4 new teachers starting at Greenwood School District
With a new school year comes some new faces at Greenwood Public Schools. The TRG reached out to the school district to have new staff members complete a questionnaire to share about themselves with readers. Their responses are as follows.
KEAGAN BROWN 1. Hometown Eau Claire 2. New position High school social studies teacher 3. Education I majored in history education and minored in peace and justice, and got my licensure in fourth through 12th grade social studies from St. Norbert College in De Pere.
4. Experience During my time at St. Norbert College, I had the amazing experience of student teaching all four years. This allowed me to gain necessary and useful experience from the very start of my college career while also being able to try out new teaching techniques, strategies, and styles with my cooperating teacher there to provide useful feedback.
This will be my very first year as a licensed teacher, and while this might seem like a daunting task, I am very excited to be a part of the Greenwood High School staff and the Greenwood community as I prepare the students who walk into my classroom to be outstanding members of
Please see Greenwood teachers, page 15 their community with the knowledge they’ve learned and the skills they’ve created from the classes they’ve taken with me.
5. What do you enjoy about schools/what made you enter the education world?
I was inspired to enter education from two moments in my life. The first moment occurred when I took AP U.S. History my sophomore year of high school. I had a very excellent teacher who made history come alive by challenging us to put ourselves in the shoes of those who came before us and lived during the specific events or timelines we were learning about. My teacher noticed that I had a passion for history and mentioned that one of the best ways to share your passion of history is through teaching.
My second moment occurred while teaching science experiments during summer vacation Bible school. While I won’t be teaching science at Greenwood High School, seeing the kids’ laughter and joy while watching a vinegar and baking soda volcano go off or seeing salt crystals grow as the week went on made me realize that teaching can be a very fulfilling thing.
If I can share my passion for history while making it meaningful to my students through making personal connections to events that happened decades and centuries ago, then I will be fulfilled.
6. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
In my family, I have my mom and my dad and my two younger brothers, one of whom attends UW-Stout and the other who is going into his senior year of high school. I also have two dogs. I have a 4-year-old Irish doodle named Finn and a 6-year-old golden doodle named Cali.
Some of my hobbies include digital and film photography, hiking, downhill skiing, tent camping, fishing, and building Legos.
Some of my interests include history, specifically the Revolutionary War period of American history or the New Deal era. My favorite sports teams are the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and the Minnesota Wild. I also like watching Formula 1 racing, and my favorite driver is Max Verstappen. I also love the outdoors and find that being outside during any season is the best way for me to relax.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
I love being involved with my community, whether that be at school or out in the community, and would love to learn more about any community events that Greenwood puts on!
JESSE SALCIDO
1. Hometown Originally from Orfordville, I live in Stanley now.
2. New position 4-year-old kindergarten teacher 3. Education I earned my bachelor of arts degree in business administration from UW–Stevens Point in 2008. After several years working in leadership and management, I felt called to education and returned to UW–Stevens Point to pursue my master of science degree in education. I’m currently completing my graduate program, with expected completion in 2026.
This path has allowed me to blend real-world experience with a deep commitment to student learning, and I’m excited to bring that perspective into the 4K classroom here in Greenwood!
4. Experience I’m thrilled to be joining the Greenwood School District as the new 4K teacher! I’ve worked in education for the past five years, primarily as a paraprofessional supporting students from kindergarten through high school. For four years, I served at Open Doors, the alternative program in the Stanley-Boyd School District, where I worked closely with students to support their academic growth, social-emotional development, and individual learning needs.
While pursuing my master’s degree and teacher certification, I’ve had the opportunity to lead morning meetings, teach foundational phonics, and design creative, student-centered lessons that integrate movement, music, and play—especially in early childhood settings. I’m passionate about building strong relationships with young learners and creating a classroom environment where every child feels safe, seen, and excited to learn. I’m so grateful to be part of the Greenwood community and can’t wait to begin this journey with our youngest learners!
5. What do you enjoy about schools/what made you
enter the education world?
What I love most about working in schools is getting to know my students—listening to their stories, watching them grow, and learning alongside them. Kindergarteners (and 4K learners especially!) bring so much energy and joy to the classroom. They’re curious about everything, and while it may look like play, they’re constantly learning through exploration, movement, and imagination. Play truly is the work of young children.
Before entering education, I spent 12 years as a manager and then buyer for a large home supply retailer in the area. When I left that role, I wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. I considered the medical field, but after volunteering in my local school district, I discovered how much I loved working with students—and that experience led me to enroll in teacher preparation courses.
I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in elementary education at UW–Stevens Point and will graduate in the spring of 2026. In the meantime, I’m excited to bring the skills I’ve gained—especially in foundational reading and early childhood methods—into my 4K classroom this year. I believe that reading to and with your child is one of the most powerful ways to nurture a lifelong love of learning, and I look forward to partnering with families to support each child’s growth.
6. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I live in Stanley with my wife Leah—we’ve been married for 17 years—and our 11-year-old daughter Abbey. We share our home with two dogs and a cat, and we love spending time outdoors as a family. One of our favorite things to do is take our trailer out camping, especially along Lake Superior. My wife and I enjoy agate hunting together—it’s a relaxing and rewarding way to explore nature.
I’m originally from Orfordville—Go Parkview Vikings!—and Leah is from the U.P., so yeah, she’s a proud Yooper… eh? In the classroom, I’m passionate about creative expression, especially through music and movement. Whether it’s singing a silly song or turning a phonics lesson into a dinosaur adventure, I believe learning should be joyful and engaging. One of my favorite books to read with kids is “Strange Planet” by Nathan W. Pyle. It’s a clever and hilarious look at everyday life through the eyes of alien beings, and it really makes you think about how our world might appear to someone from out of this world. It sparks curiosity, laughter, and great conversations with young learners.
I’m also looking forward to teaming up with my colleague and fellow 4K teacher, Julie Plautz. She brings great experience and creativity to the classroom, and I’m excited to collaborate and learn alongside her this year. When I’m not teaching or studying, I enjoy socializing, reading, and continuing to grow as an educator. I’m excited to build a classroom community where every child feels seen, valued, and inspired to explore the world around them.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
One thing I’d love the community to know is how grateful I am to be joining Greenwood Elementary. As a first-year classroom teacher, I’m stepping into this role with a deep sense of purpose and excitement. I know I’ll be learning a lot, and I welcome that growth with open arms. My goal is to build strong relationships—with students, families, and colleagues—and to create a space where every child feels safe, celebrated, and curious. I believe that when we work together, we can make school a place kids truly love to be.
ALEX STOLL
1. Hometown Andover, Minn.
2. New position Third grade teacher 3. Education I hold a bachelor of science degree in both elementary education and French education.
4. Experience This is my first year teaching. I was a student teacher in the fall of 2023 in the Elk Mound District (fourth grade) and in the Eau Claire School District (French at DeLong Middle and Memorial High). After I graduated, I was a substitute teacher in the Eau Claire School District for six months. Last year, I was living in France and was a teaching assistant in a high school. I worked 12 hours a week teaching students English. I have worked with second grade, fourth grade, and seventh-12th.
5. What do you enjoy about schools/what made you enter the education world?
Many of my teachers ended up being positive role models in my life. I still keep in touch with my kindergarten and second grade teachers 18-20 years after being in their classes. I know not everyone is as fortunate as me to have amazing teachers, so I wanted to enter the education world to ensure students could have just as good of an experience as I did. I want students to be excited to come into school and learn.
6. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My family lives in Minnesota, about three hours from Greenwood. I have two younger brothers. One works in landscaping and the other plays baseball for Grandview University in Des Moines, Iowa, and is studying kinesiology. My parents both work in sales. My favorite hobby is singing. I sang in choir for three years in high school and almost every semester of college. This fall, I’ll be joining a community choir in Minneapolis that rehearses on Sundays so I’ll be traveling to MN a lot and I’ll be able to spend time with my family. I also love to watch movies and I’m always looking for recommendations from my students. My other hobbies include playing board games, practicing French, and baking.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
N/A
MELISSA BOON STRANGFELD
1. Hometown Neillsville 2. New position 4K-12 library media specialist and assessment coordinator 3. Education
•UW-Oshkosh: master’s degree in educational leadership (director of instruction and principal in progress), library media science
•UW-Stevens Point: bachelor’s degree in elementary education and broad field social studies, with minors in history and geography 4. Experience With over 15 years of heartfelt dedication to education, mostly within the Neillsville School District, my journey has been truly rewarding. I began as a paraprofessional in the library for five years, which was an incredible foundation. Later, I embraced the classroom as a seventh grade geography and eighth grade U.S. history teacher, bringing my passion for learning to my students. Throughout these years, I also had the joy of coaching middle school track for eight seasons, and now as “Track Mom.”
More recently, I spent six years serving as the district’s 4K-12 library media specialist, expanding my skills across all grade levels and enriching my contributions to the district. This rich and varied experience has allowed me to connect with students and staff across the entire K-12 spectrum—from classroom teaching and athletics to district-wide initiatives in information literacy, all driven by a deep commitment to education.
5. What do you enjoy about schools/what made you enter the education world?
What I enjoy most about working in schools, and what drew me to education in the first place, is the opportunity to witness a student’s journey of discovery and growth. For me, the most rewarding moments are seeing a student’s face light up when a concept finally “clicks,” or watching them find genuine joy in a book that speaks to them. I love building those connections through conversations, whether we’re discussing a research project, new books, or how they are navigating college courses. Ultimately, seeing them succeed, make measurable growth, and develop confidence in themselves is the reason I am passionate about this work.
6. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I'm a lifelong resident of this area—I grew up in Christie. My husband, Matt, and I have two kids: Morgan, who recently graduated and will be attending Northcentral Technical College for its veterinary technician program, and Lucas, who is a junior. I spend a lot of time as a proud football and track mom! Our home is also run by our sassy 9-year-old Norwegian Elkhound, Roxie, and our two cats, Snickers and Winnie.
When I get a moment to myself, I love to garden and grow plants. Of course, I also love to read, and I believe strongly in being a lifelong learner. That commitment is why I am currently finishing my master’s degree in educational leadership, with an emphasis on becoming a director of instruction and principal.
7. Anything else you would like the community to know?
N/A
