District 518 welcomes new teachers for 2022-23 school year

School starts for students attending Worthington Middle School, Worthington High School and the Learning Center on Monday, Aug. 29, and for students in grades pre-K through five on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

Job Title: First Grade English Learners Teacher

Where I attended high school: Dover-Eyota

Education: Bachelors of Early Childhood Education, Minnesota State University Mankato; currently working on Masters of Education with TESL Licensure from Southwest Minnesota State University Marshall

What about this school district excites you? What are you looking forward to? I am looking forward to being back in the school district full time again after being a stay at home mom for the last four years. I am excited to learn all that has changed in the district and to start my new role as a first grade EL teacher.

Who was your favorite teacher and why? When I was teaching kindergarten, Roxanne Kremer was my favorite teacher. I loved having her as my mentor teacher and teaching next door to her for five years. She was known as our kindergarten team mom. She gave wonderful guidance as a teacher, loved all of her students and did what was best for them, and also made sure we as teachers maintained a healthy balance between work and home.

Job Title: Kindergarten-Second Grade Physical Education Teacher

Where I attended high school: Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa

Education: Augustana University

What about this school district excites you? What are you looking forward to? I have heard many great things about the schools in Worthington! I cannot wait to work side-by-side with some amazing educators!

Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was my dad! Though I was never a student in his PE class, I did spend some time student teaching with him. The excitement his students had when they saw him, and the enthusiasm and care he would show for each and every student no matter who they were, or where they came from was my greatest inspiration to become a teacher!

Job Title: Second Grade Teacher

Where I attended high school: Washington High in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Education: University of South Dakota

What about this school district excites you? What are you looking forward to? My mom grew up and lived in Worthington, and my grandparents still do (DeGroot crew!). I want to make them proud and teach where my mom grew up!

Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher would have to be Mrs. Heinert. She was my fifth grade teacher at Rosa Parks Elementary in Sioux Falls and she was the best. Not only did she care about her students on an academic level, but on a personal level as well. I still talk to her to this day and she inspired me to become a teacher and I cannot be more excited to start my first year teaching at Prairie and make Mrs. Heinert proud!

Job Title: First Grade Teacher

Where I attended high school: Harris-Lake Park, Iowa

Education: Southwest Minnesota State University

What about this school district excites you? What are you looking forward to? I’m excited to work with a team of teachers! As summer comes to an end, I look forward to meeting and getting to know my students!!

Who was your favorite teacher and why? My favorite teacher was Ashley Delaney. Mrs. Delaney was also my coach for a couple years. She created such a great teacher-student relationship with me. I ended up becoming her “teacher’s assistant” my senior year! I also did a couple of my college lab hours with her. She’s a great teacher and great role model for her students and future teachers!

Job Title: Social Studies Teacher

Where I attended high school: Simley High School, Inver Grove Heights

Education: Hamline University

What about this school district excites you? What are you looking forward to? While I grew up just south of the Twin Cities, I have relatives who live east of Worthington in Martin County, so I have known of Worthington for most of my life. I am excited to have an opportunity to be a part of a community that has invested in its young scholars. The activities, programs, and subjects that the students take part in here will set them up for success and I am grateful to have an opportunity to help guide them along. I am looking forward to beginning my teaching career at Worthington Middle School, to coach in the district, and to lay the foundation for a long career here.

Who was your favorite teacher and why? Mrs. Bauer, she taught social studies at Black Hawk Middle School in Eagan. She was the person who really got me interested in history and studying the past. She made class fun and engaging, was not afraid of bringing her personality into the classroom, and helped us to understand how things would have been back in the day. I am forever grateful for having had her class growing up.