North Tama Welcomes New Staff Members to the Redhawk Family

This blog post has been submitted for publication in the Friday, September 9 edition of the Traer Star Clipper.

The 2016-2017 school year started on August 24, and the first couple of weeks of school have been GREAT!  On our first day, we were joined by the members of American Legion Kubik-Finch Post 142 for our annual K-12 flag raising ceremony. I want to thank these veterans for their service to our nation and for their role in our annual flag raising. Thanks also to senior class president Carlee Feisel and Retired U.S. Navy Captain Maurice McWhirter who were our speakers for the event.  Our speakers both had a great message for us, giving us suggestions and ideas on how to make the most of every day this school year.

One of the best things about being part of North Tama is the tremendous amount of support we enjoy from the community. Throughout the year, I am continually amazed by all of the ways that our North Tama alumni, parents, area businesses, individuals, and community organizations show their support of our school. We’ve had a great start, and we’re looking forward to a great new school year in the days, weeks, and months ahead!    

We are pleased to welcome ten new certified staff members and a few other support staff members to the North Tama Redhawk family for the 2016—2017 school year: 

Brady Swenson will teach Junior High science and social studies, replacing Judy Boerm who has become the district’s Student Success Coach as part of North Tama's new Teacher Leadership System. Mr. Swenson previously taught Junior High science and social studies as well as High School Industrial Technology at Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Austin Pink will teach secondary Physical Education and is our new varsity football coach. He replaces Brandon Clubb who will be teaching and coaching at Clear Creek Amana.  Mr. Pink previously taught and coached at Forest City and was a coach at Independence. 

Mike Runge will teach secondary math, replacing Judy Morrison who retired last year after forty years of service to the district.  Mr. Runge previously taught secondary math at Valley Lutheran Schools in Cedar Falls. 

Matt Walston is a familiar face at North Tama, as he completed his student teaching here last year in the classroom of Phil Moss. Mr. Walston, a recent graduate of UNI, will be teaching secondary social studies classes as Dan Oltman moves to a classroom in Cedar Falls.

Tyson Roberts will also teach secondary social studies, replacing Phil Moss who is moving to Cedar Falls to teach and coach.  Mr. Roberts is an experienced social studies teacher, having taught and coached at Waterloo Christian School which is in the same athletic conference as North Tama.

Mark Reeves is a first-year teacher who completed his student teaching in the Des Moines area and has substituted in various districts.  Mr. Reeves is replacing Shane Wetzel, who has moved to Virginia to pursue other opportunities. He will teach Junior High special education. 

Alex Tagtow replaces Logan Mork as a secondary science teacher at North Tama.  Mr. Tagtow is a first-year teacher with recent basketball and baseball coaching experience in the Wapsie Valley school district. 

Alivia McClain is the new 5^th grade teacher at North Tama Elementary. Mrs. McClain is also a familiar face at North Tama, having served as a daily substitute and long-term substitute here last year after completing her student teaching in 4^th grade with Jana Monat.  This position was created as a result of Patti Lorenzen’s retirement at the end of last school year. 

Katie Wedeking will teach Junior High and High School English/Language arts, replacing Susan Johnson who has become the district’s K-12 Instructional Coach as part of Iowa’s new Teacher Leadership system.  Ms. Wedeking’s previous experience includes serving as a long-term substitute teacher and a daily substitute in several districts, primarily at Clarksville where she has also coached. 

Maegan Meister is North Tama’s new part-time curriculum director, replacing Matt Switzer who has moved to the Cedar Falls district. Mrs. Meister, who holds a master’s degree and has completed training to be a principal, previously taught and held multiple leadership roles it Kingsley Elementary School in Waterloo. Mrs. Meister’s position is shared with the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school district.

In addition to our new certified teachers, we also welcome North Tama Alumnus Amy Monat to our nurse’s office as our new part-time nurse, and Roxann Lazenby to our kitchen staff.

While North Tama has outstanding facilities and great technology, I’ve always felt that it is the PEOPLE that truly make our school great. This new group of Redhawks has been carefully selected for the skills, abilities, and aptitudes that they will bring to our educational community. We’re excited to have these new team members on board, and I encourage everyone in our educational community to help them to feel welcome and supported in the important work that they do.

Once again this school year, I intend to publish a newspaper column about once each month as a tool for communication as a shared superintendent. My blog and Twitter feed are other strategies that I will use for increased communication and interaction. I encourage your feedback, questions, and other interactions. You are welcome to visit my blog at http://redhawksupt.blogspot.com/ where you can read all of my Star Clipper columns and leave comments if you wish. You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, where my handle is @DavidRobertHill.  Let’s have a great school year!  

NEW CERTIFIED STAFF MEMBERS AT NORTH TAMA:

Kneeling (left to right): Brady Swenson (JH Science and Social Studies), Austin Pink (HS PE)

Standing (left to right): Mike Runge (JH and HS Math), Matt Walston (HS Social Studies), Tyson Roberts (JH and HS Social Studies), Mark Reeves (JH Special Ed), Alex Tagtow (HS Science), Alivia McClain (5th grade language arts), Katie Wedeking (JH and HS Language Arts), Maegan Meister (Curriculum Director, shared with GR).