Syndey Denekamp | Staff Intern
Austin Lopour
MS and HS online supervisor
University attended: Dakota Wesleyan University Previous jobs: Stanley County – 4/5 Science and Social studies teacher (3 years)
Family: Moved to Sioux Falls for girlfriend/ now engaged.
Hobbies; Love to read, spend time with friends and family, and of course play with our husky and aussiepoodle
Questions:
Why did you become a teacher?
I grew up in a small school and everybody knew everybody. It just so happened that one of my teachers actually taught my mom and her siblings. This was back when I was in middle school when teachers could still smack us. The way she explained things actually stuck with me. It was one day she was explaining algebra it was a one-step equation and she explained it as if you slap one child you must slap all of the children. This is something I learned when I was 11 and I am 27 now.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
I love this school district; everyone is so welcoming and helpful. Mrs. Jensen and Mr. Rockafellow are wonderful to work for in the district. I was so excited to work at West Central and even more excited when I got to know Mrs. Jensen and Mr. Rockafellow. During my interview, Mrs. Jensen took an interest in my last name because of the way it is spelt and pronounced that she wanted to know more. That is one thing, I liked and drew me was the interaction was so great that I knew I would like West Central.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
I am a very open book. My teaching style is more hands off and students are more hands-on type of work. I feel I am best at facilitating with students (allowing them to take charge.) This year is different for me though as I am supervising students in their online studies.
How has COVID affected your job?
This year is quite different as I went from classroom teacher to supervise the students. When COVID hit, I moved in with my girlfriend in Sioux Falls and taught online to my students in Fort Pierre. Everything was in chaos when that happened. We just weren’t prepared for it. With this year, I am an online supervisor for students at home that want to distance themselves from other students for the safety of at-risk family or at risk themselves. As this is a one-year contract, it’ll be different to go back into a classroom role again with the students but I look forward to impacting students’ lives. No matter where I end up, I am just glad to be a teacher.
Charity Ragland
6th grade Social Studies, 6th/8th Exploratory teacher, and Reading Integration teacher for 6th, 7th, and 8th at West Central Middle School
University attended: niversity of Wyoming for Postbaccalaureate degree in K-8th Grade, Chadron State College for Criminal Justice Degree
Previous jobs: I was a Kids Inc. site coordinator in the Sioux Falls School District for three years. I then began subbing in Sioux Falls School District, Tea Area School District, and West Central School District for 3 years. I took a year off to stay home with my children during that time.
Family: Married to my husband for 11 years. We have three children in the West Central District.
Hobbies: Reading, gardening, hiking, and organizing.
Why did you become a teacher?
I was drawn to teaching because I knew that it would give me the chance to share my love of learning with others and help them love learning. I believe teachers are in a unique position to make a difference in the lives of the children in their community and I want to be that person to my students.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
West Central is a great school district with staff who care about the student’s learning. They strive to make learning interesting and are always looking for new ways to reach students. They support one another in order to help everyone on the team be successful. My own children are being taught up to date learning strategies and each year have grown in their skills. The class sizes are small and allow my children to learn in a positive and respectful environment.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
My teaching style is a mixture of instruction based learning and project based learning. I believe students can learn from lectures and taking notes, but it is good to have students do some of their own research and apply what they have learned. I enjoy challenging students to use their critical thinking skills to work on projects both on their own and in small groups. Parents can assist with asking their children questions about what they are learning, encourage their students to keep their heads up and work hard. They can also connect with me through email or a phone call to talk about who their child is and ways I can connect with their student in the classroom to help them be more successful.
How has COVID affected your job?
COVID has made me more aware of how students are feeling. While I have always checked in with students when they have not felt well, this year I have made it more of a point to check in with students when they look off. I also give a deeper grace, because while a student might not have the physical illness, the mental exhaustion COVID has brought upon our students is a heavy load
Elizabeth Thompson
6th Creative Writing, 7th Language Arts, 7th Geography
University attended: USD
Previous jobs: Throughout college I was a waitress at the Country Club of Sioux Falls and also worked on the golf course serving.
Family: I have a 6 year old daughter named Aria who is in First Grade at Hartford Elementary, my Fiance’s name is Bryan Engen and we have a 15 week old puppy named Ghost.
Hobbies: I love to read, hike and cook along with attempting to do crafty things.
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher because I wanted to share my love of learning and being a lifelong learner. I also wanted to be an important part of students’ development. One of the most rewarding parts of teaching has been being able to wake up everyday excited to go to work knowing that there is a chance I could make a difference in a student’s life that day.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
My first impression of West Central was wonderful. All the staff has been so welcoming and helpful. I have really enjoyed the community feel of the school and district.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
I try to do as much hands-on learning as possible. I also enjoy giving students opportunities to be creative and to challenge themselves.
How has COVID affected your job?
This is certainly an interesting year to start off my teaching career. COVID has affected my job mainly through procedures at the school and having to make adjustments to teaching and our classrooms
Heather Trefz
Middle School Math teacher
University attended; University of South Dakota
Previous jobs: Special Education Teacher, Southeastern, Special Education Teacher, Highmore-Harrold, Middle School Math and Science, Highmore-Harrold
Family: Husband, two sons, one daughter
Hobbies: Enjoy reading, watching movies with my family, sewing
Why did you become a teacher?
I wanted to help kids who were struggling, then I wanted to help kids learn math and be successful.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
So far so good. I have had positive experiences both in and out of the classroom.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
I am fairly laid back so long as kids are not being too disruptive to the learning environment. I do expect students to follow along with notes and answer questions/participate as we go. Parents can help by reaching out if they have a question or issue
How has COVID affected your job?
While I do not enjoy wearing a mask every day at school, I very much enjoy being able to teach in person. I do not look forward to trying to teach math through distance learning, if it comes to that. I have not been able to do as many hands-on activities as I would normally enjoy doing due to COVID restrictions.
Heidi Freemark
COVID Coordinator
How long have you been the COVID coordinator?
I was hired August 4th as the district COVID Coordinator.
What does your position entail?
When there is a positive case of COVID-19 in our district, the South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) will call the point of contact for the district and together we determine who close contacts are. I notify those individuals and inform them of SD-DOH recommendations-which include quarantine recommendations, respiratory hygiene recommendations and symptom monitoring. I was hired to fill that role. I also help answer and address any COVID-19 questions/concerns from parents, students and staff. I act as school nurse in our Humboldt Elementary building to address any health concerns that may arise during the day as well, and I assist our school nurse Mrs. Sichmeller with her duties throughout the district.
Do you have other responsibilities outside of your job as COVID coordinator? Does being COVID coordinator make it hard to accomplish everything you need to outside of the position or vice versa?
Prior to taking this position at West Central, I worked at Avera McKennan. I continue to be employed there and work at a Per Diem status. Per Diem status means I work 4 shifts in a 6-week time period, so I do occasionally have to be absent from school during a school day. I am able check my emails and phone messages on rare days when I can’t be present in school, as COVID-19 concerns and questions can arise at any time and on any given day. I do take calls on weekends and after hours so that questions and issues can be addressed in a timely manner. I also have 3 children of my own at home so that makes life pretty busy, but I have been able to balance it all so far.
What changes has West Central made in response to the COVID outbreak?
West Central has adopted a “Starting Well” plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few of the major changes include increased hand hygiene stations, respiratory etiquette education, discouraging the use of shared objects, cloth face coverings/masks, physical barriers, adequate ventilation, increased environmental cleaning, modification of classroom layouts, among others. There is also a checklist for parents and staff to follow regarding symptoms to watch for related to COVID-19, as students and staff should stay home from school and seek medical advice should they notice any of these symptoms arise.
How are decisions regarding the safety of staff and students made?
Any policies the school adapts regarding COVID-19 must be approved by the school board. These policies may change throughout the school year as science learns more about the virus and recommendations from the CDC, SD-DOH, and SD Dept of Education change. Immediate concerns that arise throughout the day are assessed by nursing and administrative staff and dealt with accordingly. Students exhibiting signs of COVID-19 while at school will be sent home and parents advised to seek medical advice for potential testing.
How has life changed for students and teachers during the pandemic?
Students and staff are more acutely aware of the risks they take when they walk into the building each day because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I believe there is some increased stress due to this, but overall, I have seen students and staff handle this well. School does look a little different this year as everyone wears a mask or face covering and social distancing is encouraged, but again this has been handled very well by the students and staff. Teachers and students are very grateful to be in school and are willing to do what is needed to keep the buildings open.
What are your biggest daily challenges because of the pandemic?
One of the biggest challenges when it comes to COVID-19 is the vast array of symptoms that can be present when someone is infected. Symptom screening can be difficult as COVID symptoms can be the same as many other conditions including allergies and colds, which are very common. This can be very challenging for nurses and parents as we assess kids, but thankfully we do have a checklist with specific criteria that can help guide us. Currently, the main symptoms to watch for are fever greater than 100.4, uncontrolled cough, sore throat, loss of taste and/or smell, severe headache, and diarrhea/vomiting or abdominal pain.
Is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself, the school, or your job?
The biggest thing I have noticed since starting at West Central is the passion that school leaders and staff have for their students. The pandemic has been a huge challenge for them and they have worked diligently to be certain that our kids can receive a great education while still keeping them as safe as possible. Many have put in a lot of time and thought behind the scenes– business managers, administration, custodians, teachers, food service, transportation many more that I have not listed. I just want to acknowledge all the work that was done behind the scenes as this work is often underappreciated, but as a parent and nurse I am thankful for the time and attention they have given to mitigation of COVID-19 in our schools.
Melissa Dalseide
Special Education Teacher
University attended: DSU
Previous jobs: I worked at a secondary placement school for middle and high school students. Before that I worked during, before and after school.
Family: I have a husband, 4 kids, 3 dogs, 6 chickens, and 21 chickens.
Hobbies: I love to craft and take pictures
Why did you become a teacher?
I love helping kids! I love everything about kids.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
I love the small town feel of Humboldt. My coworkers are amazing and so are my students. So supportive and fun to be around.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
I teach each kid individually. Each kid has their own learning style, and deserve to be taught that way, especially in a small group setting that I am able to have with my students. I am a huge communicator, so as long as we have positive open communication, I can guarantee that your student can be successful.
How has COVID affected your job?
It has affected my job in a number of ways, but I really miss being able to smile at my students with them being able to see it. I miss being able to smile at my coworkers in the hall or students I haven’t seen in a while just as a hello. A smile can say a million words, but 90% of the day the students can’t see smiles.
Miranda Henglefelt
6th grade ELA and Social Studies
University attended: Mount Marty College (majors in English and Secondary Education and minor in History)
Previous jobs: This is my first teaching job
Family: I’m originally from Alexandria, SD. My sister currently attends Mount Marty University and my brother is a senior in high school. I also have a cat.
Hobbies: Reading, writing, photography, hiking
Why did you become a teacher?
I became a teacher to share my love of reading and writing with students. I saw the difference a good teacher could make in a student’s life, and I wanted to be that difference for them.
What are your first impressions of West Central?
I love it so far! All of the students, teachers, and parents are wonderful, and I love the curriculum I get to teach.
What do you want parents to know about your teaching style? How can parents assist this year?
I prefer doing group/whole class work and projects over tests any day. Parents can assist their students for my classes by checking in on them and making sure they’re doing their reading. And of course, by communicating to me any struggles their student has with anything we do in class.
How has COVID affected your job?
First of all, job interviews were different. I was able to do a couple in person interviews before everything went online, but doing online interviews was completely different. Second, teaching while wearing a mask is weird, having desks in rows instead of pods is different, and cleaning desks during the day has become a routine; however, if that’s what it takes to stay in school in person, I’ll keep doing what I need to do to make that happen.