NCSD welcomes 13 new teachers

The Newton Community School District is welcoming 13 new teachers for the upcoming school year.

The teachers and a short biography for each are as follows:

• Kelli Brown received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and Early Childhood Education from University of Northern Iowa. She is a graduate of Newton Senior High School. Kelli completed her student teaching in Newton and Marshalltown. She was a substitute teacher for both districts after graduating from UNI last December. Kelli will be teaching preschool at Emerson Hough.

• Emily DeJong received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Central College in Pella. She is a graduate of Ankeny High School. She previously taught K-8 English in South Korea. Emily will be teaching upper elementary special education for Aurora Heights and Woodrow Wilson Elementary Schools.

• Will Edgar received his bachelor of arts degree in music education from University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He is a graduate of Colfax-Mingo High School. Will is a first year teacher who completed his student teaching last year at Aurora Heights Elementary, Berg Elementary and Newton Senior High School. He will be teaching vocal music at Berg Elementary and Berg Middle School.

• Jessica Jansen received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake and her MA in School Counseling from University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. She is a graduate of North Park High School in Walden, Colo. She completed her counseling internship last year at Urbandale High School. Jessica will begin her career as guidance counselor at Aurora Heights Elementary School.

• Ellen Lahart received her bachelor of arts degree in English as a second language from University of Northern Iowa. She is a graduate of Newton Senior High School. She completed her student teaching in the Des Moines schools and was a substitute teacher for our district last school year. Ellen will begin her career as the English Language Learners teacher for the district.

• Kylie McAnally received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Buena Vista University. She is a graduate of Newton Senior High School. Kylie completed her student teaching at Baxter Elementary School. She will begin her teaching career as a special education teacher at Berg Elementary School.

• Cara Schwarz received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Iowa State University. She is a graduate of Ruthven Consolidated Schools, Ruthven, Iowa. Cara has 25 years of teaching experience. Her most recent assignment was teaching language arts and reading at Callahan Middle School in Des Moines. Cara will be teaching language arts and reading at Berg Middle School.

• Doug Smith received his bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Grand View College in Des Moines. He is a graduate of Colfax-Mingo High School. Doug completed his student teaching in Newton Elementary Schools and has been active as a substitute teacher for the District. Last year he was a substitute sixth grade teacher at Aurora Heights Elementary School. He will continue teaching sixth grade at Aurora Heights this year as a first year teacher.

• Nathan Smith received his bachelor of arts degree in math education from Central College in Pella. He is a graduate of Southeast Polk High School. Nathan did his student teaching at Newton Senior High School and Berg Middle School. He will begin his teaching career at Newton Senior High School teaching math.

• Dan Stecker received his bachelor of arts degree in music education from Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo. He is a graduate of Harmony High School in Farmington. Dan has taught instrumental music for Roosevelt High School and Merrill Middle School in Des Moines the past six years. He also taught for Southeast Polk, Indianola and Carlisle. Dan will be the band director for Newton Senior High School.

• Rachelle Tipton received her bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Central College in Pella. She is a graduate of Newton Senior High School. She completed her student teaching at Pella and Berg Elementary. Rachelle will begin her career teaching kindergarten at Berg Elementary School.

• Darin Tisdale received his bachelor of arts degree in secondary education from Grand View University. He is a graduate of Newton Senior High School. His student teaching was completed at Southeast Polk. Darin will begin his teaching career at Berg Middle School teaching science and will continue coaching the ninth grade baseball team.

• Steven Weeks received his bachelor of arts degree in history from University of Iowa and his teaching certification from Buena Vista in Storm Lake. He is a Newton Senior High School graduate. Steven substitute taught for Newton and Spring Independent School District in Spring, Texas. A first year teacher, Steve will begin his career teaching social studies at Newton Senior High School.