TRG
The Greenwood School District will have six new teachers and a new principal in its buildings this year. To help readers know the new staff a little better, the TRG asked them to fill out a questionnaire, with the answers to the questions provided being given below. Jason Bantle, Michelle Kuehl, Jillian Lebal, Christie Mathews, Nick Skentzos, Kelsey Stoegbauer and Christy Zierer were the new staff to fill out the questionnaire. What is your hometown?
Bantle: Marinette. Kuehl: Lake Mills.
Lebal: Granton.
Mathews: Merrillan.
Skentzos: New Lenox, Ill.
Stoegbauer: Rothschild.
Zierer: Catawba. What is your position at the Greenwood School District?
Bantle: Fourth grade teacher. Kuehl: Middle school/high school band and choir.
Lebal: Agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor.
Mathews: Second grade teacher.
Skentzos: Fifth grade teacher.
Stoegbauer: Elementary special education.
Zierer: Elementary principal. What degree(s) and licensure(s) do you possess and from which institutions?
Bantle: I have a K-8 teaching license, a preK-12 substitute license, a master of arts degree in education, a bachelor’s in speech communication and a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in management.
Kuehl: I have a bachelor degree in instrumental music education from UW-Stevens Point and choral and general music certifications from UW-Whitewater.
Lebal: I have a bachelor of science in agricultural education from UW-River Falls and an agriculture K-12 Wisconsin teaching license.
Mathews: I have certification in elementary education obtained from the American Board.
Skentzos: I have a bachelor of science in education from UW-Eau Claire and certification in elementary-middle education, grades 4K-9.
Stoegbauer: I have a bachelor’s degree from UW-Stevens Point. I am licensed in elementary education and special education.
Zierer: I received my bachelor's degree in education for grades 1-8 from UW-River Falls and my master’s degree from Viterbo University in 2008. My degree as director of curriculum and principal degrees came from the Educate-WI program at Saint Mary’s University. What experience do you have in education or related fields?
Bantle: I have 2.5 years of substitute experience, half a year of student teaching experience and one year of teaching sixth grade (all classes except for science and math) at Wabeno.
Kuehl: This is my 30th year teaching music. I have taught K-12 vocal music and middle school and high school band.
Lebal: I will be entering my third full year teaching agricultural education. Prior to teaching full-time, I worked as a long-term substitute teacher for their agriculture departments. I have taught students in grades 6-12 a variety of courses through the agriculture departments including animal science, horticulture, natural resources, welding and wildlife.
Mathews: I have been a substitute teacher for about two years. This is my first year as a full-time teacher.
Skentzos: This is going to be my first year teaching. I have experience working with second grade, where I taught all subjects; fifth grade, where I taught all subjects; and seventh grade, where I taught language arts and geography classes. I also worked as a summer camp instructor at the YMCA Stoegbauer: This will be my 12th year as a cross-categorical special education teacher. I have worked with students grades K-7 with a wide range of disabilities.
Zierer: It is hard to believe, but I have taught for 26 years in the Prentice School District. I taught all subject areas in the lower grades for almost all those years. Recently, I have been teaching reading to middle school students and English to high schoolers. Due to the district’s needs, I have been fortunate to experience teaching various students, ranging from 1st to 11th graders. This experience has allowed me to see firsthand how students progress as they age. What do you enjoy about schools/what made you enter the education world?
Bantle: I love working with kids and making a difference. Kuehl: I enjoy being able to share my love of music with my students.
Lebal: My FFA experience, as well as my FFA advisor is what inspired me to enter the education world. I had so much fun in ag classes and FFA events that I wanted to become an advisor for other students to enjoy what I did. Watching students develop leadership and speaking skills is one of the best parts of the job. I also think it is very important to teach students, farm or no-farm, about agriculture and how much it impacts out lives.
Mathews: As a parent, I wanted to get more involved with education. I fell in love with the atmosphere and pursued a teaching career.
Skentzos: I enjoy making a positive impact on students' lives and the communities they live in. Creating meaningful and positive relationships with students is my favorite part of being a teacher.
Stoegbauer: I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I love being around the kids and helping them learn and grow. Education has proven to be a very rewarding and enjoyable career over the past 11 years. Zierer: In high school, I knew I wanted to help others. I battled between getting a degree as a social worker or an educator. I actually started college, going for a social worker degree, but switched once I realized being a teacher would allow me to have a greater capacity to help children. Tell us a little bit about yourself (family members, hobbies, interests, etc.). Bantle: I live with my wife Kayla, my son Anakin, my dog Vergere and my cat Mew. I’m a big sports fan (Cincinnati Bengals) and Star Wards nerd. My wife is a social worker in Neillsville.
Please see Greenwood staff, page 5
VALORIE BRECHT/STAFF PHOTO
