ABERDEEN, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Aberdeen School District has filled all of its teaching positions for the new school year, and eight of the new faces in the district aren’t new to the school at all.

The Aberdeen Public School District has experienced a unique occurrence with the new hires in the teaching staff this year. Eight of the first-year teachers are homegrown, as they all graduated from the district they now teach in. Seven of those Aberdeen natives also attended Northern State University.

“It’s outstanding. We welcomed several of our Golden Eagles back. I’m very excited to have them back on staff. It’s very exciting to have them back in Aberdeen,” said Superintendent Dr. Becky Guffin.

The eight new teachers are very familiar with the school, but they were welcomed with preparations for their new role.

“We always have a very exciting ‘back to school’ with our staff. The band plays. We have several different speakers that kind of talk about some of the things that have happened over the summer. And, of course, we also address our school district goals, student achievement, safety, health and wellness, as well as community,” said Dr. Guffin.

The eight ‘locally grown’ new hires teach from first grade to high school and even speech pathology. Dr. Guffin thinks her staff is shaping up nicely for the new year.

“Things are going great. We have some fantastic students. They’re very successful in what they’re doing here and, of course, our staff is second to none,” said Dr. Guffin.

Those teachers include Itzel Brick, Adam Plooster, Nick Olson, Cassidy Olson, Destiny Jenson, Dawson Pfister, Carly Evans and Samantha Ferguson.