Five new educators have joined the staff at Gravenhurst High School.

Trent Willett, Courtney Valjakka, Jacki Watson and Alanna Marcuccio are new staff this semester. Diana Clarke started in September.

After spending the first three and a half years of his career teaching in Asia, Trent Willett is happy to be back in Muskoka where he grew up.

Willett lived in Bracebridge until attending Trent University in Peterborough and then went on to Queen’s University for his Bachelor of Education.

He has just recently started co-coaching the Gyphons badminton team.

“It is a sport that I definitely enjoy and I am having a great time helping coach the badminton team here at GHS,” said Willett.

Willett enjoys the small-school atmosphere and described it as the most comfortable working environment he’s ever been in.

Courtney Valjakka taught in Asia as well for two years before coming to GHS. She currently teaches Grades 9 and 10 business as well as Grade 10 mathematics.

Valjakka attended Laur­entian University where she studied physical education and health promotion and completed her education degree at Nipissing University.

This spring, she plans to co-coach the badminton team, as well as help out as an assistant soccer coach.

Currently living in Lindsay, Valjakka said she hopes to move to Muskoka in the future.

Jacki Watson recently moved to Muskoka from Lindsay, where she taught at Lindsay Collegiate and Vocational Institute. She is currently teaching Grade 9 English at GHS.

After growing up in London, Ontario, Watson received a diploma in recreation, attended the University of Western Ontario and completed teachers’ college at the University of Ottawa. She is currently taking her master’s degree online through the University of Toronto.

Watson is involved with the GHS outdoors club and has many years of experience teaching climbing.

“I love camping, canoeing, snowshoeing, pretty much anything that gets me moving around outside,” explained Watson. She is also involved in the arts committee.

As a young adult, Watson spent numerous summers working at resorts in Muskoka. She is happy to be living here year-round and said, “There is so much to do, the communities are friendly, and the schools are awesome! I love living here and I’m so glad that it worked out for me to be in this area so early in my life.”

Alanna Marcuccio has called Muskoka home for three years now, and is teaching Grades 9 and 10 family studies. Marcuccio has been teaching for four years after attending the University of Guelph, Queen’s University for teachers’ college as well as the National Outdoor Leadership School.

Marcuccio spent the first two years of her career in British Columbia before moving to Muskoka and teaching at Rosseau Lake College for two years.

An athlete of various sports in high school and university, she plans to coach the Gryphons track team this spring.

Marcuccio is also a proud Eco Schools representative, helping reduce the school’s impact on the environment.

A relatively new teacher, Diana Clarke is excited to start of her teaching career at GHS. Clarke graduated from Nipissing University last year, after receiving her Bachelor of Physical and Health Education at the University of Toronto.

“The staff’s great and you get to know the students quickly,” she said.

Clarke has been at GHS since September and is currently teaching math, civics and discovering the workplace.

Clarke coached the girls volleyball team this year as she is very familiar with the sport. She has a great deal of experience playing and coaching volleyball in university as well as provincially and professionally.