Adie Stadem | Staff Intern
The Tri-Valley School District starts their year off with 13 new faces joining the Mustang team for the 2021-2022 school year. The new staff are:
Jayni Anderson will be teaching 6th grade Math and Social Studies.
Mason Decker will be the high school Speical Education teacher.
Morgan Hoglund is the reading specialist for the kindergareners through fourth graders.
Teresa Hunt will take on the role as the 5th-12th grade Drug Education Counselor.
Clara Marquis will be the Special Education teacher for juniors and seniors.
Brycen Nelson will teach 2nd-4th grade computers, 7th grade Geogrphaphy along with high school Media.
Judas Quentin will be teaching title in the elementary school for reading and math.
Kelsy Van Osdel is the new Special Education teacher for kindergarten through second grade.
Luke Wodahl will be teaching 6th grade reading along with 7th grade English Language Arts.
The following new hires opted out of answering survey questions:
Jackie Foster – JK-8 Guidance Counselor
Carly Peterson – Second Grade
Lori Sehr – Educational Assistant
Jordan Zimmerman – Educational Assistant
Let’s meet our new Mustang staff.
Jayni Anderson – 6th grade Math and Social Studies
The 6th graders at Tri-Valley middle school just got new teacher, Jayni Anderson. Anderson will be teaching 6th grade math and social studies. From Jackson, Minnesota, Anderson grew up with her parents, and has two siblings still in high school at Jackson County Central. After, Jackson Anderson went to South Dakota State University. In her free time, Anderson likes to be outside, go on hikes and be with her family and friends.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: I love kids and learning. My first year of college I was a Civil Engineering major. After my first year, I felt like I was not fulfilling my potential. I thought to myself, “What do I like about Civil Engineering?” My answer was helping others. After switching my major to teaching, I know this is what I am meant to do. I look forward to seeing my students every day and teaching them something new. I also love learning and teaching allows me to be a life-long learner.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: I wish I could tell parents that their students are in GREAT hands and that I am so grateful they trust their students to be at Tri-Valley. I care about every student so much! We truly have a great community.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am excited to teach at Tri-Valley because I love the community here. Tri-Valley teaches students and teachers to be the best versions of themselves every single day. “Be Kind. Be Respectful. Have Integrity. Strive for Excellence.” The “Mustang Way” is something I have always lived my life by, so I feel lucky that Tri-Valley strives to make students and staff better every day. I grew up in a school similar in size to Tri-Valley and I am excited to participate in the school spirit aspect of school as well.
Mason Decker – Special
Education
Tri-Valley High School Special Education program has gained another teacher this year. Mason Decker will be teaching freshmen and sophomores this year in Special Education. Growing up in Canistota, South Dakota, Decker grew up with his parents, Jay and Lorie Decker, and his brother, Tyler Decker. After Canistota, Decker attended Dakota Wesleyan University. In his spare time Decker enjoys spending time at the lake, attending sporting events, going to movies and spending time with his family.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: I have always enjoyed working with kids, so coming out of high school it was kind of a no brainer for me. Not only that, but my mom is a teacher and I also have five aunts in the profession.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: We genuinely care about your kids and only want the best for them.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I’m excited to meet the people in the Tri-Valley community and am looking forward to working alongside a group of great staff.
Morgan Hoglund –
Kindergarten Reading Specialist
A new teacher added to the Tri-Valley Elementary staff is Morgan Hoglund. Hoglund is a reading specialist for kindergarteners through fourth graders. Hoglund attended South Dakota State University and Dakota State University and graduated with a degree in elementary education. She is currently working on getting her master’s through Black Hills State. Hoglund is from Dell Rapids and grew up there with her parents and her brother Ty, who graduated from Dakota Wesleyan and has now bought a house in Dell Rapids. Hoglund likes to travel, watch sports, do yoga and spend time with her friends and family.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: My dad was a teacher and a coach – a really good one! I think that’s probably what planted the idea of teaching in my head.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: I would love to tell parents just how much teachers love and think about their students –even on weekends and in the summertime!
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am excited to teach in Tri-Valley because I think there is a great group of teachers here! I think it will be fun to have a four-day school week and to be in a new role as the Reading Specialist!
Teresa Hunt – Drug Education Counselor
Tri-Valley Middle School and High School adds Teresa Hunt as their 5th-12th grade DEC (Drug Education Counselor). Hunt will be helping students focus on healthy ways to cope and how to deal with stress in a mindful manner, according to Hunt. Hunt grew up in the small town of Gary, South Dakota. After graduation from Clear Lake, she attended South Dakota State University and earned her teaching degree in Secondary Social Sciences. She then went on to obtain her Masters in School Counseling and got her K-12 Principal Licensure at St. Mary’s University, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hunt is an “empty nester” of three kids, Jacoby (24), Jamison (22) and Cassidy (19). Hunt has an older sister, Wendy, and a younger brother, Chad, who still live in Gary. Her father passed away in 1999, but she gained a new stepdad about eight years later.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: My paternal grandmother was a teacher and she told me that “You should always learn something new every day.” My maternal grandmother was a whiz and jumped a grade in school where she met my baseball loving grandfather. Doing school well was a big passion in our family. I went into counseling because of the way adults/kids handled a stressful school closing and consolidation and I never had a school counselor while I was in Gary. I was pretty green when I went off to college.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: Do you know what your love language is? Or what your kids’ love language is? Sometimes problems with kids might just be that their love tank is empty or maybe even our own can be empty. Dr. Gary Chapman does some great work around love languages. Who knew my middle kid would love his laundry folded (Acts of Service) more than a hug from loved ones? Sometimes kids ask for love in the most unloving ways…this is possibly a sign that their love tank may be getting near empty. Check in with your kids on their stress/anxiety. There are more stressors in kids’ lives today than there were when I was going to school (National content standards, longer sports seasons, more sport seasons than what I had as a kid, negative news, technology advances, etc.). Be mindful of the dark sides of too much screen time (gaming/social media/SnapChat streaks/Instagram). Sometimes kids’ brains just need a break from all of the pixels on a screen. Ensuring kids get their recommended 9-10 hours of sleep is the best way to help kids regulate their own moods. Weekly family night, eating dinner together as much as possible and showing up for their activities are treasured commodities and sometimes asking, “What did you fail at today?” gives kids permission not to be perfect and it gives them grace to try something new that they may not be good at so that they can learn how to be comfortable about being uncomfortable when new topics are presented for them to tackle that they might not know about. Lastly, every day is a new day and everyone deserves a chance to start fresh but actions have consequences and helping with accountability is key. If you ever have a struggle with one of your kiddos, please feel free to connect with me.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am very excited that I get to teach a mindful mental health class to a whole grade (one section per quarter at a time). I’m incorporating more art projects and reflections along with some music therapy this year in my one-on-one counseling sessions. I have my own office, a spacious storage closet that is carpeted and I don’t have to listen to a washing machine running this year, though I did love meeting kids/teachers in the athletic training room last year. I love to focus on culture of a school and love our new Mustang Way slogan: “Every Student, Every Day!” and that all of us are following the “Be kind, have integrity, be respectful and strive for excellence” as part of the Mustang Way as well. I also have volunteered to coach JV fall softball at Tri-Valley so getting to know kids on another level, athletically, is exciting to me. We have a talented bunch of girls out for fall softball.
Clara Marquis –
Special Education
This year the Tri-Valley High School welcomed Ciara Marquis into their staff. Marquis will be teaching mainly juniors and seniors in Special Education in the resource room. Before Tri-Valley, Marquis attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Marquis grew up in Illinois with her parents and brother. She spent a lot of time at her grandparent’s house as well. In her free time, Marquis liked to go for hikes, traveling, reading and embroidery.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: The summer after I graduated from high school, I worked in an Applied Behavioral Analysis program as a tutor for children with disabilities. I enjoyed the work I was doing and decided to become a special education teacher.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: I am looking forward to encouraging and helping your children to take the steps necessary to accomplish their goals after high school.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: For the past two years I was working in a life skills classroom where I focused on basic life skills and academic subjects. I’m excited to be working in a resource classroom where I can help students obtain the skills they need for an easy transition into life after high school.
Brycen Nelson – Computers, Geography and Media
Brycen Nelson is a new addition to the Tri-Valley teaching staff. Nelson will be teaching 2nd-4th grade computers, 7th grade Geography and High School Media. Nelson grew up in Shawnee, Kansas, with four other siblings. After Shawnee, Nelson attended Augustana University. In his free time Nelson likes to go on runs, go hiking, fishing, camping, hunting and play some volleyball.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: I got into teaching because it was the most fulfilling job I could think of. My goal for my life is to help others in their own lives.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: Ask your child how their day went! Everyone needs to feel like they are important!
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am excited to learn from such an incredible staff. I have worked and volunteered in multiple other schools. The community at Tri-Valley has been top-notch!
Judas Quentin – Elementary Title
This year the Tri-Valley Elementary is welcoming Judas Quentin. Quentin will be teaching title, which means he will help students who need a little extra help in reading and math. Before Tri-Valley, Quentin recently graduated from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Quentin grew up in Hudson, a small town in Iowa, with his sister, who is also a teacher in Iowa, and mother and father. Quentin likes golfing, drag racing, spending time with friends and family and his pet.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: I started out college as a business major but soon found out I enjoyed helping people learn new things and I grew up working with kids so the natural progression was to become a teacher. Alongside that I had some very influential teachers who made me grow as a student and a person. I will always thank them for that and want to do the same for my students.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: A quote that I strive to live by is, “Never discouraged anyone who makes continual progress, no matter how slow.” I am here to help your student grow and even if it is a small growth. I hope you are willing to help me help your student grow.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: This is my first teaching position and the support from the faculty and administration and the excitement from the students about school is almost overwhelming. I can’t wait to be part of this great community of people.
Kelsy Van Osdel – Special
Education
Tri-Valley has another addition to their elementary special education staff. This year Kelsy Van Osdel will be teaching special education to kindergarteners through second graders. To those children she will be helping them with math, reading, writing and life skills. Before Tri-Valley, Van Osdel attended Mount Marty College and received a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Van Osdel grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, with her parents, two siblings, older sister and younger brother, and their two pet poodles and two cats. In her free time Van Osdel likes to read, spend time outdoors, do crafts and spend time with friends and family.
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: I loved pretend teaching from a young age. As I got older, I helped ELL students after school. From that I babysat my cousins in the summer and helped prepare the oldest for Kindergarten. With that I knew I loved working with kids and realized it was what I was meant to do.
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: One thing that I wish I could tell parents is thank you. Thank you for allowing me to spend my days with your children and entrusting me to help them grow in each and every way.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am excited to work at a district that does what’s best for the kids.
Luke Wodahl – Reading and
English Language Arts
Luke Wodahl is a new teacher at Tri-Valley Middle School and will be teaching 6th grade reading and 7th grade English Language Arts. Wodahl attended Dakota Wesleyan University. There he played baseball and was involved in student ministry. Wodahl grew up in Buffalo, Wyoming, with his parents and younger brother. With a family of teachers, his mother a kindergarten teacher and his father an 8th grade teacher, Wodahl was bound to go into the education field. Wodahl is recently married to Emily Hanson, now Wodahl, and she is also a teacher. Wodahl likes to fish, hunt, backpack and spend time outdoors.
Q: Where did you grow up and who is in your family?
A: I grew up in Buffalo, Wyoming. My mom is a kindergarten teacher there, and my dad teaches 8th grade math. My younger brother is attending the University of Wyoming also. I got married a few weeks ago to Emily Hanson (now Emily Wodahl) and she teaches first grade at Tri Valley also!
Q: What made you get into teaching?
A: The opportunity to help students grow academically and socially every single day made me want to become a teacher. Just knowing the positive impact that some of my teachers had on me as a student also influenced my decision when I was looking to choose a career! I want to do my best to make learning meaningful and fun for all my students!
Q: What is one thing you wish you could tell the parents?
A: THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO! You have an enormous impact on these students every single day.
Q: What is one thing you’re excited about for teaching at Tri-Valley?
A: I am just very excited to get to know the kids and community better! I am also very grateful to work with such amazing coworkers every day.