An additional kindergarten class was added late in the summer because of increasing enrollment numbers. That moved a preschool classroom from McFall to the Learning Center in a room that was being prepared to house the new community senior center and programs. Instead, the senior center will be moved to an available room in the high school.
Enslen said it's quite an achievement in years when public school enrollment in many districts across the state has been declining and the state's birth rates are the lowest they've been since the 1950s.
"We are very fortunate to be in a very healthy school district. People want to be here. They love you (teachers and staff) and they love this school district."
TK Board of Education President Don Haney also welcomed everyone to the new year.
"One of the noblest of professions is teaching. You all play a vital role in helping raise young kids to be productive members of society. I've never been more optimistic about our youth and their education," said Haney.
Enslen said this year includes 21 new teachers, 13 new support staff, 19 people taking new internal positions. He also said he's been in the district for 17 years and 34 years total in education, but that this is his last year.
"I don't know how to feel. This is my last year. I'm very excited about it, but it's hard to imagine life beyond education."
The number of new personnel is a combination of filling spots vacated by retirement and resignations as well as adding positions. There have also been numerous internal employment shifts.
New Teaching Staff
Annie Bosch - Early Childhood Special Education/Lee Resource
Teigan Mitcham - Young Fives
Jacob Bultema - Kindergarten
Lindsey Murray - Kindergarten
Sarah Hartman - 1st Grade
Nate Poll - 1st Grade
Courtney VanLaare - McFall Speech Pathologist
Katie Marsh - 2nd Grade
Ashley Fandel - 3rd Grade
Katrina Deters - Lee & Page Music
Christopher Cole - Middle School Math & Science
Scott Aldrich - High School English
Melissa Doran - High School Spanish
Erin Lewis - High School Science
Rob Rostar - High School Resource Room
David Salminen - High School Social Studies
Jessie Schuett - High School Resource Room
Melissa Thaler - Middle School Health/High School PE
Katie VanOpstall - High School Math & Science
Molly Zemaitis - Speech Pathologist
Sarah Hammer - Special Education Director
New Support Staff
Tammie Burbridge - McFall Paraeducator
Lyndsey Carpenter - McFall Interventionist
Jenny Carpenter - McFall Special Education Paraeducator
Michelle Harring - Lee Interventionist
Amanda Jonker - Lee Interventionist
Keri Bufka - Page Office Monitor
Jennifer Kolhoff - Page Interpreter
Karen Raphael - Middle School Counseling Secretary
Janelle Bailey - High School Food Service
Sarah Middleton - High School Attendance Secretary
Gary White - K-8 Maintenance
Matthew Lineback - Bus Driver
Carly Potts - Bus Driver
Retirements:
Arva VanderPloeg - Early Childhood Special Education Teacher
Barb Crawford - Early Childhood Special Education Para.
Kay Griffith - Kindergarten Teacher
Judy Fletke - Lee Elementary Paraeducator
Eric Proseus - Elementary Music Teacher
Terrie McClure - Page Office Monitor
Brian Willshire - Middle School Counselor
Gary Yoder - K-8 Maintenance
Beth Ploeg - High School Counseling Office Secretary
Joyce Blood - District Technology
Resignations:
Molly Anderson - 1st Grade Teacher
Casey Williams - McFall Speech Pathologist
Michelle Tuokkola - McFall Paraeducator
Taryn Fritz - Page Special Education Paraeducator
Mike Munjoy - Page Custodian
Dawn Haveman - Middle School Food Service
Heidi Alvesteffer - Middle School Interventionist
Abby Kanitz - High School Biology Teacher
Shasta Crabb - High School Resource Room Teacher
Meagan Allison - High School Interventionist
Dawn Zondervan - District Speech Pathologist
Jordan Day - Bus Driver
Mari Price - Special Education Director
Internal Shifts in Job Assignments:
Miranda Baranek from 2nd Grade Teacher to Early Childhood Spec. Educ.
Marnie Lambitz from 1st Grade Teacher to K-5 At Risk Teacher
Martha Thorne from Middle School English to Middle School Science
Luann Schnur from Middle School Science to Middle School Math
Lindsey Baxter from High School English to Middle School English
Aaron Eding from High School Spanish to High School English
Mark Verlinde from High School Social Studies to Alternative Education
Steve Guikema from M.S. Student Support to Middle School Counselor
Lyndsey Fischer from M.S./H.S. Teacher to Middle School Asst. Principal
Amy Wandrie from McFall Paraeducator to McFall Librarian
Lisa Kitzrow from Lee Interventionist to Daycare Director
Cathy Moore from Page Paraeducator to ECSE Paraeducator
Shannon Heynig from McFall Cleaner to Page Custodian
Laura Munjoy from middle school counseling secretary to Community Enrichment Secretary
Dawn Humphrey from high school attendance secretary to high school Counseling Secretary
Andrew Reeder from Alternative Education Paraprofessional to high school interventionist
Trisha Brown from high school food service to McFall food service
Lisa Finkbeiner from operations secretary to technology support
Ashlee McDiarmid from high school cleaner to operations secretary
Service Awards
30 Years
Marla Bierens
Mary Francisco
Andy Kopf
20 Years
George Dudik
Randy Fryling
Barb Hodgson
Sandy Kilmartin
Shannon See
Marilyn Whitney
Sam Wilkinson
10 Years
Molly Bumstead
Kim Dannenberg
Krissta Hannapel
Marnie Lambitz
Bonnie McBride
Lindsey Meredith
Suzanne Thomas
Megan Wonders.