CANADIAN TEACHERS SETTLE IN PALMDALE : RECRUITS TO AID IN CLASS-SIZE REDUCTION EFFORT.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Heidi Stahl said she was glad that she'd moved to the United States from Canada, as she attended a welcoming ceremony for new teachers at the Palmdale School District on Saturday.

Stahl was one of the 92 new teachers and one of 31 from Canada recently hired by the Palmdale district in an effort to decrease class size to 20 students.

``The situation in Canada is very weak right now,'' Stahl said. ``So we jumped at the opportunity. The pay is really good - better than what we would make at home,'' Stahl added. ``And Palmdale has a good program.''

Stahl arrived in the Antelope Valley for the first time Monday from Port Dover, about 120 miles from Toronto.

``We wanted them to feel welcome,'' said Greg Galli, a real estate broker and one of four members of the welcoming committee. ``We wanted to give them a big hug and say we're glad that you're here.''

Held at Cactus Elementary School at Avenue R and 20th Street East, the welcoming party attracted about 60 new teachers who were given references and information useful to new residents in the Antelope Valley.

Along with the 31 Canadians recently hired by the district were 45 teachers from other parts of California, four from Washington state, three from Arizona, and one each from Utah, Texas and Idaho.

The local hirings were part of a statewide effort to reduce class sizes from kindergarten through third grade.

Although Mike Park of Spokane, Wash., was pleased to hear about the smaller class sizes, he said he decided to come to Palmdale because of its ethnic and racial diversity.

``It's just going to be a different challenge, teaching here,'' said Park. ``This district is also growing so there are going to be a lot of opportunities.''

Park, 30, was in the Air Force for six years before deciding to go into teaching and acquiring his master's degree. He moved to the Antelope Valley a few weeks ago and has settled into his Lancaster apartment.

``I was impressed with the number of people that showed up,'' said Park. ``It shows that they care about you. They didn't have to do this. It makes you feel good to know you'll be working hard and there'll be someone here to help you.''

Stahl took some time Saturday to talk to people about some of the problems she was having after moving here.

``We're enjoying the large grocery stores and American food, but having trouble converting money and buying a car,'' said Stahl. ``We can't seem to get a car loan. We've been renting one so far.

``We're sleeping on the floor right now,'' she added, explaining that she is living with another new teacher in a unfurnished Lancaster apartment complex. ``I'm waiting for my bed to be delivered.''

Despite the inconveniences, Stahl and other Canadians decided to take job offers in the United States after struggling with an unfavorable job market in Canada.

``There'll be a job offer and 2,000 people will apply,'' said Stahl's roommate, Sharon Horvath of Ajax, Canada, who said she couldn't even land a place on a substitute teacher list in Canada.

``There've been so many cutbacks and class sizes are getting larger,'' Horvath said. ``They keep producing teachers but they can't find any jobs for them.''

Stahl and Horvath, recent college graduates, met in a mall two weeks before coming to the United States along with five other newly hired Palmdale teachers. It was then that they decided to become roommates and fly to California together.

The new teachers officially started Friday and will begin a two-week district training course Monday; they are expected to begin teaching on their own sometime in January.

``We love it here,'' said Stahl. ``We're very positive, very happy to be here and eager to get started. I'm not in a hurry to go home.''