Longtime AP statistics teacher Julie Wavrunek decided to move schools this year in order to spend more time with her family, leaving behind an advanced teaching position to fill.

Anson Opara, in only his third year of teaching, was selected for the role. Opara was previously a precalculus teacher.

Department head Erik Ahlquist said he thinks Wavrunek is a hard teacher to replace.

“We miss her because she was a great teacher, and she was really great with kids,” he said. “But ultimately it was the best decision for her family.”

Kristin Johnson, who has been a part time honors advanced algebra teacher for the past 10 years, is now a full time teacher and teaches advanced algebra and precalculus in response to Opara’s transition.

Opara said he had trouble getting accustomed to teaching this class.

“It can be hard because I don’t have a lot of resources,” he said. “I can’t get help from another teacher because no other teacher in the school has taught this class.”

Sophomore Danny Decker said although it may be a challenge for Opara, he’s doing a good job so far.

“I think he’s doing pretty well,” Decker said. “He has a background in this sort of math that really helps and he does a good job of explaining the homework the next day to help us learn.”