Ark Valley News - New teachers at USD 262

New teachers at USD 262
Last Updated: August 13, 2015

Valley Center High School

Donnel Clay
Vocational special needs coordinator
Age: 49
Hometown: Living in rural Sedgwick County, originally from Colorado Springs.
College: Northwestern Oklahoma State (business education), Fort Hays State University (master's degree in building level leadership, district level leadership).
Teaching experience: Taught 14 years in Days School.
Family: Husband Ken Clay is a data coordinator. They have two sons and two grandsons.
Free-time activities: Traveling and reading.
Why Valley Center: "Help students gain job skills."

Troy Emig
Positive behavioral specialist
Age: 45
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Abilene.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University in 1992 and received a master's degree in 2005.
Teaching experience: Taught for 23 years in Abilene, fifth grade and then kindergarten through fifth-grade physical education.
Family: Wife Amy Emig is the State Farm Insurance agent in Valley Center. They have two children — Bailey, 14, and Trace, 10.
Free-time activities: Outdoor activities and attending his children's events.
Why Valley Center: "Family relocation. Great schools and tradition."

Courtney Fields
Algebra I and geometry teacher
Age: 23
Hometown: Living in Sedgwick, where she is from.
College: Graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor's in education and minors in mathematics and psychology.
Teaching experience: Student taught at Curtis Middle School in Wichita.
Family: Husband Loren Fields is a Phillips Southern Electric employee.
Free-time activities: Going to Oklahoma football games and Royals games, watching movies and baking.
Why Valley Center: "Great district. Love the staff and I have heard nothing but the best. Familiar with the area and close to home. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to teach in Valley."

Cady Jackson
English/language arts teacher
Age: 25
Hometown: Lives in Wichita, graduated from Maize High School.
College: Graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a bachelor's degree in English literature in 2012; received a master's degree in medieval literature from Oklahoma University in 2015; currently working on a master's of science in education at Fort Hays State University.
Teaching experience: Taught composition at Oklahoma University for two years, taught composition and literature and was assistant director of the honors program at Oklahoma Christian University for two years.
Family: Married to Erick Jackson.
Free-time activities: Reading, cooking and painting.
Why Valley Center: "I grew up around Valley Center. My family went to school here as far back as 1961. I went to Valley Center's prom, basketball games and Hornet Highlights. Valley Center feels like home, and I feel like the district has the best leadership in the state. I'm excited to be a Hornet."

Tate Lowe
Physical education teacher
Assistant coach for VCHS football and wrestling
Age: 30
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from LaJunta, Colo.
College: Graduated from Western Colorado University in 2009 with a degree in kinesiology. Received a master's degree in education administration.
Teaching experience: Taught physical education in the Dodge City school district for the past six years.
Family: Married to Megan, who is finishing graduate school to obtain a clinical psychology degree.
Free-time activities: Yard work and sports.
Why Valley Center: "Liked the administration and other coaches in the district."

Elizabeth Moseley
Algebra I and Consumer Problems teacher
Age: 29
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Tonganoxie.
College: Graduated from Emporia State University in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics education.
Teaching experience: Taught at Emporia Middle School for three years.
Family: Husband Michael Moseley is a business teacher at Valley Center High School. They have two children — Jayden, 9, and Henry, 3.
Free-time activities: Running.
Why Valley Center: "My husband commuted here from Emporia for four years. We always wanted to have our family in the same place."

Lindsay Slater
English/language arts teacher
Poetry Club sponsor
Assistant swim coach at Heights High School
Age: 23
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Carthage, Mo.
College: Graduated from Wichita State University in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in English education.
Teaching experience: First full-time teaching job.
Free-time activities: Spending time outdoors.
Why Valley Center: "Valley Center is a warm and supportive community."

Olivia Smith
Spanish teacher
Age: 23
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Wichita.
College: Graduated from Wichita State University in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Spanish; working on a master's degree.
Teaching experience: Employed at the multilingual center in the Wichita school district for three years. Taught English as a second language to parents of Wichita students the past two years.
Free-time activities: Reading and painting.
Why Valley Center: "Valley Center, so far, has been such a welcoming community. I love that there is a strong support for language learning and a supportive team to work with. I'm looking forward to a fantastic school year."

Ty Unrau
Social studies teacher
Head coach of boys' basketball at VCHS and assistant coach of football at VCMS
Age: 32
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Moundridge.
College: Graduated from Bethel College in 2005 with a degree in history and social science.
Teaching experience: Taught for 11 years at Douglass High School and Garden Plain High School.
Free-time activities: Running, traveling, DJ work.
Why Valley Center: "Great opportunity."

Valley Center Middle School

Sebastian Dowd
English/language arts instructional support
Age: 33
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Miami, Fla.
College: Graduated from Newman University in 2011 with an elementary education degree with English and art minors; expects to receive a master's degree in gifted education in spring 2016.
Teaching experience: Taught pre-kindergarten special education at Cloud Elementary in Wichita in 2011-12; substitute taught in Wichita and Valley Center.
Free-time activities: Reading, writing, watching streaming videos and TV shows, enjoy science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and poetry.
Why Valley Center: "Compared with Florida's cost of living and the way they pay their teachers, Kansas (and especially Valley Center and the Sedgwick County co-op) is a much better fit for me. These organizations feel like a family to me."

Jeff McFarland
Positive behavior support
Age: 42
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Hutchinson.
College: Graduated from Friends University in 1993 with a degree in physical education; received a master's degree in special education from Southwestern College in 2003.
Teaching experience: Positive behavior support at Hutchinson High School for nine years.
Family: Wife Trish is a first-grade teacher at West Elementary.
Free-time activities: Softball, golf.
Why Valley Center: "Heard great things about it from employees."

Emily Snyder
Social studies teacher
Age: 34
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Hugoton.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in social studies; received a master's degree in education from Fort Hays State University in 2013.
Teaching experience: Taught at Hugoton Middle and High School the past six years.
Family: Husband David Snyder works at Community Bank of Wichita.
Free-time activities: Traveling, spending time in the mountains, going to Broncos and Rockies games.
Why Valley Center: "Leap of faith honestly, and really glad it worked out."

Courtney Traxson
Counselor
Age: 23
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Cheney.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University in 2013 with a degree in psychology; received a master's degree in school counseling in 2015.
Free-time activities: Volleyball, enjoying her new puppy Charlie, spending time with nieces and nephews and attempting DIY projects.
Why Valley Center: "I wanted to be closer to family and my hometown, so I wanted an area around Wichita. I've always known Valley Center as a great district and I felt comfortable with this community and the school members I met. I am happy to be a Hornet."

Bryce Westphal
Seventh-grade science teacher
Assistant coach for VCMS basketball and VCHS baseball
Age: 25
Hometown: Living in Derby, originally from Manhattan.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University in 2012 with a secondary education degree.
Teaching experience: First year as a full-time teacher.
Free-time activities: Baseball, golf, fishing, hunting and softball.
Why Valley Center: "Great school, staff."

Valley Center Intermediate

Rebecca Haines
English/language arts teacher
Age: 31
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Valley Center.
College: Graduated from Southwestern College in 2012 with a degree in elementary education; working on a master's degree in special education.
Teaching experience: Substitute teacher in Valley Center and Title 1 aide last year.
Family: Husband Bradley Haines is a mechanic.
Free-time activities: Traveling.
Why Valley Center: "Working in this district previously was a great experience. You are treated like a big family within the schools."

Danielle Savage
Positive behavior support

Amanda Smith
Math instructional support
Age: 35
Hometown: Living in Maize, originally from Sioux Falls, S.D.
College: Graduated from Southwestern College in 2012 with a degree in education.
Teaching experience: Worked as a paraeducator for six years for the Sedgwick County Special Education Cooperative and as a substitute teacher for three years in Maize and Goddard.
Free-time activities: Watching movies, reading, listening to music, crocheting, spending time with family and friends.
Why Valley Center: "I have heard wonderful things about Valley Center and when I was given the opportunity to teach here, I accepted happily. I am looking forward to a wonderful first year at Valley Center."

Abilene
Elementary

Amy McDaniel
Third-grade teacher
Age: 37
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Wellington.
College: Graduated from Emporia State University in 2001 with a degree in early childhood elementary education.
Teaching experience: Taught fifth grade at Challenger Intermediate School in Goddard for three years and taught pre-kindergarten for 10 years in my home daycare. Last year, I taught fifth grade at Pray-Woodman in Maize.
Family: Husband Cameron McDaniel is the school psychologist at Wheatland and Valley Center High School. They have three children — Lejer, 11, Holden, 9, and Riggs, 6.
Free-time activities: Running and going to the lake.
Why Valley Center: "Because my family is here, and this is my hometown. I love this town and district."

Wheatland
Elementary

Rachel Embree
Special education — functional applied academics
Age: 37
Hometown: Living in Sedgwick, originally from Oklahoma.
College: Graduated from Sterling College with degrees in business administration and elementary education.
Family: Husband Lance Embree is a sales manager for DeKalb. They have two children — Garrett, 12, and Gage, 11.
Free-time activities: Scrapbooking and boating with family.
Why Valley Center: "I have been a substitute within the district for a few years. I love the district and look forward to working with the teachers."

Angie John
Special education — functional applied academics
Age: 39
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Wichita.
College: Graduated from Southwestern College in 1998 with a business management degree and in 2009 with an elementary education degree; working on a master's degree at Wichita State University.
Teaching experience: Worked as a categorical autism teacher for the Wichita school district for five yeas.
Family: Husband Jason John is a programmer for Greenway Electric. They have three children — Natalie, 15, Chelsea, 13, and Lauren, 7.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family, camping and watching her children play soccer and cheer with the schools.
Why Valley Center: "Because it has been a dream of mine to teach special education in my hometown. Having children in this district, I know how special it is and I am excited to join the team."

Whitney McGee
Third-grade teacher
Age: 23
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Clay Center.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University in 2014 with a degree in elementary education.
Teaching experience: Taught third grade at Spring Valley Elementary in Geary County.
Family: Husband Nick McGee is an architectural engineer.
Free-time activities: Building relationships, spending time with family and any type of outdoor activity.
Why Valley Center: "I grew up on a farm near a small town. I desired rural living. Valley Center is a very strong school district. I feel it is a wonderful fit for me."

Nancy Roth
Counselor
Age: 48
Hometown: Living in Sedgwick, originally from Winfield.
College: Graduated from Emporia State University in 1989 with a degree in elementary education and in 1996 with a master's degree in counseling; also graduated from Friends University in 2008 with a second master's degree in school leadership.
Teaching experience: Was an elementary school teacher in Emporia for six years, a counselor in Conway Springs for 11 years and a middle school counselor in Wellington for seven years.
Family: Husband Larry Roth is superintendent of the Sedgwick school district. They have three children — Corbin, 22, Nolan, 20, and Lindsay, 16.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family and scrapbooking.
Why Valley Center: "My family moved to this area. I am very excited to be joining the Valley Center school system and looking forward to getting to know the Wheatland school students and parents."

Chanel Switzer
Third-grade teacher
Age: 34
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Valley Center.
College: Graduated from Southwestern College in 2014 with a degree in elementary education.
Teaching experience: Taught second grade for one year at Northridge Elementary in Newton.
Family: Husband Justin Switzer is a project manager in industrial metal fabrication and is a police officer in Valley Center. They have three children — Brayden, 10, Chalyn, 8, and Taylor, 5.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family, playing sports and attending kids' activities.
Why Valley Center: "This is my hometown. I graduated from Valley Center High School in 2000. This is the best school district in Kansas, and I could not ask for a better group of people to work with and school for my children to attend."

West Elementary

Tracy Cook
Fourth-grade teacher
Age: 26
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Sterling and Conway Springs.
College: Graduated from Kansas State University with an education degree in 2012.
Teaching experience: Taught fifth grade for the past three years at Seitz Elementary, which is on the base at Fort Riley.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family and friends, sports, anything outdoors, trying to improve my cooking abilities and spending time with nieces and nephews.
Why Valley Center: "My family is all located around this area, so I wanted to be able to see all of them on a more regular basis. I'm truly excited to be here and becoming involved in the community."

Drenda Higgins
Second-grade teacher
Age: 43
Hometown: Living in Wichita, originally from Dodge City.
College: Graduated from Emporia State University with a degree in education and received a master's degree in education from ESU.
Teaching experience: Was a reading recovery and third-grade teacher in Great Bend for five years, a first-grade teacher at St. James in Augusta for two years, a second-grade teacher at Martin Elementary in Andover for two years, a second-grade teacher at Seal Elementary in Douglass for five years, a first- and second-grade teacher at Inman Elementary for two years and a fifth-grade teacher for one year, a first-grade teacher for one year and a second-grade teacher for two years at Moundridge Elementary.
Family: Husband Chad Higgins is superintendent of the Maize school district. They have two children — Taylor, 21, and Garrett, 19.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family, traveling, going to see her kids in college, running and anything outdoors.
Why Valley Center: "My husband and I just moved to the area and I had heard such awesome things about Valley Center, so I chose to interview here."

Angela Heier
Third-grade teacher
Age: 42
Hometown: Living in Valley Center, originally from Hugoton.
College: Graduated from Fort Hays State University with a degree in elementary education.
Teaching experience: Taught in Hays for seven years before moving to Valley Center. Taught the Parents Day Out program for four years and at Valley Center Preschool until last year when she joined Mueller Elementary in Wichita as a fifth-grade teacher.
Family: Husband Kevin Heier is an estimator for Crossland Construction. They have four children — Jessica, 17, Brendon, 15, Katelyn, 12, and Jacob, 9.
Free-time activities: Spending time with family and friends and relaxing at the lake.
Why Valley Center: "I have always loved the Valley Center district, which is why my children attend school here. This is home."