Lehighton Area School District welcomed seven new educators during Monday night’s school board meeting, marking what officials described as a rare and fortunate achievement in the current hiring climate.

The new hires were:

• Hannah Daly was hired as a middle school counselor. She holds a master’s degree and was placed at Step 1 on the salary scale, earning an annual salary of $55,835.

• Justine Helman, third grade teacher at the Elementary Center, has a bachelor’s degree and was placed at Step 5, $57,385.

• Jessica Cericola was hired as an academic interventionist at the Elementary Center. With a bachelor’s degree at Step 1, she will earn $53,035 annually.

• Laura Filchner, third grade teacher, holds a bachelor’s degree and was placed at Step 1 with a salary of $53,035.

• Conner Grabfelder, third grade teacher, with a bachelor’s degree at Step 1, earning $53,035.

• Jennifer Grima was appointed as an academic interventionist at the Elementary Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree, is placed at Step 1, and will also earn $53,035.

• Heather Mullen will serve as a middle school family and consumer science teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree, is placed at Step 2, and will earn an annual salary of $54,035.

Superintendent Jason Moser introduced the hires and shared his perspective on the significance of the moment.

“These are seven brand-new teachers to our district, many of them coming to us as their first job,” he said. “I’ve been involved in a lot of processes of interviewing and trying to get candidates.

“We hear a lot about the shortage in the teacher pipeline. We are incredibly fortunate that we are approving our top seven candidates for these seven positions. That’s not the norm anymore in public education.”

Board President Joy Beers echoed Moser’s remarks, expressing enthusiasm over the outcome of the interview process.

“I sat in on the interviews,” Beers said. “The energy level was amazing, and I can’t believe that we were able to get all of the preferred candidates.”

All new hires are scheduled to begin on Aug. 12 contingent upon completion of all necessary paperwork.