Schools welcome new faces on staff

Schools welcome new faces on staff

Seven teachers hired as turnover declines
Hanson
Connie Small

Teaching: Fourth grade

Background in teaching: Worked as a substitute teacher in the Mancos District since 2004

Education: Fort Lewis

Hometown: Farmington

Why are you happy to join the staff: "The school district is family oriented and positive."
Drew Pearson

Teaching: Elementary PE and Gifted and Talented

Background in teaching: Check and connect mentor at Cortez Middle School, teacher at Manaugh Elementary, administrative support

Education: Degree in religion and theology from Wayland Baptist University, master's in elementary education from Liberty University

Hometown: Cortez

Goals for the year: "To see the GT program continue to build."
Holly Figueroa

Teaching: Title I Reading Specialist

Background in teaching: 10 years at Park Elemetary in Durango

Education: Mesa State, Grand Junction, master's in reading from Regis University

Hometown: Mancos

Favorite thing about teaching: "My passion is teaching reading, so I'm really looking forward to working with Mancos students in literacy."
Kaitlin Ludwick

Teaching: Kindergarten

Background in teaching: Full-time substitute for six months

Education: Fort Lewis College

Hometown: Houston

Favorite thing about teaching: "You catch yourself smiling, and you're not sure why and then you remember a moment in the day."
Liza Eschallier

Teaching: Second grade

Background in teaching: Two years at Mesa Elementary in Cortez

Education: University of Connecticut and the University of Colorado in Denver

Hometown: Woodbury, Calif.

Favorite thing about teaching: "I enjoy getting kids excited about learning and watching them grow every day."
Martha Endres

Teaching: English language learners

Background in teaching: Ran a day care and preschool for 7 years in Durango, substitute taught for one year

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's of curriculum and instruction at University of Phoenix

Hometown: Rico

Goals for the year: "My goal is to learn my job and get to know the members of the community."
Amanda Wyman

Teaching: Special Education para-professional

Background in teaching: First year as a para-professional

Hometown: Mancos

What lead you to join the staff: "I had wanted to work at the school, I had three kids at the school."
Cathy Epps

Position: Elementary Principal

Background: 20 years in education, starting 11th year in Re-6

Education: Bachelor's in elementary education and all areas of special education, master's in bilingual and multi-cultural education for Northern Arizona University

Hometown: Phoenix

Goals for the year: "To really build upon peer coaching systems for professional development."
Adam Priestley

Position: Principal, grades 6-12

Background: Two years middle and high school science, five years in exceptional student services

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's in special education at Grand Canyon University, master's in educational leadership at Western Governors University

Hometown: Norwood

Goals for the year: "To come together as parents, teachers and administration to find a way to start moving up toward high academic skills."
Laura Prow

Teaching: High school Spanish, English II, yoga and drama

Background: Two years in Flagstaff, Ariz.; two years in the Peace Corps

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's from Northern Arizona University

Hometown: Northborough, Mass.

Favorite thing about teaching: "I love empowering the students."

Schools welcome new faces on staff

Hanson
Connie Small

Teaching: Fourth grade

Background in teaching: Worked as a substitute teacher in the Mancos District since 2004

Education: Fort Lewis

Hometown: Farmington

Why are you happy to join the staff: "The school district is family oriented and positive."
Drew Pearson

Teaching: Elementary PE and Gifted and Talented

Background in teaching: Check and connect mentor at Cortez Middle School, teacher at Manaugh Elementary, administrative support

Education: Degree in religion and theology from Wayland Baptist University, master's in elementary education from Liberty University

Hometown: Cortez

Goals for the year: "To see the GT program continue to build."
Holly Figueroa

Teaching: Title I Reading Specialist

Background in teaching: 10 years at Park Elemetary in Durango

Education: Mesa State, Grand Junction, master's in reading from Regis University

Hometown: Mancos

Favorite thing about teaching: "My passion is teaching reading, so I'm really looking forward to working with Mancos students in literacy."
Kaitlin Ludwick

Teaching: Kindergarten

Background in teaching: Full-time substitute for six months

Education: Fort Lewis College

Hometown: Houston

Favorite thing about teaching: "You catch yourself smiling, and you're not sure why and then you remember a moment in the day."
Liza Eschallier

Teaching: Second grade

Background in teaching: Two years at Mesa Elementary in Cortez

Education: University of Connecticut and the University of Colorado in Denver

Hometown: Woodbury, Calif.

Favorite thing about teaching: "I enjoy getting kids excited about learning and watching them grow every day."
Martha Endres

Teaching: English language learners

Background in teaching: Ran a day care and preschool for 7 years in Durango, substitute taught for one year

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's of curriculum and instruction at University of Phoenix

Hometown: Rico

Goals for the year: "My goal is to learn my job and get to know the members of the community."
Amanda Wyman

Teaching: Special Education para-professional

Background in teaching: First year as a para-professional

Hometown: Mancos

What lead you to join the staff: "I had wanted to work at the school, I had three kids at the school."
Cathy Epps

Position: Elementary Principal

Background: 20 years in education, starting 11th year in Re-6

Education: Bachelor's in elementary education and all areas of special education, master's in bilingual and multi-cultural education for Northern Arizona University

Hometown: Phoenix

Goals for the year: "To really build upon peer coaching systems for professional development."
Adam Priestley

Position: Principal, grades 6-12

Background: Two years middle and high school science, five years in exceptional student services

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's in special education at Grand Canyon University, master's in educational leadership at Western Governors University

Hometown: Norwood

Goals for the year: "To come together as parents, teachers and administration to find a way to start moving up toward high academic skills."
Laura Prow

Teaching: High school Spanish, English II, yoga and drama

Background: Two years in Flagstaff, Ariz.; two years in the Peace Corps

Education: Fort Lewis College, master's from Northern Arizona University

Hometown: Northborough, Mass.

Favorite thing about teaching: "I love empowering the students."
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