Sweet Home School District welcomed its new teachers with a luncheon Monday, Aug. 18. Following are the new teachers:
Amber Arceo-Bigoni will teach agricultural structures, power systems and introduction to agriculture classes at Sweet Home High School.
Gillian Coplin will teach second grade at Oak Heights Elementary School. A native of Tigard who now resides in Independence, she graduated from Western Oregon University in 2025 and is working on a master’s degree in education.
“I am beyond excited to get the opportunity to be a part of the Sweet Home community,” she said.
Sommer Edmonds will teach third grade at Oak Heights Elementary School. She moved from Salem and is “super excited to be in such a kind and welcoming community. Edmonds enjoys going to the beach, fishing and reading.
Kayla Lopez will teach social studies at Sweet Home High School.
She moved to Oregon from Germany in 2020 “for the climate and great hiking” after growing up in an Air Force family. She moved to Sweet Home from the Eugene-Sprinfield area this summer with her partner and her dog.
“I’m excited to explore what the area has to offer for hiking,” she said, adding “and local history.”
Thomas Love will teach art at Sweet Home High School. He recently moved to Sweet home from Ashland, where he earned a master’s degree at Southern Oregon University. He says his favorite art medium and subject to teach is ceramics.
Jesse Nelson will teach science at Sweet Home Junior High. He brings six years of teaching experience to the position, having moved from Boise, Idaho, in June with his wife and two daughters, 4 and 8 months.
He said he enjoys hiking, running marathons and board games.
“I am very excited to try (teaching) junior high math,” Nelson said. “I grew up in a small town, so teaching in Sweet Home feels like coming home.”
Emma Rose will teach sixth grade at Oak Heights Elementary School. She grew up in Lebanon and graduated from Western Oregon University in June.
“I love teaching and working with students, so I am so excited to be here,” she said.
Shane Sheppard will teach PE at Holley Elementary School and Sweet Home High School.
This is not Sheppard’s first experience in Sweet Home – he was an assistant wrestling coach last year at the high school after moving to Sweet Home from Scio.
“I’m excited to join the school district and raise my family in a great community,” he said.
Calvin Simpson will teach math at Sweet Home High School. An Oregon native who grew up in Corvallis, he plays indoor soccer and has coached that sport for the past four years. He also enjoys hiking, fishing and playing games on his computer.
Kaley Williams will teach fourth grade at Foster Elementary School. Originally from Lakeview, she is “excited to be back in another small town.” She enjoys kayaking, listening to podcasts and “everything Disney.”