Area school districts welcome new teachers for 2014-15 year

As students make the best of their last few days of summer vacation, area school districts are preparing for a new school year, and have welcomed new teachers.

Three teachers joined the Durand School District this  year.

Mandy Foss is the new special education teacher at Durand High School this year. 

Originally from Whitehall, Foss attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she obtained a degree in special education in 2010. She student-taught in Chippewa Falls Middle School and Eau Claire North High School.

Currently residing in Mondovi, Foss said her fiance's career positioned them in the Durand area, and said she is lucky and excited to be a part of the School District of Durand.

Foss said she first attended college with a business degree in mind, as she worked as a Youth Apprentice with Royal Credit Union during her junior and senior years of high school.

"I should have known I was going to be a teacher, because that's what always came naturally to me," she said. 

Foss' brother is a third-grade teacher in Osseo, her sister-in-law teaches college business in Winona, and her mom and sister both work in school districts. 

Foss said her brother, Chris, who has Down Syndrome, inspired her to become a teacher.

"I think back to his education career that was filled with homework, rigorous expectations, involvement in sports and other extracurriculars, and I just really want that opportunity and more for all students," she said.

This will be Foss' fifth year teaching. She previously taught in Green Bay East High School, Menasha High School, and most recently, Arcadia Elementary School.

In her teaching career, Foss said she would like to see all of her students be employed when they graduate high school.

"I would like to write a children's book with an emphasis on children with special needs, too," she said. 

Foss said she also plans to dabble in some coaching opportunities.

Alison McDowell is taking over as the fifth grade teacher in Durand this year.

Originally from Cottage Grove, Minn., McDowell received her elementary education degree from UW-Eau Claire. She minored in mathematics.

McDowell  currently lives in Eau Claire, and has two cousins, two aunts, and an uncle who are also teachers. 

McDowell said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher.

"I am very excited to get started in this career," she said.

Light bulb moments are the reason McDowell said made her want to be a teacher. 

"Seeing a child understand something for the first time is what fuels my passion for teaching," she said.

Prior to coming to Durand, McDowell student taught in Colfax and Altoona.

McDowell said she loved school as a child, and had a wonderful schooling experience.

"All of my elementary teachers, especially my fifth grade teacher, were my inspiration for pursuing a teaching career," she said.

McDowell said the community feeling you get in small towns drew her to Durand School District.

"Everyone knows each other and are very supportive of teachers and education," she said.

McDowell said she hopes to get her Master's Degree and continue teaching.

Julie Noel has taken the position of elementary special education teacher in the Durand School District.

Noel is originally from Pepin, and earned her degree at UW-Eau Claire.

Currently residing in Eau Galle, Noel has an aunt and cousin who teach, and said her grandpa taught in Pepin for many years.

Noel said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher.

"I have always been passionate about teaching, and it has always been a goal of mine to teach since I was little," she said.

Noel said her family and Introduction to Special Education instructor at UWEC inspired her to become a teacher. This is Noel's first teaching job, other than student teaching in Elmwood.

Noel said she enjoys being in the Durand community.

"After doing some work with the Durand School District during college, I knew I wanted to work at a district like Durand," she said.

Noel said she hopes to obtain a Master's Degree in special education, and continue her special education teaching career.

The School District of Pepin welcomed six new teachers this year.

Chelsie Harder is the new first-grade teacher in Pepin.

Originally from Colfax, Harder attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. 

Harder began college with a biology degree in mind.

"After an eye-opening internship, I went back to school to get my Master's in education," she said.

Harder said her second grade teacher inspired her to pursue teaching. 

"She was a ventriloquist, and was always doing something random in the classroom," she said. "She was always thinking outside the box and made school a lot of fun. When I think of what a good teacher is like, I always remember those times."

Harder said she hopes to inspire kids to be lifelong learners.

"I want to inspire them to continue to soak up knowledge," she said.

Harder said she chose Pepin as the people are willing to go out of their way and help.

"I moved into the area, and am getting married this fall," she said. 

Harder and her fiance live in Durand. She has two aunts who work in schools. She substitute taught in River Falls, Hudson, Shell Lake, and Pepin.

Amber Guza is taking over the position of science teacher this year.

Originally from Chetek, Guza earned her biology degree at Viterbo. She obtained teacher licensure from the post-baccalaureate program. Guza currently resides in Gilmanton.

In her high school days, Guza said she had a female science teacher who taught a lot of cool things.

"I looked up to her," she said. "She kind of inspired me to become a teacher."

Guza said she hopes to inspire students to be truly interested in science.

"I want to get their thought processes going in their heads so they want to ask 'why,'" she said.

Guza's husband works in Whitehall, and said while looking for jobs in the area, the Pepin School District impressed her.

Guza said she has quite a few aunts, uncles, and cousins who also teach, and her husband is a teacher. This is her first teaching job.

The School District of Pepin is also welcoming Title I teaching assistant Dean Behrendt this year.

Behrendt is originally from Two Rivers, Wisc. He attended UWRF and earned his teaching degree.

Currently a resident of Bay City, Behrendt said teaching was always in the back of his mind.

"Life got in the way of life, and I did a lot of different things before going back to school for my education degree," he said. "I did my undergrad in wildlife management."

Behrendt said he hopes to be an awesome, fun teacher, who makes the kids care about what they're learning.

"I started as a sub, and began looking for a teaching job," he said. "I met Bruce [Quinton] at a kids' triathlon, and he told me about this job opening."

Behrendt said Pepin is a very friendly, welcoming, and inviting community and district. Behrendt has an uncle in Texas who teaches. This will be his first teaching job.

"I've subbed in many districts, and in all of my jobs I was a trainer or supervisor," he said. 

Nick Peters is the new band director in Pepin this year. 

Originally from Rib Lake, Peters attended UW-Whitewater. He now resides in Pepin.

Peters originally joined the Marines, and played in the Marine Band. He then went into law enforcement for six years, then returned to school to obtain a music education degree.

"My high school band instructor inspired me to pursue a teaching career," he said. "She was cool."

Peters said he hopes to create students who will be good citizens, and kids who have really good taste in music. 

"I like the small town of Pepin, and I was really impressed when I interviewed for the position," he said.

This is Peters' first teaching job. He substitute taught in the Deerfield and Whitewater school districts.

Pepin's new EEN teacher, Ashleigh Seifert, was unavailable for an interview, as she is on maternity leave. New tech ed teacher, Mark Fredrickson, is a split position between Plum City and Pepin.

The School District of Plum City is welcoming four new teachers this year.

Kristen Elbe is the new fifth grade teacher in Plum City. 

Originally from Plum City, Elbe attended UWRF for elementary education with a minor in early childhood.

Elbe said she decided in elementary school that she wanted to be a teacher.

"I always was pretending to be a teacher, and now I'll be teaching alongside a couple of my past teachers," she said.

Elbe's grandfather was a high school teacher. She taught in Prescott for seven years. 

"This job opened up, and with my kids coming into school soon, I knew being close to home would be nice," she said. "Plus the commute is much shorter. I thought I'd give it a shot."

Elbe student taught in Durand and Ellsworth, as well as some time in Australia. 

"I'd like to do as much for this small school as I can by bringing in some ideas from a bigger district," she said. "I'd like to see more enrichment programs."

Mark Fredrickson is the new tech ed teacher in Plum City, and will also be teaching in Pepin.

Originally from Elmwood, Fredrickson now lives in Plum City. He earned his degree at UW-Stout.

Fredrickson taught in Stanley-Boyd, Mondovi, and Alaska. Last year he taught at Ladysmith.

"I had a shop teacher who said he could do other things, but didn't," Fredrickson said. "I got out of teaching for 10 or 12 years and tried other things before coming back.

Fredrickson said he pursued a job in the Plum City and Pepin school districts to be closer to home. He has a daughter who is still in high school. 

One thing Fredrickson said he is looking forward to is the set-up of a CDL training course in Plum City.

"We're working it into the career and technical skills," he said. "I'm also trying to write a tech-ed math challenge textbook."

Fredrickson said he's working through UW-Stout to set up the 100 page manual that would teach kids what they need to know about math in the workplace.

"I believe I'll fit right in here, and I'm excited to be closer to home," he said.

Jenni Holcomb is the new 4K teacher in Plum City.

Originally from Elmwood, Holcomb graduated from UWEC. She currently lives in the Elmwood area.

"I knew when I was little I wanted to be a teacher," she said. "It's always been my goal."

Holcomb's mom and older brother are also teachers. 

"I've always enjoyed being around children," she said. 

Holcomb taught 4K in Spring Valley for six years, and taught pre-k and kindergarten last year at Ave Maria in Plum City. She student taught at UW-Stout, Eau Claire, and Altoona.

"I always wanted to teach in a small town close to home," she said.

Rachel Pommerening joins the Plum City School District this year as the special education director.

Originally from Pepin, Pommerening earned her undergrad at UW-Stout, and her Director's licensure at UWEC. She currently resides in Pepin.

Pommerening said she knew most of her life she wanted to be a teacher.

"I started working with kids at a young age," she said. "I tried other fields and I wasn't happy with it."

Pommerening said she wanted to stay in the area, and likes small, rural districts. 

"I taught in Pepin for seven years, and in Arcadia," she said. "I student taught in Elk Mound."

Pommerening's position is also shared with Pepin-Alma. She said she hopes to meet the special education laws and requirements for the state, while ensuring she assists students to be as successful as possible.