There have been several new additions to Salida High School for the 2025 school year, and among them is Josh Oberleas. 

Oberleas is the new auto teacher for SHS this year. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and being outdoors. He currently has a large garden that he hopes to expand, and owns quails, chickens, goats and dogs. Other than gardening and farming, Oberleas loves to be on the river and was formerly a raft guide and guide instructor. He also enjoys skiing and snowboarding when the winter season begins. 

Oberleas really enjoys being the auto teacher at SHS, and admires how amazing the students are. He is very excited to be able to teach all the students at Salida High School and be able to see where the future takes them. 

Oberleas also looks forward to getting his students into the trade world. He wants to build a classroom culture where students think of trades as “awesome, cool, and a great career.” He is trying to communicate to his students that the trades can include very important life skills. In his classroom, students should learn how trades can take you a long way if you just learn how to weld, or learn other life skills. “If we look at how our whole world is designed—it’s run by the trades,” Oberleas said. 

Oberleas has had a lot of jobs in the past, including jobs at Salida Elementary School, Salida Middle School, and now—Salida High School. Outside of his jobs in the Salida School School District, he worked in Climax for two years before deciding it wasn’t for him and leaving for a trip; not knowing what job would be held when he got home. 

Oberleas has really been enjoying teaching here at Salida High School and working with the kids. Oberleas is excited to see what the future holds and to see where his teaching takes students at Salida High School in the future.