New Staff Members Join Milbank School District

Picture – back row, left to right, Jay Elsberry, Ryan Conrad, Hether Voeltz and Jackson Graf.
Middle row, Janelle Huber, Carrie Novy, Breanna Schwandt, Susanne Rausch and Renee Shelstad. Front row, Alyssa Frogner, Christine Townsend, Caitlyn Graf, Molly Tesch and Cheryl Elsberry.

Fourteen new staff members are helping to kick off the school year in the Milbank School District.  Most recently hired were: Christine Townsend, Hether Voeltz and Carrie Novy. Townsend is a migrant education teacher who will serve students in Milbank, Summit and Sisseton. Voeltz is a paraprofessional at Koch Elementary and Novy is a special education paraprofessional at the middle/high school.

Also starting off their first year in Milbank are:  Alyssa Frogner, Caitlyn Graf, Jackson Graf, Janelle Huber, Breanna Schwandt, Susanne Rausch, Renee Shelstad, Ryan Conrad, Molly Tesch and Jay and Cheryl Elsberry. Frogner, Schwandt and Shelstad are special education teachers. Caitlyn Graf will teach math and coach middle school girls basketball while husband, Jackson, will also teach math and coach middle school boys basketball. Janelle Huber will teach in the new Bulldog preschool (Head Start) in addition to title. Rausch replaced Sara Johnson as a fourth grade teacher at Koch School. Conrad will teach physical education, replacing Jeanne Sinclair, and will take on several coaching duties as well. Tesch has been hired as a cook, and Jay and Cheryl Elsberry, custodians.

Staff that make up the school district administration include Tim Graf, superintendent; Dan Snaza, middle school/high school principal; Kris Evje, middle school dean of students/special services director; Tim Lease, Koch School principal; Keri Schliesman, Koch School special education director, and Nancy Meyer, business manager.

Grade level teachers at Koch School include Darla Larson, Shelly Loehrer, Sandy Schell and Cindy Jungers, kindergarten; Maren Davis, Becky Johnson, Lindsey Keller and Sara VanMeter, first grade; Nikki Evje, Katie Gilmore, Dolly Lenards and Robin Patnoe, second grade; Britti Cordingley, Pam Prisinger, Beth Wagner and Jena Schulte, third grade; Brenna Fredrichsen, Becky Lambrechts and Suanne Rausch, fourth grade, and Clarice Buhler, Janelle Korstjens and Tammy Mielitz, fifth grade.

Other staff at Koch are Dave Boerger, music; Joe Frederiksen, physical education; Jessica Hanson, art; Jayne Paysen, library; Sandy Tucholke, nurse, and Mary Kinder, OST.

Teaching at the middle/high school level are April Anderson, HS English, MS oral interp; Matt Bastian, math; Melissa Bastian, science; Les Bloem, math; Clee Brakke, woodshop; Paula Brakke, tech ed, HS AP coordinator; Greg Cantine, 8^th English, MS yearbook; Jim Dahl, science; Troy Gauer, MS social studies; Natasha Hartman, English, student congress, head debate; Nancy Hoeke, business/computer; Joyce Hora, science, junior class advisor; Carole Huber, English/reading; Jerry Janisch, agriculture, FFA; Susan Karels, MS/HS band; Mark Keeton, technology; Lori Leddy, math, Math Counts; Lane Lindquist, government, senior class advisor; Kristi Lingert, biology; Laura Maag, English, head oral interp, assistant debate; Chad Nolz, speech therapy; Julie Nolz, counselor, FACS; Brad Olson, social studies; Nancy Pauli, graphic arts, assistant yearbook; Nancy Quade, business, assistant junior class advisor; Josh Schmeichel, MS/HS math, Math Counts; Miriam Schwenn, vocal music, general music; Ryan Scoular, MS science; Vicki Strege, Spanish; Boyd Sussex, physical education, social studies, athletic director; Kathy Sussex, STEP/At Risk, HS student council; Rick Swenson, social studies; Jeremy Tostenson, physical education; Eric Townsend, reading; Heidi Wellnitz, counselor, MS student council, National Honor Society.

Special education staff include Joyce Johnson, Ashley Ludwig, Nancy Paulson, Kristin Tostenson and Abbey Trapp.

Paraprofessionals within the school district are Diane Berkner, Emily Brandt, Ryan Conrad, Jeanine Dashiell, Betsy Johanson, Kathy Johnson, Dina Johnson, Karen Loeschke, Nancy Nelson, Sue Pauli, Jolene Rick, Janet Trapp and Kelly Whitesitt.

Staff with additional coaching duties include April Anderson, fall cheer advisor; Matt Bastian, head boys basketball, seventh football; Melissa Bastian, seventh volleyball; Jim Dahl, head boys and girls tennis; Joe Frederiksen, head girls basketball, assistant track; Troy Gauer, assistant football, C boys basketball; Nancy Hoeke, head volleyball; Mark Keeton, head boys and girls golf; Lindsey Keller, winter cheer advisor; Lane Lindquist, eight football and girls basketball, assistant track; Brad Olson, seventh boys basketball; Nancy Paulson, assistant volleyball; Josh Schmeichel, MS wrestling, assistant cross country and track; Ryan Scoular, assistant football and boys basketball; Jeremy Tostenson, head football and wrestling, MS track; Eric Townsend, head cross country and track; Jolene Rick, C volleyball, JV girls basketball; Amber Fraasch, head gymnastics; Jesse Krause, assistant wrestling; Carl Larson, assistant football; Stacey Weinkauf, assistant gymnastics, and Jena Schulte, assistant gymnastics.

Other staff members within the district are Karla Kastrup, speech therapy; Jill Lear, school psychologist; Michael Perrion, computer technology; Gail Adelman, cook; Sharon Bogenreif, MS secretary; Richard Bohn, custodian; Lori Buescher, custodian; Cindy Davis, custodian; Johanna Fischer, MS/HS nurse; Judith Gilbertson, custodian; Peggy Greiner, central office/special education secretary; Gary Hanson, custodian; Joanne Hanson, cook; Nancy Hein, custodian; Renee Howell, cook; Becky Johannsen, cook; Jerry Kathman, head maintenance; Barb Kloster, cook; Pam Liebe, data processor; Deb Pauli, cook; Kelsey Peery, Koch secretary; Tammy Rieger, HS secretary; Shelley Smith, cook; Sara Snaza, MS/HS library; Rebecca Thaden, cook; Deb Underwood, director of food service; Tina Balling and Sandy Christensen, assistant HS oral interp; Lorrie Hardy, OST; Holly Hilbrands, theater manager; Jenna Lewandowski, transportation, and Karen Vaudrey, OST.