2012-2013 New Staff Members

 

 

 

Back row: Allison Morgan, Laura Rowen, Kristin Arthur, Michelle Stoker, Jenny Hamand, Ashley Ryan, Karen Hurt, Courtney Van Wyk, Brittany DeJong, Jim Beerends.

 

Front row: Jenny Verwers, Katy Freytag, Allison McNichols, Danielle Murphy, Sarah Zimmerman, Jolee Jansen, Carroyl Routier, Natalie Jack, Haley Fischer, Laura Gillum, Brandon Sharp.

 

Staff Bios

Kristin Arthur received her RN degree from Mercy College of Health Science. She graduated from Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa.  Kristin has been working for Skiff Medical Center.  She will be the nurse at the Berg Complex.

 

Jim Beerends received his BS in Instrumental Music Education from Northwest Missouri State University and his MS in Secondary School Administration from the University of Central Missouri.  Jim is a graduate of PCM High School in Monroe, Iowa.  He has been the Director of Bands in Pleasant Hill, Missouri, the past eleven years.  Jim will be director of the Newton High School Bands.

 

Brittany DeJong received her BA in Elementary Education from UNI.  She is a graduate of Ankeny High School.  She completed her student teaching in Dallas Center-Grimes and Des Moines Public Schools.  Brittany will be a second grade teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

 

Haley Fischer received her BA in Elementary Education from Central College in Pella, Iowa.  Haley is a graduate of Pleasantville High School in Pleasantville, Iowa.  She completed her student teaching in Knoxville.  She will be a Level III Special Education teacher at Berg Elementary School. 

 

Katy Freytag received her BA in Philosophy from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois and her MA in teaching from Rhode Island College in Providence, Rhode Island.  She is a graduate of Badger High School in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Katy has nine years teaching experience most recently teaching 4th grade for the El Paso Independent School District in El Paso, Texas.  She will be teaching 4th grade at Aurora Heights Elementary School.

 

Scott Garvis received his BA in Historical Sciences, Political Science and History from Westmar University in LeMars, Iowa.  He has a Master of Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama, and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Drake University.  His most recent position has been as Senior Director of Athletics at Eastside Catholic in the Seattle Metropolitan area.  Scott will be an Assistant Principal and the Activities Director at Newton High School.

 

Laura Gillum received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa. She is a graduate of Ankeny High School.  She completed her student teaching at Ashland Ridge Elementary in Ankeny and also substitute taught there.  Laura will be a second grade teacher at Berg Elementary.

 

Jenny Hamand received her BA in Elementary Education from Iowa Wesleyan College.  She is a graduate of Newton High School. Jenny previous taught in the Newton Schools for thirteen years.  She is returning to Newton where she will be a special education teacher at Berg Middle School.

 

Karen Hurt received her BA in Physical Education from Cornell University.  She is a graduate of Mt. Vernon High School.  Karen has been working in the Newton area as a substitute teacher and tutor for several years.  She will be an at-risk teacher at Berg Middle School.

 

Natalie Jack received her BA in Elementary Education from Wartburg College.  She is a graduate of Osage High School.  Natalie taught elementary reading last year at Waverly-Shell Rock.  She will be a special education teacher for Berg Middle School.

 

Jolee Jansen received her BA in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University.  She is a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.  Jolee has been a substitute teacher for Newton Community Schools for two years.  She will be a 5th grade teacher at Aurora Heights Elementary School.

 

Allison McNichols received her BA in Mathematics from Grand View College.  She is a graduate of Bondurant-Farrar High School.  Her student teaching was at Ballard-Huxley Middle and High Schools.  Allison will be teaching math at Newton High School.

 

Allison Morgan received her BA in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University.  She student taught in Baxter and Lynnville-Sully Elementary Schools.  Allison will be teaching Title I Reading at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School.

 

Danielle Murphy received her BA in Psychology from the University of Northern Iowa and her MA in School Counseling from the University of Iowa.  She is a graduate of Perry High School in Perry, Iowa.

She completed her counseling internship this spring at Prairie Point Middle School, College Community School District, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Danielle will be a guidance counselor at Newton High School. 

 

Laura Rowen received her BA and MA in Physical Education from the University of Northern Iowa.  She previously taught and coached at Waterloo Columbus High School and Walnut Community School District.  Laura will be an at risk teacher and also assistant volleyball coach at Newton High School.

 

Ashley Ryan received her BA in Physical Education from UNI.  She is a graduate of Eldora-New Providence.  She completed her student teaching at Eldora-New Providence and South Hardin.  Ashley will be teaching physical education at Berg Middle School.

 

Brandon Sharp received his BA in Elementary Education from Simpson College.  He is a graduate of Grinnell-Newburg High School.  He completed his student teaching at Southeast Polk Schools.  Brandon is head coach for the Newton Girls Basketball Team.  He will be a special education teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

 

Carroyl Shepard received her BA in English from Central College.  Carroyl is a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.  She completed her student teaching at Pella High School and Middle School.  Carroyl will be a special education teacher at Newton High School.

 

Michelle Stoker received her BA in English/Language Arts from Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and her MA in Special Education from the University of Northern Iowa.  Michelle is a graduate of Norwalk High School.  She has been teaching special education students at Johnston High School the past twelve years.  She will be a Level III Special Education teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School.

 

Courtney Van Wyk received her BA in Elementary Education from Central College in Pella, Iowa.  She is a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.  Courtney student taught at Jefferson Intermediate School in Pella and Knoxville Middle School.  She will be a science teacher at Berg Middle School.

 

Jenny Verwers received her BA in Elementary Education from UNI.  She is a graduate of Newton High School.  Jenny has been substitute teaching for the Newton Schools and most recently worked as in-school-suspension paraprofessional at the high school.  Jenny will be teaching special education at Newton High School.

 

Sarah Zimmerman received her BA in Elementary Education from Central College in Pella and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.  Sarah has five years experience teaching early childhood special education in Pella and most recently in Bellevue, Nebraska.  Sarah will be teaching ECSE at the Emerson Hough Preschool.