Teachers of the Month - Salina Public Schools | USD 305

Skip navigation

Teachers of the Month

Teachers of the Month

May 2023	Congrats to all of our amazing Teachers of the Month!
	Teresa Kickhaefer is a physical education at Lakewood Middle School.Teresa is in her 29th year of teaching and has taught at Lakewood since it opened. She had a teacher in high school who inspired her to teach.
	Michelle Cooper teaches 6th grade science and social studies at South Middle School. Michelle has been teaching for 28 years, the first ten of those years at Hageman Elementary. She knew from a very early age that she wanted to be a teacher and was blessed to have incredible teachers. Michelle loves working with kids and seeing how enthusiastic they are about learning. Michelle says thank you to all of the parents and the community for their support to make programs available for kids.
	Elise Potocnik is a student support counselor at South High School. This is her fourth year working with at-risk students at SHS. She loves coming to work every day to collaborate with amazing people who want to see kids succeed and to help them reach their goals. When Elise was in high school, she had a teacher who made every student feel welcomed who inspired her to make her students feel that way too. Elise is also inspired by the many incredible teachers she worked with throughout her career. Elise says that forming connections with students and watching them grow as individuals never gets old.
	Brandon Agee teaches Credit Recovery at Central High School. Brandon is in his first year of teaching. He became a teacher because he wanted to teach students about the true value of education which is that if one is willing to learn, then education has no limitations. He is inspired to teach and push students to become the best versions of themselves. Brandon's favorite part of the learning process is to set goals and reflect on the progress of his students. Brandon says that all students need and desire to be encouraged by strong mentors and role models. Students need structures which is created by routine which will inspire learning in the wonderful kids at CHS.

April 2023
	Dena Foutch is a 6th grade math teacher at Lakewood Middle School. Dena has been teaching for 20 years and this is her 15th year at LMS. She enjoys learning new thing and was inspired by her mother who has always been a natural at teaching. Dena enjoys seeing students master new skills in math and especially enjoys seeing them realize they like math more than they thought. Dena says that students are a treasure and everyone of them deserves to have the necessary tools for realizing their potential.
	Michael Rassette teaches 8th grade U.S. History at South Middle School. Michael has been teaching for 20 years and has spent 18 of those years at SMS. He was inspired to become a teacher by a middle school teacher he once had who was able to explain things well and make it relatable. Michael enjoys teaching students about history and finding ways to relate it to the present. Michael says that getting involved in your student's school is the best way to support them both in their academics and extracurricular activities.
	Orlando Carmona teaches business classes at South High School. Orlando has been teaching for 10 years and this is his 5th year at SHS. He chose to become a teacher because he has always had a passion for helping people, especially students. He draws inspiration from his mentor Kathleen Haynes and all of the wonderful teachers he has worked with. Orlando enjoys working for SPS and being able to build relationships with students. He says that it takes all of us to make Salina the best place to live and work and it is in our power to allow students to realize their dreams.
	Darrin Stineman teaches journalism at Central High School. This is his third year of teaching as his background is in newspaper journalism. Darrin chose to become a teacher in order to combine his passion for journalism and helping young people to excel in all they do. Darrin enjoys being a part of the school community and watching students grow and develop with pride as individuals. Connecting with the students and seeing them discover new things and be creative is something he looks forward to every day. Darrin says that students have faced many challenges and are still feeling the isolating effects of the pandemic. With the help of the community, it is possible to turn things around and create opportunities for students to be motivated to succeed.

March 2023
	Carlene Jackson is a math teacher at Lakewood Middle School. She has been teaching for over 30 years and has been at LMS for 5 years. Carlene became a teacher because she wanted to inspire passion, creativity and meaning for each student she encounters. She wants her students to recognize their success. Carlene says that as we see amazing growth in your students we appreciate your confidence in our staff.
	Amanda Freeman teaches 6th grade English and Language Arts at South Middle School. Amanda has been teaching for 12 years and this is her first year at SMS. Amanda has known that she wanted to teach since 3rd grade because of her teacher who treated each student as important individuals. Amanda tries to do the same in her classroom. Her favorite part of teaching is building relationships with her students and she says that she is lucky to be a part of their lives.
	Melissa Mahoney teaches Medical Investigations and Medical Internships at South High School. Melissa is in her fourth year teaching and her second year at SHS. Melissa's mother is her biggest inspiration and role model who guides her to grow as a teacher. Melissa has a passion for teaching students and enjoys helping students grow both in the classroom and in the community.
	Linda Jones teaches Psychology and Teaching as a Career courses at Central High School. Linda has been teaching for 36 years and has been at CHS for 33 years. Linda majored in psychology in college and became interested in how people learn and how to help them solve problems. She originally planned to teach for three years and then become a school counselor but she found that she loved teaching. Linda loves working with the friendly and supportive staff at CHS. She loves getting to develop positive relationships and conversing with students every day.

February 2023
	Steve Taylor is a roving teacher at Lakewood Middle School. Steve has been working in the field of education for 34 years, a teacher for 22 and in administration for 12. This is his first year at LMS. Steve has always wanted to be in a position to help young people become productive citizens. His teachers and coaches were his inspiration to be a teacher. He enjoys helping students learn the life skills they need to be successful. Steve says that to help students achieve success, it takes a collaborative effect between families and the school community.
	Megan Alley teaches 6th grade English and Language Arts at South Middle School. She has been teaching for 14 years at SMS. Megan was born to teach and knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher. As a little kid, she would play school. Her favorite part of teaching is building relationship with her students. Megan says that supporting teachers and working together as a community makes a big difference in your student's education.
	Kate Lindsay is the theatre director at South High School. Kate has been teaching for 38 years and has been at SHS for the last 35. When she was younger, she had many inspirational teachers and they continue to inspire and guide her as a teacher today. Kate says the SHS building community is amazing and is grateful to be a part of SHS and Salina Public Schools. Kate enjoys watching her students grow and seeing their "lightbulb moments". Seeing students be proud of their accomplishments is a tremendous feeling.
	Sheila Shaffer teaches Biology, Physical Science and Physics at Central High School. Sheila has been teaching for 18 years, all at CHS. Sheila has been molded and inspired by teachers ever since she was young. She comes from a long line of teachers and is proud to carry on the tradition. Her mother taught at CHS and so as a child growing up, a student, an alumni and now a teacher there, the building holds a special place in her heart. Her goal in life is to make a difference in as many lives as possible and to leave a legacy behind like her favorite teachers did. Sheila says that parents and the community should get involved and encourage students to be high achievers and to work hard. Together, we can make Salina better.

January 2023
	Austin Kingsbury teaches PE and Technical Education at Lakewood Middle School. Austin has been teaching for 11 years and has been at LMS for 4 years. Austin's path to becoming a teacher started with him thinking about becoming a coach. However, after talking his mentors and fellow coaches, they encouraged him to take a few teaching classes. He realized he was passionate about teaching. His favorite part about teaching is the students and staff he works with. As a social person, he believes that his interactions with students and colleagues to build relationships are rewarding. Austin says that LMS is a great place to be for both students and teachers and that he is proud to teach here.
	Carla Gish works with Special Education at South Middle School. She has been teaching for 17 years, 10 years at Sunset Elementary and 7 at SMS. Carla chose to become a teacher because she is a people person and loves to help students reach their goals. She enjoys working with the students themselves, staff and parents to help prepare students for their futures. Carla says that great things happen one step at a time. When it comes to a student, it's important to recognize and enjoy each step towards progress goals.
	Irma Garcia is an art teacher at South High School. Irma has been teaching art for 8 years and this is her 4th year at SHS. Irma was inspired by her art teachers to pursue teaching herself. She enjoys the teachers she works with and how well SHS's art department works together. Her favorite part of teaching is the growth that she sees in her students.
	Susan Hall teaches ESL at Central High School. Susan has been teaching for 24 years and has been with CHS for the last 4. She enjoys learning and sharing new information with others and was inspired to teach by her family and her teachers. She likes the opportunities she gets to meet and work with so many wonderful people. Susan's favorite part of teaching is guiding the students as they gain new knowledge and skills. Susan says to encourage yourself and other to work hard in order to do your best.

December 2022
	Anne Berry teaches 7th grade math at Lakewood Middle School. Anne has been teaching for 9 years and has been with LMS for 2 years. She loves working with her students and knowing that she has the chance to be a positive influence on them. Anne's favorite thing about teaching is that it keeps her on her toes. She enjoys the routine and structure of her job but each day is new and different. She also enjoys hearing from previous students the impact she had on them. Anne says teaching isn't easy and she thanks the community for their continued support in helping teachers create the best learning environment for your children.
	Bianca Adams works with Special Education at South Middle School. She has been at SMS for 5 years. Bianca enjoys working with the students and building relationships with them. She enjoys getting to see her students excel, not only at school, but in all the things they are involved in. A fun fact about Bianca is that she grew up in Salina and attended SMS.
	Juan Maldonado is an English as a Second Language(ESL) instructor at South High School. Juan is in his fifth year of teaching at SHS and this is his first year as a ESL instructor. He wanted to be a teacher because he had amazing mentors growing up, who happened to be teachers. He knew he wanted to be like them and mentor kids who may need guidance. He enjoys getting to know each of his students. His favorite subject is English because he had to learn the language when he was young and now enjoys helping others learn. Juan says thank you to everyone who supports students and staff.
	Ryan Holmquist teaches choir at Central High School. Ryan has be teaching for 18 years and this is his 15th year at CHS. He became a teacher because of his parent's influence. They were both Master Teachers and he wanted to do what they did. Ryan loves his students. They are smart, funny, they works very hard and care so much about what they do. Ryan's favorite part of teaching is his students and says that parents should let kids be kids. Let them participate in the activities they want to do or are good at. Also, the arts teach interpersonal skills, soft skills and above all discipline.

November 2022
	Cynthia Bray teaches 8th grade English at Lakewood Middle School. This is her 24th year with the district. She chose teaching as a profession because she has always enjoyed working with youth. Her inspiration was her mother because she always worked with kids to help them reach their full potential. Cynthia enjoys it when she gets to teach students something they did not know before and also when they understand it. Cynthia says to always look for the good in your children and to never give up on them.
	Brooke Jennings teaches 6th grade reading at South Middle School. She has been with the district for 13 years but this is her first year at SMS. She has known since she was in elementary school that she wanted to be a teacher. Her 5th grade teacher inspired her especially be he made learning exciting and fun. Brooke's favorite part of teaching is seeing students being excited to learn. She loves creating new and fun ways for the students to be engaged through technology, art or music. Brook says that when parents, teachers and community members work together, they can encourage and support students throughout their educational journey.
	Carrie VanDeCreek is a SPED teacher at South High School. Carrie has been teaching for 26 years at SHS. She became a teacher to help all students strive to reach their full potential. She was inspired by many great teachers growing up. Carrie loves SHS because all students have a chance to feel accepted. She loves seeing them reach their individual goals. Carrie says that she wants everyone o know that it's not a disability, it's a different ability.
	Traci Pfeifer teaches P.E. and health classes at Central High School. Traci has spent 23 years teaching at CHS. She was inspired to be a P.E. teacher by her P.E. teachers in high school. She loves working and interacting with the students. She loves learning about their interests and for those that play sports, she enjoys watching them compete. Traci says that she works with a great group to teachers in her department and that parents should stay involved in their child's school and know what's going on.

October 2022
	Brian Nowak is a technical education teacher at Lakewood Middle School. Brian has been teaching for 31 years. After teaching trade school and working in construction, he decided to go back to school to get his teaching degree in order to share his love for shop classes and technical education with students. His favorite part of teaching is the the pride he sees in his student when they finish their projects. Many realize they have a talent or skill for it and being able to share that with parents is so rewarding. Brian says technical education classes open up the opportunities for students to build, create and fix a path forward.
	Matt Gerry teaches guitar at South Middle School and has been teaching there for 20 years. He has been leading the guitar program for 12 years where he has been able to share his love of music and guitar with students. He enjoys watching his students learn and progress in their skill but especially when they shine on stage. Matt says that Salina has a vibrant arts community and that he hopes the community continues to support schools teaching excellence in the arts.
	Ryan Schafer teaches business classes at South High School. Ryan has been teaching for 15 years and is in his fourth year at SHS. He remembers when he was in middle school and wanted to be a teacher. His coach, Mike Butler, was a big inspiration to him and encouraged him to pursue teaching. Ryan enjoys that he gets to do something he loves every day he spends in the classroom. He enjoys building relationships with the students and loves seeing students accomplish new things. Ryan says he wants the community and parents to know that this generation of students is incredibly resilient. Through everything that has happened over the last few years, these students have shown up time and time again.
	Tony Slothower teaches social studies at Central High School. Tony has been teaching for 25 years and 17 of those years have been at CHS. Tony chose teaching as his professions because he thought it would be a good way to give back and help inspire students. The most enjoyable part of what he does is when he is able to see students take what he teachers and apply it in their own lives. Tony asks that the community keeps supporting our students as they are the future.

September 2022
	Janeen Feil is a 8th grade counselor at Lakewood Middle School. She has been a school counselor for 9 years and this is her second year at LMS. She chose to become a counselor because she wanted to be able to help all students. Her inspiration came from the effort that teachers put into all of their students. She enjoys helping students and teachers in her building and is glad to be a part of the Lakewood team. She says that this is the best school she has ever worked at.
	Miranda Lumley teaches 6th grade math at South Middle School and has been teaching there for 15 years. Miranda has always wanted to be a teacher because her favorite teachers helped her to believe in herself. She wants to teach her students the same lesson, that they are able to do hard things. She loves making connections with students and helps them to see how amazing they are to the world. Miranda says that the best part about teaching is the lifelong relationships we make with our colleagues and students. She loves seeing former students be successful. Miranda believes that "when we all work as a team, we can really see our students flourish".