SD52 among Northwest School Districts to benefit from new teacher hiring incentive program from BC government

The Prince Rupert School District is sharing in the success of a new provincial incentive program that has helped towards recruiting new teachers for the North Coast region.

In an information release from Friday, the Provincial government outlined the scope of their initiative for the 2023-23 School year.

The Province, in partnership with the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the British Columbia School Superintendents Association (BCSSA) northern chapter, launched the teacher-recruitment incentives in spring 2023 with $400,000 in funding to address the immediate need for teachers in the North. 

Part of the funding was used to provide hiring incentives of $4,000 up to $10,000 per teacher. Of the 50 new teachers, 41 are located in northern B.C., seven on Vancouver Island and two in the Thompson-Okanagan.

The four North Coast School Districts include:

School District 52-Prince Rupert School District 

54-Bulkley Valley School District 

92-Nisga'a School District 

82-Coast Mountains

Teachers were also recruited for Stikine and Nehcako Lakes Districts.

“Teachers are valued members of our northern communities and I am so glad to hear that more teachers have been recruited to work in classrooms in Stikine and across northern B.C. This is part of our ongoing work to build stronger schools and ensure every student has what they need to thrive.” --Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen

More towards Friday's announcement can be reviewed here.

As we noted earlier today, at their October Board Meeting, officials with SD52 also outlined their hopes to see a teacher recruitment program in place with UNBC for the North. 

Those notes can be reviewed here.

Further notes on education in Prince Rupert and across the Northwest can be reviewed below:

Prince Rupert/Port Edward

Northwest BC
 

More notes from the BC Legislature can be reviewed here.