As the first months of the school year come to a close, Shenandoah County schools have welcomed several new teachers, including 17 district graduates, back to the classrooms where they once studied.

“I’m feeling very fulfilled,” said Lloyd Willis, a sixth-grade special education math teacher and coach at Signal Knob Middle School. “I want to give these students something to inspire them, so they can be better people in our society. If I can inspire them to be better, then I’m fulfilled."

Human Resources Director Linda Hodges told the School Board in August that SCPS’s turnover rate fell from 18% to 13%, with 84 new teachers joining this year. About 7% of those new hires are experienced educators who previously taught in SCPS and chose to return.

With fresh energy and new ideas, three ed

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