Monday morning was the start of a new school year for about 50 new teachers coming to the district.

“[I’m] very excited because I get to teach fifth- and sixth-graders and that’s my favorite age to teach,” Kassondra Robinson said.

Robinson, 24, is teaching health education at I.J. Holton Intermediate School for the 2014-2015 school year. This is her first teaching job since graduating college at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse last December. Robinson is excited for the upcoming school year.

“Just to have a good school year and help kids become healthy,” Robinson said.

On Monday, the new teachers started orientation, which continue from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. They will go through instructional modules on the different technology used at the schools and different procedures, such as calling in sick and insurance. They will also have time to set up meetings with the principals and other staff at their new schools.

Yet the teachers weren’t the only ones excited, as Superintendent David Krenz was excited to welcome the new employees.

“New staff to the district is always a nervous time but also very exciting,” he said.

Each day of orientation will feature a different instructor helping the new teachers learn the ropes for the upcoming school year. Veteran principals, teachers and staff were introduced on Monday morning in Austin High School’s Christgau Hall to make sure the new teachers had every resource available.

“All combinations of veterans and rookies come together to create a positive experience for students,” Krenz said.

 

New Austin teachers: 

Brenda Anderson
Katherine Armstrong
Tana Beckmann
Michelle Braun
Robin Brown
Brittni Cleveland
Morgan Dickman
Jennifer Duley
Amanda Gafkjen
Lynne Gaunt
Mark Gruben
Derek Guotana
Allison Heard
Laurie Herman
Zachary Herman
Erin Hurley
Hilary Schotanus
Cassandra Leathers
Ana Li Zhong
Jennifer Linnett
Mallory Macal
Jessica Martinson
Justin Oachs
Heather Osgood
Carlene Pedersen
Kassondra Robinson
Peter Roehl
Kayla Sellers
Shandi Sengchanthong
Jesse Smith
Sara Smith
Daniel Stevens
Andrew Swank
Olivia Sweeney
Silvia Vasquez
Stefan Vilcins
Allison Wagner
Matthew Wagner
Dennis Walsh
Eric Westphal
Chelsea White
Mark Winkels
Stephen Zaffke
Jena Ziebell
Karie Zierden