Ohio County Board of Education members approved the hiring of two teachers during a special meeting Monday morning as the district prepares for the start of school on Aug. 17.

Meri Cummings was hired as a Spanish teacher at Wheeling Middle School. Jennifer Hempelmann was approved as a general science teacher at Triadelphia Middle School.

As the calendar counts down the days until students return to the classroom, at least two full-time teaching positions still need to be filled within Ohio County Schools. One of the full-time positions is in special education, while the second is for a French/Spanish teacher at Wheeling Park High School.

Susan Nolte, director of human resources for Ohio County Schools, said teaching positions often are filled from within the school district, resulting in other teaching vacancies.

“You might see more (job vacancies), but we won’t be creating more,” she said.

She explained it is now more difficult for schools to find qualified foreign language instructors, and that the task is becoming more challenging than hiring math and science teachers.

Ohio County Schools has been attracting strong science teaching candidates, according to Nolte.

Hempelmann previously was a student teacher at Triadelphia Middle School. She is a graduate of West Liberty University, with a master’s degree in education with certifications in biology and general science. She also has obtained a degree as a physician’s assistant from Duquesne University, and was valedictorian of her class.

Cummings said she is in her “fourth generation of careers.” She first obtained a doctorate in biological oceanography, and taught in Miami. She also had an interest in space and NASA projects, and came to Wheeling for a job at the NASA classroom at the future at Wheeling Jesuit University.

She next served as director of the West Virginia Robotics Tournament.

Cummings later opted to enhance her educational background, and received a teaching certification in Spanish.

“We’re just getting our last-minute hires in place, and making sure everyone is ready to go and that our facilities are ready,” Superintendent Kim Miller said. “We’re just super excited to get started.”