Twenty new teachers joined Colonial School District during induction training the week of Aug. 17, filling roles across all three school levels before the first day of classes on Monday, Aug. 31.

The cohort includes hires in high school counseling, business, social studies and speech; middle school English/language arts, music, counseling, science and special education; and elementary counseling, general education and special education.

The new hires replace part of a wave of departures. Fifteen district employees retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year, including Plymouth Whitemarsh High School counselor Jeff Blizzard and teachers Lee Marcus and Mary Rems; Colonial Middle School teachers Colleen Difabio Papazian, Amy Kennedy, Paula Keyack and Amy Venkus; and Ridge Park Elementary's Barbara Galambos and reading specialist Melina Henry. HR Director Colleen Techtmann told the board's HR Committee on June 1 that the district had logged 14 retirements and four resignations heading into the new year.

By that June meeting, 13 of the known vacancies had been filled, roughly 72% of openings. The 20-teacher cohort announced the week of Aug. 17 suggests the district continued hiring through the summer.

Induction week featured Colonial's signature district bus tour of school buildings, followed by interactive sessions led by administrators. Topics included Universal Design for Learning, digital accessibility, student-centered engagement and grouping strategies, belonging, and ethical social media use. The week is set to close with each new teacher establishing personalized professional practice goals and meeting with building principals, department chairs and assigned mentor teachers.

The district's announcement did not name the individual hires or specify which buildings they will serve.

Colonial's first day, Aug. 31, is for kindergarteners and students entering grades 6 and 9. All K-12 students report Tuesday, Sept. 1. The district operates on a $168.8 million budget for 2026-27, approved unanimously by the school board June 8 with a 3.5% tax increase.