The Sweet Home School District has welcomed 20 new teachers this school year.
They are:
Autumn Almanza, high school art. Almanza has four years of experience as a teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art from the School of the Art Institute in Chicago. Almanza came to Sweet Home from California.
Daniel Bixler, high school chemistry and physical science. Bixler came to Sweet Home from Albany. He has more than 18 years experience. He earned his master of arts degree in chemistry and physical science from Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. He will also coach high school cross-country.
Mary Bond, high school language arts. A Sweet Home High School graduate, Bond earned her bachelor’s degree in language arts from Oregon State University. This is her first professional teaching position.
Kallie Boschma of Sweet Home, Hawthorne and Foster elementary schools, fifth grade. Boschma earned a master’s degree in elementary education from Wayland Baptist University in Clovis, N.M., and has one year of experience.
Kwasi Diehl, junior high special education. Diehl earned a master’s degree in special education from Portland State University. Diehl has nine years experience and came to Sweet Home from Eugene.
Katelynn Duggan, third grade at Holley. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from OSU. She came to Sweet Home from Albany with one year of experience.
Julia Gleaves, fifth grade at Hawthorne. Gleaves has two years of experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree in language arts from OSU. She came to Sweet Home from Lebanon.
Austin Hill of Sweet Home, junior high math. This will be his first year of professional teaching. He earned his bachelor’s degree in language arts from OSU.
n Julie Jefferson of Lebanon, fifth grade at Oak Heights, temporary. She has 11 years of experience and earned her master’s degree from Western Oregon University.
Ryan Lamb of Sweet Home, junior high science. He earned his bachelor’s degree in science from Montana State University. This will be his first year teaching professionally.
Peter Larson of Monmouth, high school social studies. He earned his master’s degree in social studies from WOU. This will be his first year teaching professionally.
Patricia Lucas, kindergarten at Hawthorne. She has 18 years of experience. She earned her bachelor’s degree in basic elementary education from the University of Oregon. She came to Sweet Home from Eugene.
Tyson Migliaccio, high school biology and integrated science. This will be Migliaccio’s first year teaching professionally. He earned his master’s degree in integrated science from OSU. He came to Sweet Home from Beaverton.
Darrin Perry of Sweet Home, high school advanced math. Perry has 17 years of experience. He earned his master’s degree in advanced math from OSU.
Paislee Schreiter, high school special education. Schreiter earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Utah. This will be her first year teaching professionally. She came to Sweet Home from Molalla.
Heidi Snyder-Thorstad, high school Spanish. She earned her degree in Spanish from Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. She has more than 18 years of experience. She came to Sweet Home from Milton-Freewater.
Michelle Snyder-Thorstad, high school biology and integrated science. She has more than 18 years of experience and earned her master’s degree in arts and biology from Montana State University. She came to Sweet Home from Milton-Freewater.
Tina Tressel of Sweet Home, special education at Hawthorne and Foster. Tressel earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. This will be her first year teaching professionally.
Duncan Tuomi of Portland, high school choir. Tuomi earned a bachelor’s degree in music from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. This will be Tuomi’s first professional teaching position.
Elizabeth Wilks, high school language arts. Wilks has three years of experience and earned master’s degree from Concordia University and the University of Warwick. She came to Sweet Home from Lebanon.
The district returns three teachers who worked on temporary contracts last year, including Christina Lamb, high school special education; Jay Marble, junior high health; and Terra Nelson, junior high language arts.