The Pierre School District held its New Teacher In-service Day Friday (Aug. 13, 2021).
The district has nearly 30 new instructors for the coming year. See a group photo and read biographies for each of them below.
2021-22 new certified staff for the Pierre School District. Back row: Melinda Frank, Elizabeth Anderson, Jebben Keyes, Daniel Youmans, Cole O’Conner, Sarah Bell, Landon Badger, Courtney Freng, Katie Berg, Miguel Manriquez, Emily Williamson, Katherine Lucas. Middle row: Mindy Miller, Alicia Fabel, Harrison Armstrong, Marjorie Sisco, Kira Swenson, Jean Zakrzewski, Joette Nesladek. Front row: Sierra Wieseler, Rachel Husted, Cody Ryckman, Brenda Freund, Allison, Keller, Emily Wieczorek, Becky Kitts. Not pictured: Jacob Cabalda, Jim McLain, Alexis Terwilliger.
Photo credit Pierre School District.
Certified Staff for 2021-22:
Elizabeth Anderson, Secondary English Teacher, Riggs.BA in English – Augustana College – Sioux Falls, SD
Elizabeth graduated high school from Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls, SD. She attended Augustana College and earned a BA in English in May 2018. Elizabeth student taught at Whittier Middle School and Roosevelt High School and then joined Harrisburg North Middle School as a 7th grade ELA Teacher, where she is finishing her third year.
Harrison Armstrong – Math Teacher, GMMS.BS in Elementary Education – Black Hills State University
Harrison graduated from T.F. Riggs High School. Harrison completed her student teaching with Mrs. Noyes at Kennedy and Mr. Lehman at GMMS.
Landon Badger, PE Teacher, Kennedy.BS in Physical Education – South Dakota State University
Landon graduated from TF Riggs High School. He is doing his student teaching at Dakota Prairie Elementary and Mickelson Middle School.
Sarah Bell, German Teacher, Riggs.BA in German – Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD
Sarah graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. She is doing her student teaching at Roosevelt High School and Whittier Middle School and is filling in as a substitute teacher where needed at Bishop O’Gorman Schools.
Katie Berg – Special Education Teacher, Kennedy.BS in Elementary and Special Education – University of Mary, Bismarck, ND
Katie graduated from T.F. Riggs High School. Katie was a special education teacher in the Bismarck Public School system for two years.
Alicia Fabel – Social Studies, Riggs.BS in Family Resource Management and Consumer Sciences – Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Alicia graduated from Keokuk in Keokuk, IA. After college Alicia produced full-length young adult novels. In 2016 she moved with her family to Pierre and was a substitute for GMMS. In 2019 she became the Administrative Coordinator of the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce.
Melinda Frank, English Teacher, Riggs. BA in English – University of Nebraska – Lincoln.MA in Secondary Education – University of Missouri – St. Louis
Melinda graduated high school from Shanghai American School in Shanghai, China. After graduation she attended University of North Texas, University of Nebraska, and University of Missouri ultimately graduating with her Masters in 2020. Melinda was a member of Teach for America in 2019-20 and is currently a 6th grade teacher in Kansas City, MO for Ewing Marion Kauffman School.
Courtney Freng – Student Services Advisor, Kennedy. BS in Health – University of South Dakota
Courtney graduated from Stanley County High School. After college she worked with the Pierre School District as a Building Technology Assistant before joining Capital Area Counseling as a Clinical Specialist. In 2019 Courtney rejoining the District and was an Academic Interventionist at Kenndy.
Brenda Freund – Math/Language Arts Interventionist, GMMS. BS in Speech Pathology/Audiology – Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Brenda graduated from J. Lloyd Crowe High School in Trail, British Columbia Canada. Brenda was a Kindergarten teacher at Lincoln Park Elementary in Sparks, NV for fifteen years. In 2018, Brenda joined GMMS as an ELL Tutor/Library Assistant.
Rachel Husted – Kindergarten Teacher, Buchanan. BS in Early Childhood Education – South Dakota State University
Rachel graduated from Highmore Harrold High School in Highmore, SD. She did her student teacher at First Lutheran Preschool and Deubrook Elementary School.
Jebben Keyes – Social Studies Teacher, GMMS. BA in History – Augustana College
Jebben graduated from T.F Riggs High School. He did his student teaching at Roosevelt High School and Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls.
Becky Kitts – Grade 3-5 Math Interventionist, Buchanan. BA in Elementary Education – Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD
Becky graduated from T.F. Riggs High School. After graduation from college Becky joined the Blunt Elementary School staff as a Grade 1-2 Teacher for five years. St. Joseph Catholic School drew her back to Pierre and she has been a 4th grade math and science teacher there for 17 years.
Katherine Lucas, Science Teacher, Riggs. BS in Biology and Chemistry – South Dakota State University
Katherine graduated from Parkston High School. She is currently finishing her student teacher at Sioux Valley School District.
Miguel Manriquez – 6th PE, GMMS. BS in Criminal Justices and Spanish – Minot State University, Minot, ND
Miguel graduated from Minot High School in Minot, ND. After graduating Miguel joined the City of Pierre as a police officer before leaving for the Pierre School District.
Jim McLain, Spanish Teacher, Riggs. BA in Spanish and Global Studies, BS in Geography – South Dakota State University. MS in Secondary Education – Black Hills State University
Jim graduated from T.F. Riggs High School. He taught two years with the Pierre School District before leaving the states to teach geography and English in Ecuador for one year.
Melinda Miller, English Teacher, Riggs. BA in English – University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL. MA in Educational Leadership – University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
Melinda graduated from Middleburg High School in Middleburg, FL. Afer graduating from college she went on to teacher middle school English at St. Joseph Catholic School in Stuart, FL. In 2017, Melinda accepted an Assistant Principal job at the same school, that also allowed her to still teach English part time. Melinda also worked for three years as Assistant Principal in The Diocese of Palm Beach, Florida school system.
Joette Nesladek, Speech/Language Pathologist, Kennedy. BS in Communication Disorders – Northern State University. MA in Speech Language Pathology – University of South Dakota
Joette graduated from TF Riggs High School. After graduating from Northern Joette joined the Madison C-3 School District in Madison, MO as a Speech Therapist. In 1999 Joette joined the Lyman School District in Presho, SD and earned her Masters to become a Speech Language Pathologist.
Cole OConner – Math Teacher, GMMS. BS in Mathematics, University of South Dakota
Cole graduated from Stanley County High School. For the last three years Cole has been teaching high school science in the Chamberlain School District.
Cody Ryckman – 8th Health, GMMS
BA in Physical Education – South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD
Cody from TF Riggs High School. She student taught at Brookings Middle School, Sturgis High School and Buchanan Elementary with Mr. Bohls. In December of 2020, Cody joined the Pierre School District as a substitute teacher.
Marjorie Sisco, Special Education Teacher, GMMS. BA in Secondary Education – Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. ME in Counseling and Guidance – Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
Marjorie graduated from Crescent High School in Iva, SC. Marjorie has been a teacher in South and North Carolina for 28 years, most recently being in Wilson County Public Schools in Wilson, NC. There she taught French and Special Education.
Kira Swenson – Interventionist, Jefferson. BS in Special Education – Northern State University
Kira graduated from Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches, FL. For one year she taught 3rd grade in Aberdeen before moving to Pierre. She has taught the last ten years at Pierre Indian Learning Center.
Emily Wieczorek, Science Teacher, Riggs. BS in Biology – University of Sioux Falls
Emily graduated from Mount Vernon High School. After graduating college Emily taught at Mount Vernon High School as a long-term substitute for one semester before joining AsOne Ministries as the Education Program Manager in Uganda for eight months.
Sierra Wieseler, 3rd Grade Teacher, Kennedy.BS in Elementary Education – Northern State University
Sierra graduated from Gettysburg High School. She is currently finishing her student teaching at Madison Elementary School in Huron, SD.
Emily Williamson, Student Services Advisor, GMMS. BA in Social Science – Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN. ME in Secondary Teaching – University of Sioux Falls
Emily graduated from Worthington High School in Worthington, MN. For the last two years Emily has been a 3-6 grade social studies teacher at St. Mary’s School in Worthington.
Daniel Youmans, 12th Grade English Teacher, Riggs. BA in English – Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD. MA in English — Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD. Salisbury University, Salisbury, MD
Daniel graduated high school from Southern High in Hardwood, MA. He attended Salisbury University and graduated with a BA and MA in English. Daniel taught for three years at Trident Technical College before joining Nandua High school in 2015 and teaching 9-12 grade English and Dual Enrollment College English. Daniel is excited to move to the Pierre area and continue his career in South Dakota.
Jean Zakrzewski – Math/LA Interventionist, Kennedy. BA in Elementary Education – Mount Marty University, Yankton, SD
Jean graduated from St. Mary’s High School in O’Neill, NE. Before moving to Pierre Jean taught three years at Mary Our Queen School in Omaha, NE.
Jacob Cabalda – Special Education Teacher, GMMS. BS in Industrial Arts – Cebu Technological University, Cebu, Philippines. MA in Vocational Education – Cebu Technological University, Cebu, Philippines
Jacob graduated from Divino Amore Academy in Cebu, Philippines. Jacob has been teaching middle school and high schoolers in the Philippines for the last nine years but is not ready to tackle a new adventure in the United States.
Allison Keller – Social Studies Teacher, Riggs. BA in History – University of California, Davis, CA
Allison graduated from Shasta High School in Redding, CA. After college Allison moved to Gillette, WY where she was a substitute teacher and Youth Director for her church. In 2017 Allison moved to Pierre and was the Faith Formation Director for Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Last year Allison joined the Pierre School District as an aide in the Learning Center.
Alexis Terwilliger – Business/Personal Finance, Riggs. BS in Elementary Education – University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD
Alexis graduate from Pius X High School in Lincoln, NE. Alexis spent seven years working with Stulken, Petersen, Lingle, Walti and Jones, LLP as a bookkeeping clerk, before joining the Governor’s Office of Economic Development as a special projects coordinator.
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