"Hola" is the salutation that parents, students and various employees from Edgecombe County Public Schools would like to greet a new Spanish teacher with at Tarboro High School.

Unfortunately, it is seven weeks later and those at ECPS have had little luck at finding a person to fill the void. They are saying the job is "abierto"– still open.

When Patsy Miller, a veteran of nearly two decades, returned to the classroom at fall semester's onset as a part-time school Spanish instructor, THS staff and students were the beneficiaries of her curriculum layout and implementation mastery.

"As a teacher, she's quite impressive. She brings the most out of her students," said Tarboro High Principal Dr. Lisa Cooke.

But soon after the school year began, Miller took an unforeseen and immediate retirement to battle breast cancer. Her last day was Oct. 10. Miller taught classes, then, sensing the challenges a stopgap replacement instructor would face, she wrote detailed lesson plans for her successor.

Then, she went home to face surgery the following day – and aimed at getting healthy.

"I'm doing OK," said Miller, in a reassuring tone. "I would have preferred to stay (at THS), but I need the rest."

While Miller works to regain her health, those at Edgecombe County Public Schools are hustling to fill the subsequent classroom opening.

As the time extends, the curricular gap has become a growing concern of Norman and Delane Weathersby of Tarboro, whose daughter Samantha, a sophomore at THS, currently is part of a third-period Spanish I class. One of the concerns the Weathersbys have focuses on the impact that long-term substitute teachers – especially non-Spanish speaking ones – impose upon the students, teacher and curriculum.

In a recent letter, Delane Weathersby explains, "This situation has been most unfair to students as well as Ms. Cepeda."

Cooke charted out the strategy second-year THS Spanish instructor Martha Cepeda and a substitute teacher use to concurrently teach two 90-minute Spanish classes; each begins their class, then they "trade off" after 45 minutes.

"We're doing the best we can with what we have," Cooke said.

Meanwhile, Cepeda conceded that lacking a second certified Spanish teacher on staff has required her to trim down the curriculum.

"I can't do too much in any one area. We just do a few exercises," Cepeda said.

It also has caused considerable delays, making a "significant impact. We can't go as fast as if I was there the entire time."