WORTHINGTON — A cohort of 22 new teachers has come to District 518 for the 2020-2021 school year. The Globe has learned a little bit about each incoming teacher.

John F. Borrero Osso

Job title: High school social studies teacher

Education: High school: Colegio Seminario Cristo Sacerdote (Colombia). Teaching degree: Bemidji State University

Previous experience: Learning Center, ISD 518; Catholic University, Pereira Colombia; Seminario, Pereira Colombia

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am really excited about the opportunity of teaching in such a diverse community. I expect to connect with students and parents while teaching high-quality content.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Sports, reading and languages are some of my hobbies. I love studying languages and watching soccer.

Paul Brown

Job title: ELL kindergarten

Education: High school: Stillwater Area High School. Teaching degree: Bethel University

Previous experience: Student teaching at Oak-Land Middle School and Simley High School

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? What excites me the most about the Worthington school district will be working alongside staff/students with rich and diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Music (piano and violin) and listening to music, spending time with my dog, Edmund.

Roshay Crath

Job title: Occupational therapist

Education: High school: Round Lake-Brewster. Degree: University of South Dakota

Previous experience: I have spent the last four years in medical settings but am excited to learn and transition to a school setting.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? Developing relationships with students and families, and being able to see growth made over the course of the year.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Spending time with family and keeping up with our busy 2-year-old daughter, baking and going for walks.

Danielle Crowell

Job title: ELL teacher

Education: High school: Marshall Senior High School. Teaching degree: Southwest Minnesota State University

Previous experience: I student-taught in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico at Colegio el Camino and in Willmar at Kennedy Elementary School. For the last two years, I have taught ESL in Kyrgyzstan as a Peace Corps volunteer.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I love how diverse the school district is and how friendly everyone is. I am looking forward to getting to know my students and the community.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time?

I like to read by the lake, spend time with my family and write creative works like poetry and fiction. Hockey and track & field also hold a special place in my heart.

Jaime Freed

Job title: First grade ESL

Education: High school: Sturgis, South Dakota. Teaching degree: University of Sioux Falls.

Previous experience: I’ve taught 1st-3rd grade ESL in Asia. I also got to write and teach the Spanish program for the Boys & Girls Club.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? The cultural diversity is exciting! Worthington’s small town/small world dynamic feels like home already.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Weekends are for sleeping late, too much coffee and exploring small towns.

Kenneth Greenbush

Job title: Math teacher

Education: High school: Centennial High School. Degree: BSU and MNSU (applied mathematics).

Previous experience: Taught entry-level courses at Mankato for three years.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? After a little time in the private sector, I’m excited to get back to teaching math.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Hobbies include cooking and spending time with my family.

Caitie Harmsen

Job title: Math teacher

Education: High school:Murray County Central. Teaching degree: St. Cloud State University.

Previous experience: I taught for five years at Grand Junction High School in Grand Junction, Colorado.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I’m looking forward to meeting all of my hard-working colleagues, dedicated students and doing some math! I hope to see some awesome sports/activities that my students are in.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Spending time with my family (wonderful husband and my sassy little girls), reading, playing volleyball, watching “Friends” on Netflix.

Emily Henry

Job title: School psychologist at Prairie Elementary

Education: High school: Watertown High School. Degree: B.S. psychology, University of South Dakota; Ed. S. school psychology, University of Alabama.

Previous experience: I completed my school psychology practicum in Jasper, Alabama and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I cannot wait to meet all the students and work with the best educators!

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I love to go on walks with my husband, Roland; nine-month-old daughter, Marley; and our Australian Shepherd, Wrigley.

Alex Johnson

Job title: Early childhood and family education teacher

Education: High school: Blooming Prairie High School, graduated 2007. Teaching degree: Southwest Minnesota State University, May 2020

Previous experience: I completed my student teaching at Lakeview Elementary School in Albert Lea. I have also worked at youth clubs in my home town and volunteered in the past for Americorps work.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am looking forward to working with the students in my early childhood arena. I am excited to bring my talents to the district and work with my peers to give students the best opportunities to learn.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I enjoy watching classic films, reading books on philosophy, cheering on Minnesota sports teams and finding joy in the simple things at home.

Katie Klosterbuer

Job title: Middle school family and consumer science teacher

Education: High school: Luverne. Teaching degree: Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Previous experience: High school family and consumer science teacher at Lewis Central High School in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Nobles County 4-H program coordinator; family and consumer science teacher/technology integrationist at Ellsworth High School

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am excited to learn and grow professionally as well as looking forward to providing youth with hands-on learning experiences.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I enjoy being outside, exercising and going for walks with my dog, Winnie.

Heather Knigge

Job title: High school art teacher

Education: High school: Worthington High School. Teaching degree: Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Previous experience: This is my fourth year teaching, but my first year in ISD 518. I’ve previously taught K-5 art in Minnetonka and Mankato.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? The diversity of Worthington excites me! I am looking forward to my students bringing their cultures and creative voices into the artmaking process.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I really enjoy traveling and exploring new places. However, COVID has cramped my style this summer, so instead, I’ve been adventurous through reading lots of books. A great book can transport you to anywhere in the world!

Jessica McCann

Job title: Physical education and health teacher

Education: High school: Luther High School in Onalaska, Wisconsin. Teaching degree: Winona State University.

Previous experience: I worked at Ellsworth Public School for four years.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am excited to work with the new students and staff. I am also excited for new experiences.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I like to be outside playing golf, hiking and going for walks with my dogs. I also recently got married, so spending time with my amazing husband!

José A. Morales Collazo

Job title: High school science teacher

Education: High school: Residential Center of Educative Opportunities of Mayagüez.

Teaching degree: University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez campus.

Previous experience: I used to teach chemistry at John Tyler High School in Texas. Before that, I taught in different summer programs such as Upward Bound, Go Green Institute and Transition Academy. I also used to teach chemistry and geology labs at the college level for five years.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I look to serve the Worthington community by sharing my experiences. I look forward to engaging students in the exciting realm of science and give them the opportunity to explore and get interested in the STEM disciplines.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I enjoy being around nature by going camping and rock collecting. I also enjoy the outs of mixology and barista. In addition, I spend my weekends and free time playing board games and reading scholarly articles on science and science education.

Ella Napton

Job title: High school English teacher

Education: High school. Century High School in Rochester. Teaching degree: Gustavus Adolphus College.

Previous experience: Friedell Middle School in Rochester, eighth grade English

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I look forward to the variety of classes I’ll teach and my English teacher coworkers have been amazing so far!

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I love to play rugby and coach soccer! I also enjoy bullet journaling and reading.

Jeana Nelson

Job title: EL teacher

Education: High school. Yankton High School in Yankton, South Dakota. Teaching degree: University of South Dakota in Vermillion and working on ESL degree this year.

Previous experience: I have taught grades 9-11 at Yankton High School in English Language Arts, as well as eighth grade English at Mitchell Middle School.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? The diversity and strong EL department. I have always wanted to teach EL, and the staff at WHS have worked hard to create a very inclusive, welcoming community.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I love to spend my free time reading, oil painting and traveling all summer. Any chance to experience new people and places is where I am most alive.

Kelly Nelson

Job title: High school special education teacher

Education: High school: Sioux Valley-Round Lake-Brewster. Teaching degree: Western Governors University.

Previous experience: Two years at St. Mary’s School, third grade

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am excited to be a part of the SPED team and continue to learn alongside my students!

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Chasing my two kids, volleyball, quilting and crafting.

Jesse Nitzschke

Job title: High school counselor

Education: High school: LeMars Community High School in LeMars, Iowa. Degree: Master’s of Counseling, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Previous experience: I spent time as a resident advisor at Upward Bound summer program at Creighton University, in which I really loved making connections with students and knew this was the field for me. I interned at Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis, Maranatha Christian Academy High School in Brooklyn Park and did elementary practicums at Somerset Elementary and Pilot Knob in the West St. Paul district.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I love how this district is growing and doing what it can to be inclusive and bring in educators with passion to help students reach their future goals. I’m so ready to meet my students and get to know this community.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I have an adventurous soul, so I love to learn and experience new things. I love to cook and sample wild and new cuisine and to experience new cultural things.

Sarah Nystrom

Job title: Curriculum coordinator and peer coach

Education: High school: Worthington High School. Teaching degree: University of Minnesota, Morris.

Previous experience: After graduating college, I moved to the DC area and taught grades 4-8 for the last 14 years.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I’m most excited to work with the staff and offer support where needed. It also feels great being home and closer to family.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I enjoy the sport of curling and experimenting with new recipes (especially using my sourdough starter).

Aimee Phung

Job title: First grade ELL teacher

Education: High school: Worthington High School. Teaching degree: North Dakota State University.

Previous experience: 2014-2016, elementary classroom teacher in St. Paul

2016-2020, elementary classroom teacher at St. Mary’s School

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I’m excited to be working and learning from all the diversities the district has to offer. I’m looking forward to helping students become English speakers and lifelong learners.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I spend most of my free time with my two-year-old daughter. I recently got into crafting a little. I also work part time at TNails.

Whitney Rogers

Job title: First grade teacher

Education: High school. Worthington High School. Teaching degree: Southwest Minnesota State University.

Previous experience: Student taught second grade at Murray County Central Schools, long-term substitute at Prairie Elementary for third grade spring 2020

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am looking forward to teaching my students flexibility as we navigate hybrid learning this school year.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I enjoy spending time at the lake with family and friends and enjoy spending time with my yellow lab, Beau.

Mikayla Schroeder

Job title: High school special education teacher

Education: High school: Yankton, South Dakota. Teaching degree: University of South Dakota.

Previous experience: I student taught at Irene-Wakonda in elementary and secondary special education, as well as secondary English. I also was a long-term substitute for secondary English education at Gayvill-Volin school district.

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? I am looking forward to growing in my passion for teaching. I also love the diversity of the community and school district.

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? Some of my hobbies include drawing and painting. I also love spending time outside and on the lake in the summer, as well as playing rugby.

Brandi Sether

Job title: Speech language pathologist

Education: High school: Jackson County Central. Teaching degree: Bachelor’s at Minnesota State University, Mankato; Master’s at the University of South Dakota.

Previous experience: I completed my internship last fall at Prairie Elementary. I loved it so much that I started here in January!

What about the Worthington school district excites you the most? What are you looking forward to most this school year? Working with kids!

Briefly describe/highlight some of your hobbies. How do you like to spend your weekend or free time? I like spending time with my family and friends.