In a blockbuster trade, Principal Chris Roberts trades promising young English teacher Callie Miller for two younger teachers from Del Oro.
Though Roberts mentions that Miller is a superstar, he ultimately decided to make the trade after not being able to meet Miller's contract demands.
“Well, you know, she's definitely a talented teacher. There's no doubt about that. But there's a limit to what, you know, we can pay,” Roberts said. “The market is difficult right now when it comes to teachers and salary is important.”
Sources close to Miller said she was asking for a three-year, $12 million contract. But because of salary cap limitations at Bear River, the best offer Roberts could make for three years was $9 million.
“At the end of the day, I have a bottom line to meet as the GM of this school,” Roberts said. “And that bottom line means that I have to be very cautious in how I give out money and despite the talent, the request was just way too high.”
Miller has been at Bear River for three years after a successful college career at Stanford University. She’s been working hard and feels the need for proper treatment from her superiors.
“I think the state of the English Department, before I got here, and how it is now, speaks for itself,” Miller said. “I'm one of the best young teachers in the state, and people want to have me part of their program. So if Bear River wants to keep me around, they have to pay me fair market value.”
Although this new development was not intended to happen, Roberts has high hopes that the new teachers will develop into the kind of people who will make Bear River forget Miller.
“Well, we're getting two young prospects that are coming in,” Roberts said “I know Ms. Miller has a lot of experience and brings a lot of talent to the table. You know, despite the fact that they're coming from Del Oro, we won't hold that against them.”
Roberts knows that these new teachers will be a good fit.
“We've done some scouting on them. Our scouts have gone out there. They've watched them in action. They feel like they'd be a great asset to our school and I feel like the trade is going to benefit us not only talent-wise, but also monetarily.”
Roberts also believes that it’s for the best and that the decision will ultimately benefit Bear River.
“You know, they don't know the Bear River way. So when they get here, we'll teach them that,” Robert said. “But you know, trading two young prospects for a veteran teacher is kind of a no-brainer. We get two solid people that we can train and improve over the years.”
Miller is leaving, but she has already started thinking big for her next steps as a teacher at Del Oro.
“I think we're going to elevate Del Oro’s program to a whole other level, and we're competing for championships at the state and national level. And I think Principal Roberts will regret the day he didn't give me $12 million,” said Miller.
Del Oro Principal Jeffrey Cole is very thrilled to have Miller as a new addition to his team.
“Well, the good thing about adding Ms. Miller is that it helps call facts, but it also hurts Bear River,” Cole said. “And really, that's what I'm in the business of doing, is trying to make Bear River as downtrodden as possible, so that everybody wants to go to Del Oro, where they belong.”
Miller is also happy about the decision made, knowing that now she'll get what she wants.
“Del Oro was able to meet my contract and it reflects my true worth of the important English I teach,” said Miller.
