VALENTINE, Neb. - Valentine Community Schools has found its next 3rd grade teacher. On Wednesday night, the school board approved hiring Krista Schoonveld, a current 3rd grade teacher in Mullen, to replace Keri McClellan, who is retiring.

“We had an excellent pool of applicants—maybe the best I’ve ever seen,” said Superintendent Mike Halley.

Schoonveld earned her degree from Adams State College in 2010 and completed her Master’s in Education with a focus on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education from Regis University in 2020.

“I have not received a reference that good about a teacher,” Halley added.

While Halley said the district received great applications, schools nationwide continue to struggle with a teacher shortage. According to the Nebraska Department of Education, public and nonpublic schools reported around 669 unfilled positions for the 2024-25 school year. Of those, approximately 200 remained completely vacant, while the rest were filled with individuals who weren’t fully certified—such as substitutes, teachers without the proper endorsements, or those on provisional permits.