WELCOME NEW TEACHERS

Name: Madison Omtvedt

Position at Baxter: High School English Teacher

Education: B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Iowa State University

Work history: This will be my first year teaching! I graduated from ISU in December after completing my student teaching in the Ankeny Community School District, then spent the remainder of last school year gaining experience as both a general district substitute and later as a building substitute in Ankeny.

What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I’ve called Ames home for the past five years, and while Baxter was new to me when applying, I’m always eager to try something new and step outside my comfort zone. Coming from a larger high school in MN and doing my student teaching in Ankeny, I wanted to experience the connections and sense of community in a smaller district. From my very first phone interview with Mr. Harrold, every interaction with Baxter’s administration, staff, students, and families has been wonderful, and I’m truly looking forward to joining the community this school year.

What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love weaving creativity into my teaching and letting student ideas guide us forward. I’m a passionate believer in the power of independent reading and daily writing or journaling as a way of connecting with material and building communication and relational skills. I like to think teaching should be more of a conversation rather than a speech — every student brings experiences and ideas that can make lessons far more meaningful than any lecture I could give.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Listen more than you speak, question more than you tell, and always point out the good in every student, every moment, and every day.

What are you most excited for this school year? I’m most excited to see students walk into my classroom and leave each day as better learners, community members, and people than when they came in.

Name: Kristi Cook

Position at Baxter: Secondary Special Education/At Risk

Education: William Penn University

Work history: I worked at the Newton Community School District for the last three years as a behavior interventionist while I attended school at William Penn University to obtain my teaching license.

What attracted you to Baxter to teach? I love the small town atmosphere.

What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love doing hands-on activities with students and building relationships.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? I have learned that everyone learns differently and so it is important to teach in many ways for all learners.

What are you most excited for this school year? I am most excited to get to know all of my new students!

Name: Katherine Eden

Position at Baxter: 6-12 Band and Choir Director

Education: B.M. in Music Education (Instrumental emphasis)

Work history: This is my first year teaching, but I have student taught and given private lessons and absolutely love teaching music

What attracted me to Baxter: I love small towns and the close knit community they often provide, especially among the students. I am excited to teach smaller groups of students so that I can better invest in them as individuals. My brother, sister-in-law, and niece recently bought a house here and that is how this town was on my radar!

Favorite teaching method: The most important thing to me in my classroom is creating a space where students feel welcomed, prepared, and ready to make music together. This means that my classroom can be fast-paced so that we can make music faster!

A valuable lesson I’ve learned about teaching: Don’t be so focused on the content/curriculum to get through that you fail to see the students that you’re impacting.

What I’m most excited about: Getting to know the students, teachers, and community in Baxter.

Name: Kenzie James

Position at Baxter: High School Math Teacher

Education: BS in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Iowa State University

Work history: Student taught at Southeast Polk Middle School and Waukee Northwest High School

What attracted you to Baxter to teach? What attracted me to Baxter was the strong sense of community. From the moment I began connecting with staff at Baxter, it was clear that this school and community are truly exceptional. I was warmly welcomed, and every conversation reflected a deep sense of pride and positivity about the district and the town.

What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I encourage students to work collaboratively in groups, as this fosters a sense of ownership over their learning. It gives them the opportunity to share ideas, challenge each other’s thinking, and build deeper understanding together. These group settings also allow me to engage more meaningfully with students. I get to observe their thought processes, answer questions by connecting new concepts to their existing knowledge. This approach not only reinforces their math skills but also builds confidence.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Building relationships with students is essential. Taking the time to get to know them and form personal connections has a meaningful impact on each and every student. Establishing mutual respect creates a positive classroom environment where students feel valued, seen, and more willing to engage in their learning.

What are you most excited for this school year? I’m excited for the opportunity to build and grow new relationships with both students and staff. I’m also really looking forward to the ‘aha’ moments, those instances when a new skill or concept finally clicks for a student. Watching their confidence grow in those moments is one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

Name: Ian Thomson

Position: HS Science Teacher

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with endorsements in Secondary Education and Chemistry from Central College.

Work history: I worked as a HS Science teacher at Newton High School for the previous two years teaching Biology and Applied Chemistry.

What attracted me to Baxter: I graduated from Baxter in 2019 and so I always thought it’d be fun to teach at the same school I went to. There have also been some other contributing factors as well. I am excited for the 4 day work week. I will also be Head Cross Country coach so coaching opportunities played a part also.

Favorite teaching method: I love when we have the opportunity to do labs in class. The students are most engaged during them and they really enjoy them. It allows us to apply the things we have learned in class to some more practical applications.

Valuable Lesson: Kids do not care how much you know but they know how much you care. I want the kids to know that I am passionate about what I do and I want them to be able to feel that excitement as well. I find that if I am excited and passionate about something the kids generally reflect that as well.

What I am excited about: I am excited to teach Biology II this year at Baxter. It will be an anatomy and physiology based course. Anatomy and Physiology is a class that I believe Baxter has never offered before so I am excited to tackle that class in particular. I am also excited to have my first season as a head coach. The cross country team this year is going to do some great things!

Name: Carly Williams

Position at Baxter: Agriculture Teacher & FFA Advisor

Education: Iowa State University, I graduated this past May with my Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture & Life Sciences Education

Work history: Baxter will be my first teaching job! However I did tutor and substitute teach throughout college.

What attracted you to Baxter to teach? One thing that attracted me to Baxter to teach was the family feel of the school and community. I have felt overwhelming support from the staff at the school, parents, and community members I have met.

What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? My favorite teaching method is labs and simulations! I believe there is no better way to learn than doing! Whether that is tearing down a small engine or dissecting a cow’s intestinal tract, I love seeing how students start to “connect the dots” once they get their hands dirty.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? A valuable lesson I’ve learned about teaching is that building relationships with students is just as important as delivering content. Early on, I focused heavily on having the perfect lesson plan, but I quickly realized that students engage more and learn better when they feel respected, supported, and seen as individuals. Taking the time to learn about their interests, listen to their concerns, and show up consistently for them creates a classroom culture where learning naturally thrives.

What are you most excited for this school year? This school year, I am the most excited to build relationships with my students and help stir up a passion for agriculture.

Name: Amy Archer

Position at Colfax-Mingo: Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Teacher

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Apparel Design – Iowa State University, currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching, Secondary Education – Morningside University

Work history: Former FCS Teacher at Perry High School, industry experience in fashion and apparel design in Los Angeles, Small business owner – co-owned and operated an ice cream restaurant in Iowa, now bringing real-world culinary, child development, and design expertise to the classroom

What attracted you to Colfax-Mingo to teach? The location was a big draw—it’s close to home, and my family enjoys spending time on the local golf course. Plus, Colfax-Mingo has a welcoming community that makes it a great place to teach and connect with students.

What is your favorite teaching method, how do you like to interact with the kids? I love interactive, hands-on learning where students get to do, not just listen. Whether it’s a lively kitchen lab or a design project, I enjoy seeing students take ownership of their learning. I keep things structured but fun, with lots of teamwork, creativity, and real-world problem-solving.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned about teaching? Flexibility is everything. Every class, every student, every day is different—and that’s what makes teaching exciting. Meeting students where they are and adjusting as needed can make all the difference.

What are you most excited for this school year? Building relationships with my new students and helping them see how the skills we learn in FCS — cooking, design, child development — connect to their futures. Oh, and of course — seeing who’s going to win “best dish” in our first big culinary challenge!