Dolores schools welcome new teachers

Dolores schools welcome new teachers

District hires 11 teachers, nurse
Jay Anderson

Age: 64

Teaching: High School and Middle School art

Background: Anderson is returning to his old job. Six years ago, he taught art in Dolores and left to be the dean of continuing education at a private school in Saudi Arabia.

Education: Doctorate in language literacy and sociocultural studies.

Hobbies: Surfing, scuba diving, landscaping and baseball.

Quote: "Art allows us the opportunity to develop our whole personality."
Jen Barry

Age: 37

Teaching: Second grade

Background: Elementary teacher for five years

Family: Two children, ages 3 and 5, and husband, Jim.

Quote: "Teaching is very rewarding. I like dressing up for the children. I get a chance to express my creative spirit with a purpose."
Emily Christenson

Age: 36

Teaching: First grade

Background: Christenson has 10 years of teaching experience. She most recently taught at Teddy Bear Preschool and fourth grade at Mesa Elementary and taught for eight years in Idaho.

Family: Two children, ages 8 and 5, and husband, Jeff.

Hobbies: Gardening and mountain biking.

Quote: "I like passing on new knowledge and getting creative with the kids and seeing their smiling faces."
Melody McNeill

Age: 26

Teaching: First grade

Background: McNeill is relatively new to the teaching field, she taught for a half of a year at Manaugh Elementary in Cortez last year. But she is excited about returning to Dolores because she grew up in Dolores and graduated from Dolores High School.

Education: Teaching degree from Fort Lewis College.

Hobbies: Hiking and going out on the lake.

Quote: "My very favorite thing about teaching is kids say very funny things and it is so fun to watch when kids realize they can do something for the first time."
Kristi Smith

Age: 37

Teaching: Fifth grade

Background: Smith taught for four years at Dolores Elementary School before taking nine years off to raise her children and start a silversmith business.

FAMILY: Two children, ages 6 and 9, and husband, Glenn.

Hobbies: Music, biking and making jewelry.

Quote: "I love the relationship between the student and teacher and helping the students grow and succeed."
Denese Brisbin

Age: 42

Assignment: School nurse

Background: Brisbin was a school nurse in Cortez for 12 years and has worked in Ohio as a nurse and at a hospital in Alaska.

EDUCATION: Registered nurse with a bachelor's in nursing.

FAMILY: A fifth-grade daughter and husband, Shane, who grew up in the area and graduated from Dolores High School.

Hobbies: Outdoors and travel.

Quote: "I've enjoyed school nursing. The schedule is great when you have children."
Chris LaRose

Age: 38

Teaching: Sixth grade science

Background: LaRose most recently taught fifth grade in Georgetown, Colo.

FAMILY: Four children and wife, Maggie.

Hobbies: Skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, rafting, reading, arts and gardening.

Quote: "I like sharing knowledge with kids."
Michael Nielson

Age: 31

Teaching: Middle School social studies

Background: Nielson is from Dove Creek and most recently taught in Grand Junction at Book Cliff Middle School. This is his second year teaching.

FAMILY: Five kids, ages 10, 7, 5, 2 and 2 months. Wife, Carisa.

Hobbies: Basketball and technology.

Quote: "I like that I get to make a difference on a daily basis when teaching."
Micah Owen

Age: 23

Teaching: Fourth grade.

Background: This is Owen's first teaching job.

Education: Owen graduated from Bluefield State College in West Virginia with a major in elementary education.

Hobbies: Traveling, skiing and hiking.

Quote: "I love kids."
Chris Powell

Age: 60

Teaching: Second grade

Background: Powell is a familiar face to many, she has worked at Dolores schools for 33 years and retired four years ago. She is filling in for Mrs. Liska, who is on maternity leave this year. Powell is excited to return.

FAMILY: Two children, both graduates of Dolores High School. Husband, Charlie.

Hobbies: Hiking, quilting, knitting and reading.

Quote: "Watching children learn to read and learn to think is so rewarding."

Dolores schools welcome new teachers

Jay Anderson

Age: 64

Teaching: High School and Middle School art

Background: Anderson is returning to his old job. Six years ago, he taught art in Dolores and left to be the dean of continuing education at a private school in Saudi Arabia.

Education: Doctorate in language literacy and sociocultural studies.

Hobbies: Surfing, scuba diving, landscaping and baseball.

Quote: "Art allows us the opportunity to develop our whole personality."
Jen Barry

Age: 37

Teaching: Second grade

Background: Elementary teacher for five years

Family: Two children, ages 3 and 5, and husband, Jim.

Quote: "Teaching is very rewarding. I like dressing up for the children. I get a chance to express my creative spirit with a purpose."
Emily Christenson

Age: 36

Teaching: First grade

Background: Christenson has 10 years of teaching experience. She most recently taught at Teddy Bear Preschool and fourth grade at Mesa Elementary and taught for eight years in Idaho.

Family: Two children, ages 8 and 5, and husband, Jeff.

Hobbies: Gardening and mountain biking.

Quote: "I like passing on new knowledge and getting creative with the kids and seeing their smiling faces."
Melody McNeill

Age: 26

Teaching: First grade

Background: McNeill is relatively new to the teaching field, she taught for a half of a year at Manaugh Elementary in Cortez last year. But she is excited about returning to Dolores because she grew up in Dolores and graduated from Dolores High School.

Education: Teaching degree from Fort Lewis College.

Hobbies: Hiking and going out on the lake.

Quote: "My very favorite thing about teaching is kids say very funny things and it is so fun to watch when kids realize they can do something for the first time."
Kristi Smith

Age: 37

Teaching: Fifth grade

Background: Smith taught for four years at Dolores Elementary School before taking nine years off to raise her children and start a silversmith business.

FAMILY: Two children, ages 6 and 9, and husband, Glenn.

Hobbies: Music, biking and making jewelry.

Quote: "I love the relationship between the student and teacher and helping the students grow and succeed."
Denese Brisbin

Age: 42

Assignment: School nurse

Background: Brisbin was a school nurse in Cortez for 12 years and has worked in Ohio as a nurse and at a hospital in Alaska.

EDUCATION: Registered nurse with a bachelor's in nursing.

FAMILY: A fifth-grade daughter and husband, Shane, who grew up in the area and graduated from Dolores High School.

Hobbies: Outdoors and travel.

Quote: "I've enjoyed school nursing. The schedule is great when you have children."
Chris LaRose

Age: 38

Teaching: Sixth grade science

Background: LaRose most recently taught fifth grade in Georgetown, Colo.

FAMILY: Four children and wife, Maggie.

Hobbies: Skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, rafting, reading, arts and gardening.

Quote: "I like sharing knowledge with kids."
Michael Nielson

Age: 31

Teaching: Middle School social studies

Background: Nielson is from Dove Creek and most recently taught in Grand Junction at Book Cliff Middle School. This is his second year teaching.

FAMILY: Five kids, ages 10, 7, 5, 2 and 2 months. Wife, Carisa.

Hobbies: Basketball and technology.

Quote: "I like that I get to make a difference on a daily basis when teaching."
Micah Owen

Age: 23

Teaching: Fourth grade.

Background: This is Owen's first teaching job.

Education: Owen graduated from Bluefield State College in West Virginia with a major in elementary education.

Hobbies: Traveling, skiing and hiking.

Quote: "I love kids."
Chris Powell

Age: 60

Teaching: Second grade

Background: Powell is a familiar face to many, she has worked at Dolores schools for 33 years and retired four years ago. She is filling in for Mrs. Liska, who is on maternity leave this year. Powell is excited to return.

FAMILY: Two children, both graduates of Dolores High School. Husband, Charlie.

Hobbies: Hiking, quilting, knitting and reading.

Quote: "Watching children learn to read and learn to think is so rewarding."