first joined in 2009), shortages were acute and chronic. In fact, the district has contracted with a second company to fill the substitute need. Katsock feels she can help with that problem.</p><p>&#8220;Anyone who has a bachelor&#8217;s degree is certainly welcome to join us,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We&#8217;re desperate in this district.&#8221;</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Christine-Katsock-district-judge-candidate-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Katsock </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/web1_Christine-Katsock-district-judge-candidate-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Katsock </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Former board member Katsock substitute-teaching in W-B Area