A new, half-time kindergarten teacher was hired and fall coaching positions filled this week by the Leland Board of Education.

The board voted unanimously Monday night to hire Bethany Munoz Osorio as a half-time kindergarten teacher for the upcoming school year. Osorio, a Leland graduate, will share teaching responsibilities with MerriLynn Bouckaert, who earlier this year asked to go to part-time status.

In recommending the hiring, the board’s personnel committee cited Osorio’s 16-year career at Zeeland Public Schools and her work to develop an “excellent” English/language arts curriculum. Her ability to speak Spanish are also expected to help with migrant families who often stay in Leelanau to complete the fall apple harvest.

While there was no questioning her credentials, there was some board discussion as to where she would enter on the district’s contractual pay scale.

Osorio, with 16 years experience, will enter the scale at Step 8, which credits her with a bachelor’s degree, plus 18 higher education credits. A full-time position at this level would earn $49,568 in the upcoming school year. Osorio will receive half this, or $24,784, business manager Sandra Potts said.

Osorio is the daughter of retired Leland teacher and coach Jim Munoz and his wife, Carol.
Fall coaching positions were also filled Monday night.

Ryan DeFour will take over as varsity boys’ soccer coach from Rob Boynton, who stepped down late in 2006. Serving as junior varsity coach this fall under DeFour is Landon Vanderroest.

Angie Shinos, who previously coached volleyball at the junior varsity and varsity levels at Northport, will replace Laurie Glass, who retired at the end of the 2007 season.

Ed Wodek will continue as tennis coach — in the fall this year, rather than the spring due to the realignment of athletic season’s earlier this year by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Megan Munoz was appointed 7th grade girls’ basketball coach and Rebecca McKee 8th grade coach for girls basketball.

Joe Burda will serve as the middle school soccer coach.

One coaching position, for junior varsity volleyball, remains open.