Intros to Whitehall Teachers & Administration: 2022-2023

HANNAH NIESKENS (Superintendent - 8 years at Whitehall - hnieskens@whitehallmt.org). Looking forward to a positive learning environment for students - we have made lots of facilities improvements over the summer and the staff has returned with enthusiasm and is ready to go!

MOTTO: Be Excellent on Purpose

KURTIS KOENIG (K-5 Principal - 4 years at Whitehall - kkoenig@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to creating a positive environment for all our students through my intentionally positive words and deeds.

MOTTO: Good is the enemy of great. Set your intentions to pursue greatness every day!

JASON J. SLATER (6-12 Principal - First year at Whitehall - jslater@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to rising up and overcoming unknown challenges. I generally favor and tend to reinforce timeless truths. For example, the Law of the Farm teaches us that we harvest what we plant and take care of. The same concept is true of education.

MOTTO: Learn by doing, experience education.

TAMARA KIDWELL (Kindergarten - 16 years at Whitehall - tkidwell@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to building positive relationships with my students.

MOTTO: Education is not the filling of a pot, but the lighting of a fire. -W.B. Yeats

MICHELLE JOHNSON (Kindergarten - 15 years at Whitehall - mjohnson@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to bringing new faces and kindergarten enthusiasm. I strive to provide my students with individualized education as much as possible to meet each of them where they are academically.

MOTTO: Teachers open the door. You enter yourself - Chinese Proverb

MARTHA FARRAND (1st Grade - 14 years at Whitehall). I’m most looking forward to getting to know a new group of children, and as I teach, helping them to become the best that they can be.

MOTTO: Good, better, best; never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is your best.

MICHELLE HOOVER (1st Grade - 13 years at Whitehall - mhoover@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to implementing the new Language Arts curriculum and seeing all the students!

MOTTO: “YOU” can do great things!!!”

JOSIE JENKINS (2nd Grade - First year at Whitehall - jjenkins@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to getting to know my students better and being a part of the Whitehall community. A new practice I’ll be implementing is using heart words to teach high-frequency words instead of having kids memorize them or displaying them on a word wall.

NEW TEACHER FUN FACT: I love to fish, especially when I get to go fly fishing.

MOTTO: In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

MEGAN SCHILLING (2nd Grade - 2 years at Whitehall - mschilling@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to creating a new classroom community. I am planning on implementing more Science of Reading techniques into my classroom this year.

MOTTO: “We are making a difference every day!”

CASEY MCLEAN (3rd Grade - 15 years at Whitehall - cemclean@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to meeting my new students and encouraging them to be excited to learn new things and accomplish their goals. I am going to add more Whole Brain Teaching techniques, and more collaborative learning into my classroom this year.

MOTTO: Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. - Benjamin Franklin

MICHELLE HEAD (3rd Grade - 2 years at Whitehall - mhead@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to getting to know a new group of third graders and doing fun projects. Not implementing new practices, but building on established practices, building a positive community within my classroom.

MOTTO: We can do hard things!

KATIE CHRISTENSEN (4th Grade - 2 years at Whitehall - 287-3882 ext 2171)

DONNA LOOMIS (4th Grade - 32 years at Whitehall - Please communicate through Seesaw dloom@whitehallmt.org). I am most looking forward to my awesome students! We are going to have a great year!

MOTTO: Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

BRITTA OLIVERSON (5th Grade - 4 years at Whitehall - Please communicate through Seesaw boliverson@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to adding more kiddos to my heart family. I’ll be practicing daily D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read!) no matter what!

MOTTO: Nothing is learned until it is reinvented in the mind of the learner.

LYNNSEY MOEN (Elementary Intervention Specialist - 4 years at Whitehall - lmoen@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to working with all K-5 students! I will be teaching a new curriculum in our Citizenship and Social Skills Program in a classroom with all flexible seating!

MOTTO: “They may forget what you said but they will not forget how you made them feel.” - Carl Buechner

HUNTER JOHNSON (K-8 PE/Health - 3 years at Whitehall - hjohnson@whitehallmt.org) I’m looking forward to seeing all of the faces I haven’t seen all summer long. New and Old. I am teaching a new High School class called Lifetime Sports. It will consist of different sports and activities that you can play throughout your life including Folf, Basketball, Volleyball, Pickleball, Badminton, Golf, Yoga, Ping Pong, Archery, Softball, and basic exercise.

JILL KAISER (TK-5 Special Education - 4 years at Whitehall - jkaiser@whitehallmt.org). I’m most looking forward to seeing the kids grow in their learning; I will be spending more time going into classrooms to support student learning.

MOTTO: Shoot for the moon and you’ll land amongst the stars.

DIANA KNOWLING (Elem/MS Special Education & Language Arts - 3 years at Whitehall - dknowling@whitehallmt.org). I am most looking forward to seeing the students after the summer break. They will have grown and changed in the last three months.

MOTTO: Every day is an opportunity to begin anew.

BRITT MCLEAN (6-8 Social Studies - 11 years at Whitehall - bmclean@whitehallmt.org) I am excited to begin the school year with our kids. I am also excited to see how students have matured throughout the summer. I have a student teacher this year and am excited to see her in action! Go Reese Meine! I will also be working on bringing in a bit of conscious discipline into my classroom.

MOTTO: Every student has potential; strive to bring out the best in every child.

KRISTEN WIRTH (6-8 Science - 8 years at Whitehall - 287-3862 ext 2156 - kwirth@whitehallmt.org)

I’m most excited about trying out new science labs! We have a new science curriculum that lets us explore how science relates to our community that I think will be fun.

MOTTO: Are you working hard or hardly working?

KELSEY SCHOFIELD (6-8 Math - 2 years at Whitehall - kschofield@whitehallmt.org)

I’m looking forward to meeting all of the new students and seeing past students in class and in the hallways again. Students this year can expect a more consistent Exit Ticket presence in my class as well as some days of multiple lessons.

MOTTO: “Mistakes are proof that you are trying”

TARA EASTMARK PINO (6-8 English - 2 years at Whitehall - tpino@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to having many of the same students as last year and getting to know them and their families better. Every year I try new things as well as sticking to the activities that the kids like and that are proven to help the students be successful. The more they read, the better!

MOTTO: All students can learn and succeed, but not in the same way and not in the same day. – William G. Spady

CORRIE BATEMAN (6-12 Special Ed - 23 years at Whitehall - cbate@whitehallmt.org). Looking forward to interacting with students!

MOTTO: Have a growth mindset and persevere.

MERRICK PARNELL (High School Social Studies - 2 years at Whitehall - mparnell@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to being able to teach and learn about the world around us. Inquiry, discovery, and application: students will learn to create and ask questions, discover the answers and apply that knowledge to better understand social studies and the subject’s impact in our world.

MOTTO: Trust the process

ZACH KOZICKY (9-12 Science - 5 years at Whitehall - zkozkicky@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to LABS LABS LABS!!!! Also, I will be teaching criminalistics for the first time. It is a great learning opportunity!

MOTTO: Semper Gumbi (Always Flexible)

CEANNA BERKRAM (High School English - First year at Whitehall)

I’m most looking forward to getting back into the teaching world in the warm, small-town atmosphere of Whitehall. I plan to place a major emphasis on career, apprenticeship, and college readiness while also generating excitement about literature.

NEW TEACHER FUN FACT: I have 3-year-old boy/girl twins

MOTTO: Work hard & stay humble.

LORI ROYS (High School Math - 2 years at Whitehall - lroys@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to seeing the kids and picking up where we left off last year and getting the opportunity to teach Calculus. I started working with one of my classes last year doing some of their “homework” up on the classroom whiteboards together in groups. Now I have more space for the kids to work in groups. I am looking forward to implementing this practice as much as possible in all my classes.

MOTTO: “Math is like weightlifting for your brain”

MADISON RICHTMYER (6-12 Business/Computer - First year at Whitehall - 287-3862 - mrichtmyer@whitehallmt.org) I am looking forward to making good relationships with my students and being apart of the community. I am also looking forward to watching my students being creative with their projects. NEW TEACHER FUN FACT: I love food so chances are I have snacks in my room.

GAYLE WALTER (K-12 Art - 6 years at Whitehall - 287-3862 ext 2178 - gwalter@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to hosting a student art show! I am implementing a stronger social media presence. Follow the art room on Instagram @misswalterart

MOTTO: Empower student voice through the arts

RODNEY HEAD (6-12 JMG and Spanish - 15 years at Whitehall - rhead@whitehallmt.org). I am looking forward to seeing all of the students back again with another whole year under their belts. We have some great opportunities for student leadership conferences and opportunities to pursue their goals for their futures. For those that are not sure what they are looking for in their futures, I look forward to helping them find some direction and setting some goals. I’m looking forward to getting back to the basics.

MOTTO: Everyone can learn anything. Sometimes it takes a little more work and desire, but with enough effort, you can learn.

JANET HEILIG (K-12 Music - 18 years at Whitehall - 287-3862 ext 2157 - jheilig@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to seeing the students and helping them grow as people! I continue to learn how to implement newer technologies into my classroom, especially working on integrating the Promethean boards into my teaching.

MOTTO: Creating intelligent music consumers!

DAN LACEY (6-12 PE and Health, AD - 11 years at WHS - 287-3862 ext 2126 - dlacey@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to having all the students back at school and the excitement and energy they bring every day.

MOTTO: Promote lifelong physical activity and give the students tools to help them grow mentally, physically, and socially.

RICH HOLSTEIN (Industrial Arts - First year at Whitehall - Rholstein@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to connecting with the kids in shop to have them create from their mind heart and soul to build heirlooms. My new practice will be using the last of the wood from Old Faithful Inn to build special picture frames. it’s a big goal to achieve this but I think we can do it.

MOTTO: To understand product development from its infancy of idea to conceptualization to production to a completed product.

JEFF VIAL (K-12 Library -4 years at Whitehall - 287-3862 ext 2130 - jvial@whitehallmt.org). Looking forward to building positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and the community. Also, expanding on thematic approaches to explore library materials with students.

MOTTO: Every student can succeed

STEFANIE FORCELLA (Special Education - 5 years at Whitehall - sforcella@whitehallmt.org).

I’m looking forward to working with the great staff at Whitehall Schools. Communicating with the staff regularly to create a positive learning environment for students in Special Education.

NEW TEACHER FUN FACT: I love chocolate!

MOTTO: All students can learn and succeed but not on the same day or in the same way

CASEY NORBECK (6-12 Guidance Counselor - 4 years at Whitehall - cnorbeck@whitehallmt.org)

MARY BETH HUNTER (School Nurse - Three years at Whitehall - 406-287-3882 ext 2110 - nurses@whitehallmt.org) I always love engaging in education on health with the kiddos! We hope to be in the classroom doing education on a monthly schedule this year. Covering all things health and prevention related. MOTTO: Remember that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.

KRISTA GLAUS (School Nurse - Three years at Whitehall - 406-287-3882 ext 2110 - nurses@whitehallmt.org) We are looking forward to continuing to broaden our education on a variety of health and wellness topics with the students, helping parents find evidence-based resources to use when starting (and continuing) conversations with their kids on such topics, and helping the school staff as a whole be informed about a variety of health concerns that could arise in the student population that we serve.

CASSI EDSALL (Elementary Paraprofessional - Three years at Whitehall). I’m looking forward to interacting with the kids. I love helping them be successful in their goals. MOTTO: Everyone learns differently. Be patient and accepting. Trying your best is all I can ask.

SHELLY HEPPLER (Assistant Clerk - One year at Whitehall - 406-287-3455 ext 2105 - sheppler@whitehallmt.org). I’m looking forward to the positive excitement from the teachers, staff, and students for a great school year.