Mitchell Nelson
will be a new Social Studies teacher at the High School. He is a CHS alum
and has taught in Arizona and more recently East Chicago.
Other new teachers
are Kathleen Teal as a half-time science teacher and Erin Gerig who will
teach strings in the music department.
Also joining the
CHS staff is James Moore as a guidance counselor. Chairing the Guidance
Dept. next year is Karen Moffett and Kirsten Reed will chair the English
Dept.
Meanwhile at CMS,
ten new teachers will be coming on board next year. New Social Studies
teachers are Luke Starkey and Dana Huwig. Kyle Prow and Kenneth Florek will
teach P.E. and Health while Laura O’Dell and Erin Cochran will teach Math.
O’Dell has worked in Duneland as a High Ability Instructor and Cochran is a
CHS graduate who recently taught in Lee County, Florida.
Cochran’s husband
Allen Cochran will teach business. He is also a CHS graduate.
Taylor Tice,
another CHS graduate, will teach art next year. Teaching English will be
Kellie Roberts.
Carla Sissel, who
had previously taught Math will now teach science at CMS.
Other hires
elsewhere include Kirstyn Nallenweg who will teach 3rd Grade at Brummitt,
Amanda Whitman and Kathryn Ahrendt, who will both teach 4th Grade at Yost.
All three are graduates of CHS.
Coaching
appointments at CMS include Luke Starkey for Boys Cross County, Josh Tudor
for 7th Grade Girls Track and Kelly Williamson as an assistant coach for
track.
Hired as custodians
for Duneland are Phillip Labere and Travis McCormack. Other appointments
include Brian Doolin as a level leader for special education at Westchester
Intermediate School, Kevin Murray as Sound and Lights at CHS, with Mike
Kozicznski as the stage designer, and Kimberly Balas as the Duneland
Operations Coordinator.
Drivers Ed
instructors this summer will be Henry Matthys, Scott Truelove, Jason Gast,
Greg Kearney, Rex Miller, Robin Hanson, Richard Hurey and Dennis Leonard.
Resigning effective
this summer are 7th Grade Volleyball Coach Dan Barkas, CMS Cheer Coach
Morgan Bradley, kitchen helper Kellie Jo DelValle and Jackson Elementary
secretary Pam Holbrook.
The new teachers
received a warm welcome from the board and administration.
“We look forward to
having each and every one of you with us,” said School Board President Ralph
Ayres. “Your excitement makes the difference.”
Superintendent
comments
Superintendent of
Schools David Pruis gave the new hires a glimpse of student achievement at
Duneland schools by mentioning recent highlights.
Duneland was
honored as the “District Champion” for raising more than $37,000 for the
American Heart Association. Each elementary school participated in the Jump
For Heart program collecting pledges to jump rope while the intermediate,
middle and high schools took part in Hoops for Heart where community members
supported them in playing basketball.
Pruis said WIS was
ranked third in the state for money collected individually, totaling $7,524,
and LIS followed with $6,625, for fifth in the state.
The AHA presented
the schools with a plaque for their efforts.
Pruis also lauded
senior Jamie Ritchea, who recently finished 2nd overall in the Speech and
Debate Association’s National Tournament in Overland Park, Kan.
He also praised
seniors Taryn Trusty and Andrew Hurst, who were named National Merit
Scholars, as well as Mark Childress who won a laptop computer from
Brainstorm Computers for having perfect attendance from grades 8-12.
“For you folks
brand new, expectations are high,” Pruis said. “We’re here to help you help
our kids and make them the best they can be.”
IREAD3 results
In another matter,
Assistant Superintendent of Instruction Jim Goetz gave the board the results
on students’ performance on the IREAD3 exam that is given to all third
graders throughout the school district.
Goetz said the
outcome is “virtually the same” as last year with 93.1 percent passing
compared to 93.6 percent in 2013. A total of 367 out of 394 passed the
assessment compared to 410 out of 438 in 2013, he said.
Students in Indiana
are required to pass the exam, which tests to make sure foundational reading
skills are met, in order to move on to Grade 4.
Those who fail the
exam during the school year can take summer school courses and take the test
again. Goetz said there are 15 students enrolled in Duneland’s IREAD3 summer
school program. The other 12 have “good cause exemptions” and their reading
skills have been addressed in their individualized educational plans, or
IEPs.
Next meeting
The school board is
scheduled to meet next on Monday, July 14 at 6 p.m.