Cheney School District has announced its list of new educators hired for the 2015-2016 school year. Associate Superintendent Sean Dotson said the district still had a few more hires to make before the year begins Sept. 1.
BETZ ELEMENTARY
Kristen Dobb will join Betz Elementary as a kindergarten teacher. This is Dobb’s first year as an elementary school teacher. She completed her masters of education degree in reading and mathematics from Walden University.
Traci Trotter will teach first grade at Betz. She comes to Cheney from Quincy School District, where she taught kindergarten and second-grade. Trotter received her master’s in education from Walden University.
In second-grade, Melissa Hawley will join the Betz staff. She previously worked as a fifth-grade teacher at Southside Christian School in Spokane. Hawley earned her master’s degree from Washington State University.
Kimberly Cree will teach a second/third-grade multi-age class at Betz this year. Cree comes to Betz from Othello School District, where she was a second grade teacher. She received her bachelor of arts in reading from Eastern Washington University.
The Betz third grade team will have two new additions. Patty Burton comes to Betz from Moses Lake School District, where she taught at multiple levels. Burton holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from EWU.
Charlene Cox will also be a third-grade teacher at Betz this year. Cox previously worked as an academic interventionist and gifted and talented teacher in Newburg, Oregon. She received her bachelor of arts in education from Western Oregon State College.
Lisa Chan will teach a fourth- and fifth-grade multi-age class at Betz. Chan joins Cheney Public Schools from the Valley School District, where she taught multiple grade levels. She earned her master of education in technology from Lesley University.
Eileen Mager has been hired as a fifth grade teacher at Betz. Mager has previously taught fifth grade in Cheney Public Schools and has been a leave replacement teacher in several other classrooms in the district. She received her masters in elementary education from EWU.
In special education, there are two new additions at Betz this year. Tanya Amdal will join Betz as a first year teacher in special education. Amdal earned her master of arts in elementary and special education from EWU.
Lisa Folie will also join Betz as a first year special education teacher. Folie received her bachelor of arts in psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz.
SALNAVE ELEMENTARY
Ashley Krueger has been hired as a fourth- and fifth-grade multi-age classroom teacher at Salnave Elementary. Krueger brings experience as a fourth grade teacher in the Maricopa Unified School District in Arizona. She earned her bachelor of arts in elementary education from Arizona State University.
Ethan Unland will be a fifth-grade teacher at Salnave this year. This will be Unland’s first year as an elementary teacher. He has a bachelor of arts in mathematics from EWU.
SNOWDON ELEMENTARY
Kelsey Brown will be a new third-grade teacher at Snowdon Elementary this year. Brown joins Snowdon from her previous position as a third-grade teacher at Harold W. Smith School in Glendale, Ariz. She brings a masters of education in reading and elementary education from Whitworth University.
Samantha Jones has been hired as a special education teacher at Snowdon. Jones brings experience as a middle school teacher in Central Valley School District. She earned her masters degree in special education from Gonzaga University.
Heather Carpenter will be the new music teacher at Snowdon this year. Carpenter comes to Snowdon from North Thurston School District in Lacy, Wash. where she taught elementary music. Her bachelor of arts in music is from Southern Oregon University.
SUNSET ELEMENTARY
Trina Scanapico joins the Sunset Elementary staff as a first-grade teacher. Scanapico brings experience as a first grade teacher in the Clover Park School District in Lakewood, Wash. She received her master of education in reading from Walden University.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Susan LaBarre has been hired as an occupational therapist for Cheney Public Schools. LaBarre previously worked in the Freeman School District, providing services to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. She has a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from the University of North Dakota.
Sarah James will be a new school psychologist for Cheney Public Schools. This year, she will serve students at Windsor and Snowdon. James brings experience from Pullman School district. She received her bachelor of science in psychology from Washington State University.
Linda Sams will join Cheney Public Schools as an interventionist teacher. Sams previously worked in Spokane Public Schools working with kindergarten through third grade students. She earned a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Eastern Washington University.
HOMEWORKS
Rachel Mueller has been hired as a teacher for the HomeWorks! program. This will be Mueller’s first year as a full-time teacher. She received her bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from EWU.
WESTWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Jennifer Ireland will join the Westwood staff teaching science, language arts and social studies. Ireland brings experience as an eighth grade teacher in the Sumner School District in Western Washington. She received a master of education degree in integrated curriculum from the University of Washington.
Ashley Mortenson will be a sixth-grade teacher at Westwood Middle School this year. This is Mortenson’s first year as a middle school teacher. She received her bachelor of arts degree in social studies from EWU.
Katherine Potter has been hired as the new art teacher at Westwood Middle School. Potter previously worked as a Spokane Virtual Learning teacher in Spokane Public Schools. She received her master’s degree in teaching from Gonzaga University.
Sam Coleston will join the WMS staff as a special education teacher. This is Coleston’s first year as a special education teacher. He holds a bachelors degree in special education from EWU.
Courtney Root will be a new health and fitness teacher at WMS this year. This will be Root’s first year as a health and fitness teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from EWU.
CHENEY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Eric Beisley has been hired as a science and math teacher at Cheney Middle School. Beisley previously has been a long-term substitute in classrooms in Cheney Public Schools. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in education from EWU.
Jeff Van Horne will be a science, math and language arts teacher at Cheney Middle School. Van Horne is a Cheney High School graduate who has taught seventh- and eighth-grade in the Central Valley School District. He has a masters degree from Gonzaga University.
Jeffrey Smith will join CMS as a counselor. Smith brings experience as a middle school counselor in the Shelley School District in Shelley, Idaho. He received a masters degree in counseling from Idaho State University.
CHENEY HIGH SCHOOL
Megan McCormick will teach language arts at CHS this year. McCormick brings experience as an eighth grade teacher in the Lakeland School District. She received her masters degree in english education from Gonzaga University.
Lisa Steger has been hired as a teacher of German and mathematics at Cheney High School. Steger previously taught in the North Kitsap School District. Her bachelor of arts degree in German and mathematics is from EWU.
Alexia Tchemitcheff will join Cheney High School as a French and digital photography teacher this year. This will be Tchemitcheff’s first year teaching. She received her bachelors degree in art and secondary education from EWU.
Emma Mortenson will teach Cheney High School’s new strings program. Mortenson is a first year teacher with a bachelors degree in music education and performance. She will also teach strings at Snowdon Elementary and Windsor Elementary this year.
Two new counselors will join the CHS staff this year. Tyler Neely comes to Cheney from the Coulee-Hartline School District, where he was a K-12 counselor. Neely received his master of education degree in counseling from Whitworth University.
Mara McPartland comes to Cheney High School from Spokane Public Schools where she worked as an academic gap intervention specialist. She receive her masters degree in counseling from Oregon State University.
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