By james art 
Cameron, W.VA. – The need to find teachers because of a shortage in Western Virginia can be difficult. And in rural areas such as Cameron, the challenge is even more big.
According to the Ministry of Education in West Virginia, an average of 32% of teachers in West Virginia leave within the first four years of entering the classroom.
In Cameron High School, the goal is to do the opposite and keep people in the profession.
In early 2010, when a new teaching work was published, it was said that you could expect at least a dozen teachers to be applied. But now this number has refused only a few for each position, and the teacher/coach Holly Petit said, with substitutes, has an even more need.
“If a substitute gets a call on 8, a late call to go to high school, if they live in Willing, they are more than likely to travel to John Marshall over Cameron because of the distance,” Petit said.
Due to its agricultural location, such as so many other schools in the country, geography can play a role in finding teachers and substitutes in Cameron.
“One of my friends, who helps me in my classroom with Ed special students, said he should drive about an hour and 25 minutes every day,” said the teacher/coach Tim Brown. “He doesn’t mind driving because of the community that we have.
Residents in the county supported the levies to continue maintaining schools such as Cameron operating and successful. But the journey can be a more challenge than some would expect.
So, what can help attract young teachers in the area and what can the state do?
“Obviously our location, both on Pennsylvania and in Ohio, we have to deal with competitive salaries,” Brown said. “So, we have to look at this and, of course, it comes from the state level and the level of the county”
Brown has been teaching for years in the cities of Marshall and Tyler. He said another impact on teacher retention was the presence of housing. He believes that without viable opportunities in rural areas, it can be difficult for teachers and their families to establish themselves.
Brown said he hoped some companies in northern Panhandell will partner with the District Committee to create more housing opportunities.
“I think if you had 50 middle -class homes near Cameron, or nearly one hundred or Pine Grove, I think you would not only get more tax base in this community, but these companies would also have more happily employees, but Because they don’t have to travel two hours to get to work, “Brown said.