Emily (Armstrong) Kerschen -
I felt like I reached a milestone when completing my fifth year of teaching in the 2010-2011 school year. All five years were spent teaching literature and composition to eighth graders at Maize Middle School in Maize, located on the northwest edge of Wichita. It was especially exciting to see my first group of students graduate this past year.
On Valentine's Day, my husband, Jon, and I welcomed our first child, Abigail Kathryn. Being a mother is an incredible privilege and job, one that I feel is my current calling. I am staying at home with Abigail this year and enjoying every moment I have with her. While there is much I will miss about the world of education, I am excited to raise a family and pass on to them all that teaching has taught me.
We continue to stay busy with our church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, in Cheney, Kansas and enjoy time spent with family, friends, and our dog, Peg.
Maria Baumgartner -
Now that I've graduated from K-State, it seems like the four years I spent getting a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education just flew by. I'm excited to begin my teaching career this fall at Eisenhower Elementary in Junction City teaching second grade. I enjoyed student teaching in the Geary County School District last semester and am looking forward to working with them.
This summer I spent some time with my family on our farm where my parents and two brothers live. My days were full with going on a mission trip to Mexico, serving as a counselor for a teen girls camp, and working at Lakeside Terrace, a home for people with disabilities. It was very enjoyable to spend the summer doing things I love before starting my new job. I am very thankful for all the opportunities given me because of this scholarship. My education has been a blessing.
Jessica (Brenner) Halbleib -
I am currently living in Colby, KS, with my husband of two years, Christopher Halbleib. I am teaching first grade at Oakley Elementary School. This will be my 3rd year at that school.
Amy (Carnahan) Lerma -
I am starting my second full year at Briarwood Elementary in Prairie Village, KS. I teach 1st and 2nd Grade ELL.
My husband and I recently celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary. I attend Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village, KS and had the opportunity to help lead an ELL Summer Tutoring Program for a couple of weeks this summer. I enjoy spending time with family and friends, watching K-State sports, playing tennis and reading.
Elaine (Cobb) Mick -
My name is Elaine (Cobb) Mick and I have been employed at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School since graduating from KSU in 2005. I married my husband, Curtis Mick, in April 2008, and we live near the KU med center in Kansas City where he attends school. At NW, I teach English 9 and 10, while remaining involved with extra-curricular activities, which have changed through the years. I'm pumped that this is my first year as an assistant coach for the middle school cross-country team, but I'm equally pleased to be entering my third year as a sponsor for the Academic Decathlon team. Both groups are amazing, but I particularly enjoy taking the AcaDec students to KSU for the state competition each January. It's always good to be back in Wildcat Country.
Teaching is both a rewarding and trying profession, but seeing my first crop of freshmen from four years ago now tromp through the halls as mighty seniors has thrilled and encouraged me. Perhaps, after all my initial fussing, I did indeed choose the right profession. Their cheerful "Hey--Cobb--I mean Mick" calls in the hallway (because they can't remember my new married name!) and periodic visits to the English office or my classroom give me...hope, I suppose...that each new squirrely bunch of freshman will someday grow into quirky young adults. And perhaps these continued and evolving relationships remind me too, that I played some minor part in their transformation. I wish the best of luck to all aspiring teachers!
Christi (Cunningham) Bullock -
This will be my seventh year teaching fourth grade at Ware Elementary on Fort Riley. I have enjoyed working with my students and building new relationships there. Every year seems to bring new challenges and I continue to learn more and more ways to help and make a difference in our students' lives.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and son. My son, Brandon, is a year and a half and a bundle of energy. We have had fun playing with him this summer and experiencing the different stages he is going through! It is a learning experience for us being first time parents, but we love it! I also continue to enjoy reading and baking in the bits of extra time that I have.
Jancy (Davis) Radke -
I am beginning my 6th year of teaching. I am currently employed with the Manhattan/Ogden district, USD 383,as a 4th-6th grade Math Enrichment Teacher as well as a Math Tutor. I am also in my final year of Graduate School at Kansas State University. I am working on my M.S. in Academic Advising with an emphasis on Student Athletes. I hope to graduate in May.
I got married in April of 2010 to Don Radke. He is an Army Medic stationed at Ft. Riley. We have two children: Dillan who will be in 1st grade this year, and Lilly who will be in Kindergarten. They will both be attending school in the Manhattan/Ogden District and are very excited that they get to ride a school bus this year.
This year has been very busy for our family, we have had lots of changes. Don returned from his deployment to Iraq early, due to injury. This has caused our family to face many new and unexpected changes as well as preparing for many more to come this year. We have also been busy with summer soccer and swimming lessons for both kids. The most recent change is that I am transitioning back into teaching after taking a year off to pursue other interests. I have always loved teaching, but with all the politics and state budget issues that were going on I was frustrated with the education system and needed a change. I was given an opportunity to continue my love of math in banking, but always felt like something was missing. I needed time to remember why I wanted to be a teacher to begin with. I needed to make a difference, to see the spark in a child's eyes when they grasp a new concept. I needed to be that person that cared and believed in a student even when nobody else did. Banking was a job, but teaching is my passion.
Kellen Doeden -
I am currently working at Wakefield School in the Clay County School district. I teach speech, as well as sixth grade and freshman English. I am also the freshman class sponsor. This is will be my second year in the district. I have recently moved to Wakefield full time after spending the last year teaching half a day at Wakefield and the other half at Clay Center. I'm looking forward to being in one place this year.
Meredith Duling -
I graduated last December and spent the spring semester substitute teaching in Manhattan. I subbed at all levels and in many subject areas and had a great experience overall. After several interviews, I accepted a job in Ellinwood, KS, which is about 10 miles east of Great Bend. I will be teaching K-8 general music at a private Catholic school in the mornings and teaching middle and high school choir at the public school in the afternoons. I will also be directing the fall production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
The first day of school with students is August 25. I'm looking forward to meeting the kids and beginning a new school year with them!
Dana (Ellis) Voth -
I am currently living in southwest Kansas in Sublette with my husband, Marc. He is a crop consultant, and I am substitute teaching. Doing so, frees me up to spend time with Marc during his winter off-season and travel. I really enjoy subbing in the small town atmosphere and find my K-State education is very valuable in this endeavor. I like the flexibility that comes with subbing. And, with working in a small town, I still get to know and build a relationship with the students and staff I see regularly. I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Patricia Geist -
No status information is currently available
Gabrianna Hall -
In June 2007 I took a calculated risk and moved away from Topeka to the Kansas City area to facilitate gifted students at Mission Valley Middle School in the Shawnee Mission School District. I absolutely love the connection I share with students in early adolescence! Now that I am beginning my fifth year of teaching, I know I've found the right fit in a middle school setting.
In August 2009 I completed my Master of Science degree in Special Education: Gifted, Talented, and Creative from Emporia State University. I intended to take a rest from being a student, but the urge to continue learning keeps stirring within me. Soon--perhaps as early as this spring or next fall--I plan to begin coursework in school counseling. As a teacher of the gifted, I have a continued interest in fostering a realistic and increasing awareness in my students of themselves, their abilities, and their lifelong value to society's betterment. Through an established counseling background, I feel I can more effectively reach my students and their unique affective needs.
Since last summer I have been nesting in Lenexa, finding great enjoyment in completing home improvement projects! In April 2009 I brought home two rescued dogs--Ace the Pug and Betty the Boston Terrier. They are quite the dynamic duo (certainly small but mighty)! Trust me, there are no longer any dull moments in our household!
Katie (Hammersmith) Shanholtzer -
After teaching in Derby and Spring Hill, my husband and I had the opportunity to move home to his family farm in southeast Kansas. I am currently on my 2nd year of teaching for the Pittsburg Community School District. I teach 2nd grade at George Nettels and love it! I enjoy seeing my students learn and grow everyday.
I am married to David Shanholtzer, also a KSU alum, and we are expecting our first child in December. We spend lots of time at the family farm. We are active in our church and try to make it up to Manhattan to support our KSU Wildcats!!!
Adam Hamor -
I am now living in Norwalk, CT. I am employed at Side by Side Charter School in South Norwalk where I will teach 5th - 8th grade Spanish. Also, I work for Study Point as a Spanish, English and SAT Tutor.
I enjoy spending time at the beach as well as exploring NYC. I am also beginning to become involved with the Triangle Community Center serving youth of Norwalk.
Lindsey (Janzen) Koehn -
After graduation, I got married and am now living in Wichita, Kansas. I will begin my teaching career in Valley Center at the Intermediate School. I will be one of the 5th and 6th grade Language Arts and Social Studies teachers in the building. Eventually, I would like to get involved with some extra-curricular activities, but I want to focus solely on my classroom for the first year. I am looking forward to what I know will be an amazing school year!
When I am not planning for my classroom, I enjoy reading adolescent literature, working on our house, and spending time outside with my friends and family.
Joseph Kern -
I’m in my seventh year of teaching in Hiawatha, KS, which is where I've taught since graduating from KSU in 2005. I finished my Master's in Instructional Design and Technology from Emporia State University in 2009. I currently teach high school Chemistry and Physics, and am really excited to start a new Engineering class this year. I am making some potentially major changes in how I run my Chemistry classes (google “flipped classroom”), so I’m really looking forward to seeing how that turns out. I am also an assistant middle school basketball coach.
My wife teaches Agriculture Science classes at the high school, and we have two sons, a 3-year old and a 2-year old, who keep us very busy. We got to experience a gigantic, 17-day, 5,344-mile, 115 hours-in-the-car, 11-state, 9-national park vacation with them this summer, so they are either really good kids, or we are really patient, but either way, people tell us that we are very brave.
Keith Kerschen -
This will be my first year teaching at Maize High School. At Maize, I will teach Geometry, Algebra 1, and Trigonometry. I am really excited to have my own classroom! I also started my Master’s Degree in Education this past summer and look forward to more opportunities to grow as an educator. I am also in my second year as the seventh grade volleyball coach at Garden Plain.
Last year, I was a substitute teacher in the Maize, Renwick, and Cheney School Districts. I had the opportunity to teach in every grade level, K-12. Along with subbing, I had the opportunity to coach volleyball at Garden Plain Junior High as well as a club team in the spring.
Kristen Knoth -
It has been an exciting and eventful few months since I graduated in December 2010. I spent last spring in several different schools substitute teaching, coaching JV basketball, and coaching junior high soccer. This summer I worked at a Christian sports camp called Kanakuk. I served on the camp's leadership team, working with both teenagers and college students.
I recently began a job in the Kansas City area at Basehor-Linwood High School, where I teach yearbook, newspaper, multimedia, and several photography classes. I am excited to have my own classroom and work with a great group of students in a great district. I am also getting married in December of this year, so the semester is sure to be busy! I feel blessed to have been given this opportunity to teach high school journalism.
Susan (Larson) Cochran -
Two years ago, my husband Michael and I moved to Indonesia to work with a local organization in the areas of community development, literacy, and capacity building. We spent our first year in country studying the Indonesian language. Both of our children were born here, Oliver in April 2010 and Lucia in April 2011, so most of my time now is focused towards raising our little ones. However, I continue to be involved in elementary education by training Indonesian elementary school teachers who work in remote interior locations. I am grateful for the excellent education that I received at KSU, enabled by the Tomorrow’s Teacher scholarship, and am excited to be able to use that education in turn to train and encourage other teachers.
Victoria Luhrs -
I am now working as a Teacher Leader in the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. I'm very excited to be back in KCK after two years in Northern Virginia. I graduated in May with a Masters in Arts from George Mason University - the program was called "Initiatives and Educational Transformations," and I loved it. I am working with teachers, coaching and planning for staff development and assessment at Arrowhead Middle School.
Tiffany (Pralle) Manning -
I am in my fifth year of teaching 1st grade at Spring Valley in Junction City. I enjoy the challenges and rewards that come along with teaching each new class of 1st graders each year. Last fall I completed my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Reading/Language Arts at Kansas State University.
This past June, my husband and I welcomed our baby boy, Carter Ray. He is our pride and joy and such a wonderful blessing in our lives. It is so much fun to see all of the new things that he learns on a daily basis. My husband, Scott, is a Regional Manager for a company that manages apartment complexes all over the U.S. In our free time we enjoy spoiling Carter, being outside, and spending time with family and friends.
Reily (Reinhardt) Wieters -
This will be my fifth year teaching intermediate students and my fourth year at Valley Heights. I am teaching 3rd grade again this year. Last fall, I started my Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Educational Technology from Peru State University. I will graduate in May. I have enjoyed learning more about curriculum, instruction, and assessments and have learned numerous technology strategies that I implement in my classroom regularly.
My husband, Ryan, works at a bank in Waterville, Kansas. We enjoy being outside, attending KSU sporting events, and being with our friends and family. We are expecting our first baby in March.
Kirsten Salyer -
I am currently working at a summer training program for college students to help them learn how to follow Christ, study the Bible, pray, and share their faith. It has been a rewarding, refreshing, and stretching summer!
In the fall, I will be returning to Manhattan, where I will be working as a paraeducator in 7th grade classrooms at Eisenhower Middle School. I will be continuing to serve with the ministry I was involved in in college and continue to receive ministry training, while I decide what my next long-term step will be after college.
Gentry Sauder -
I am excited for a new school year as I begin my third year as a 7th grade Language Arts teacher at Haysville West Middle School. With every passing year, I've gained confidence in the classroom and have had the opportunity to serve on various committees in the school, including our PBIS team. Aside from spending time preparing for students, I've enjoyed getting involved in my church and spending time with family and friends. I think I've even been out of school long enough to begin to look forward to going back this spring for my masters in Curriculum and Instruction.
Kristen (Schnackenberg) Schepker -
Where has the time gone! I am still teaching all-day Kindergarten at the Turner Early Learning Center in Kansas City, Kansas. This will be my sixth year! I have also graduated this past December with my Masters of Science in Teaching with an emphasis in English for Speakers of Other Languages from Pittsburg State University. I have enjoyed working on the report card team, the classroom assessment reorganization team, as well as on our building advisory committee.
It has been a very busy year at home as well, as I am officially Kristen Schepker, as I married the love of my life, D.J. Schepker. He is currently in his last year of school to earn his Ph.D. in Business Strategy at KU. It will be a very exciting year for us as we figure out the next step in our lives as he begins to look for jobs at universities! In our “spare time” we love attending sporting events and cheering on our teams, spending time with our puggle, Gizmo, coaching a little league basketball team, and spending time with our amazing family and friends.
Lucas Shivers -
Raised near Clay Center, Kan., I earned a dual bachelor of science degree at Kansas State University in elementary education and agricultural communications and journalism, with a minor in leadership studies. I finished my Masters from Emporia State in 2007. I hope to earn district-level certification from KU by 2013. I currently teach sixth grade at Bluejacket Flint Elementary in the Shawnee Mission School District. Previously, I have taught fifth grade in Abilene, Kan., at Garfield Upper Elementary.
I have undertaken many additional projects including a nation-wide Electronic Field Trip to Manzanar, CA, managing a community grant for geocaching and nutrition education, and several STEM and environmental grants. My wife, Rachel, also a teacher, and I have been foster parents to six kids since 2008.
Jessica Spare -
It is hard to believe that I am already starting my third year of teaching at Meade High School. I am excited to teach a wide variety of high school math courses again this year. The students are great and I enjoy interacting with them daily. I am also involved with coaching scholar's bowl and sponsoring the service organization Key Club. When I'm not busy with school activities, I am finding the time to run, bike, and read. I am enjoying life in a small community and becoming involved with a local church and youth ministry.
Kari (Strelcheck) Hillen -
I am in my third year of teaching in Blue Valley in Overland Park, KS. I currently teach Spanish 2.5 and Spanish 3.5. I have a great group of students that keep me very busy and laughing often. This year, I also coached the sophomore girls' volleyball team. I learned a lot and enjoyed getting to know my students in a different way.
My husband, J.D., and I will be married two years in June and are still living in Gardner, Kansas. In our spare time, we are still working on the house and spending time with family and friends that are close by. My sister and I have also been coaching a fourth-grade girls' volleyball team. In addition, I tutor a couple of students in Spanish from neighboring schools.
Ellen Templin -
I will begin teaching Kindergarten at Flint Hills Christian School this fall. I am excited to be preparing my classroom and getting ready for my students. This summer I completed my first sprint triathlon in Denver. It was truly an exhilarating experience. My husband and I will celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary this December, shortly after he graduates from KSU in accounting.
Erica (Voran) Anderson -
My name is Erica (Voran) Anderson. After teaching third grade for five years, I recently accepted a new position in the Olathe School District. This year I will be a reading specialist at Washington Elementary School. I am excited about the opportunity to try something new in the education field. In December, I graduated with my Masters of Science in Teaching with an emphasis in Reading Specialist from Emporia State University. In the last year, I have enjoyed working on the building leadership team and being on the math textbook adoption committee.
My husband Jon and I reside in Prairie Village. He is an attorney and works in Shawnee. This year we adopted an energetic puppy named Lucy. In our free time, we like to travel and work on house projects. We're really excited that we have season tickets for K-State football for the first time since we graduated!
Carly Wagner -
I am currently working in the Blue Valley School District in Overland Park, KS. I taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Spanish at Prairie Star Middle School during the 2010-2011 school year and will be teaching Spanish 1 and Spanish 2 at Blue Valley High School and Blue Valley West High School during the 2011-2012 school year. I really enjoy my time connecting with the students and inspiring them to continue taking Spanish in the future. Throughout my teaching experiences, I have come to love the profession and am excited to continue down the path of education.
Rachel (Williams) Jorgensen -
It's been a busy few years for our family! My husband, Cody, and I are expecting our first child, a boy, this coming November! We're so thankful to have a healthy baby on the way and we can't wait! Also, after three years of teaching First Grade at Gardner Elementary, I resigned to stay home with our little one. I'm sad to leave, but I'm also very excited for the new adventure of being a full time mom. I do get to sub for a few months in my building before the baby arrives, so I'm thankful to get to stay involved for a while :) We're very involved in our church, Redeemer Fellowship, and also really enjoy walks, movies, and making our new house into a home!
Eryn (Wood) Elder -
I now live in Longmont, Colorado, and I attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. Currently, I am working on my master’s degree in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice. For part time work, I enjoy my job as an accompanist at a near by middle school. My husband completed his master’s degree in economics in May, and he is now working as a pricing analyst for a company in Boulder. We enjoy the mountains for hiking and skiing, and I play volleyball several times a week.
Amanda York -
I am excited about teaching all Spanish this year at Bishop Dunne Catholic School in South Dallas. This marks the beginning of my third year, which brings additional responsibilities. I will teach my first dual credit class, my first pre-AP class, and I will step into the role of World Language Department Chair. I am also a moderator for the TAPPS academic team and the National Honor Society.
This fall I will marry another Kansas State Wildcat, Travis Hudson. We look forward to a lifetime of love, travel, and K-State sports.
Patricia Zabloudil -
I am currently teaching 6th grade at Manchester Park Elementary in the Olathe School District. This is my fourth year teaching here in this position. Although we are in an elementary school, we departmentalize all day. My passion is Reading, so I am very lucky that this year I am the Reading teacher for all sixth grade. Our school district has recently passed a bond that will move 6th grade to the middle schools and 9th grade up to the high schools. I'm very excited about the opportunities that await me as a middle school teacher. This past summer I worked on a committee that created a new Reading class, as well as made adaptations to the existing 6th grade Language Arts program.
I am currently enjoying my time being single and spending time with good friends. I live in Overland Park and enjoy going on walks, biking, reading, and cooking. During the summer, I also worked at a camp outside of the Kansas City area for middle school Christians. I have been working there for several summers and continue to enjoy it!