Charlie O’Brien shared this photos of himself with the Petersburg School District. He is show with his dog and his niece. He will start as the district’s music director Nov. 15.

The Petersburg School District has hired a temporary music director through the end of the year. As KFSK’s Angela Denning reports, Charlie O’Brien will start teaching in mid-November at the middle and high schools.

Charlie O’Brien will be teaching at the Petersburg School District until the end of the school year, at least.

Superintendent Erica Kludt-Painter spoke about O’Brien at the last school board meeting.

“We’re very excited to have him joining us for the remainder of the school year,” she said. “He’ll be here on November 15th.”

Petersburg’s long-time music director Matt Lenhard left his position this summer after 23 years on the job. He took a position in Ketchikan, which is where his in-laws live. The Petersburg School District didn’t fill Lenhard’s position by the start of school so several teachers within the district have been filling in as well as a retired teacher on a temporary contract.

Kludt-Painter says O’Brien seems like he’ll do well in Petersburg.

“I think we found somebody that’s just going to be a great fit here and he’s really excited and brings some great experience and it just seems like the right fit at the right time,” Kludt-Painter said.

O’Brien has experience teaching music for eight years at a small school district in Wisconsin and has also taught at a larger school district in Illinois.

He plays low brass instruments including the euphonium, trombone, and tuba.

He created a flier or info-graphic about himself for students and says he’s looking forward to teaching the jazz band and pep band.

For hobbies, he enjoys the outdoors with his dog—backpacking, running, and cycling.

Secondary Principal, Rick Dormer agreed with Kludt-Painter that he would be a good fit for Petersburg.  

“I think kids are really going to like him,” Dormer said. “He’s just very available. Our teachers are going to reach out to him and meet with him virtually on Friday just to try and touch base. We have some teachers covering our band class, they’re doing a great job, kids are playing music, having fun. He’s already offered to meet with the kids and so the band kids are going to have a chance to meet with him– 6th, 7th, 8th and then our concert band. So, it’s exciting to have him.”

The school district will open up the music director position to be filled permanently next year.