As Spencer high school and middle school students commence the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 19, they'll be greeted by a handful of new teachers, including Nicole Stauffer and Amy Metcalf. Elementary students, who'll mark a day of parent-teacher conferences that day, will meet up with new teachers Stephanie Anderson, Teresa Goehring, Brian Sand, John Hansel and Laura Van Otterloo in their respective classrooms on Aug. 20th.

Stephanie Anderson

Stephanie Anderson

This 30-year-old woman will serve as the district's reading teacher and its assistant elementary principal in 2008-09.

"I am excited to be offered a leadership role in a district as innovative as Spencer," Anderson said. "Our family is all from the Newell and Storm Lake areas, so it was nice to have an opportunity such as this and still be close to family."

Anderson, a native of Newell, worked three years as a third grade teacher in Vermillion, S.D., served one year as a Storm Lake fourth grade teacher and five years as a first grade teacher in Storm Lake.

"Coming from Storm Lake, I have had a lot of literacy experience with the Reading First grant, and these experiences will definitely be beneficial in the literacy initiatives that are currently taking place in Spencer," she said.

Anderson earned her master's in curriculum and instruction from the University of South Dakota and her English-Language-Learner endorsement from William Penn University. Once she completes an administrative endorsement program in December, Anderson said her plans include pursuing a doctorate.

Teresa Goehring

Teresa Goehring

Through January 2009, Goehring will serve as a teacher assistant at Johnson Elementary. The 39-year-old will then take over as a guidance counselor in the elementary building.

"I am excited to bring a unique background, an enthusiastic attitude and a passion for youth development to the Spencer community schools," Goehring said. "As a counselor, my goal will be to support the efforts of the teaching staff to improve literacy of all students through interactive lessons that will build a great learning environment."

After receiving her bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University, Goehring worked as a biology teacher, track and volleyball coach from 1993-94 at Tiospa Zina Tribal School in Sisseton, S.D. She served as an associate director at Camp Foster YMCA in Spirit Lake from 1994-2005 and as the camp's executive director from 2005-08. Goehring then worked as the executive director of St. Florian Burn and Fire Foundation in Okoboji. She is currently pursuing her master's in counseling at Buena Vista University.

Brian Sand

Brian Sand

Sand, who graduated from Spencer High School in 1995, attended Iowa Lakes Community College and Buena Vista University, receiving his bachelor's in elementary education with a concentration in English. The 31-year-old most recently completed his licensure in special education, English in grades 7 - 12, and coaching through BVU.

Sand, who worked as a teacher associate in the district during his college years, as well as a substitute teacher around northwest Iowa since graduating from the Storm Lake university, will be working as a Transition I, or special education, teacher at Lincoln Elementary this year.

"The teachers I had in school were a big part of why I pursued a career in education. They enjoyed working with students and parents to help create meaningful accomplishments; I want to bring that mentality to my classroom," Sand said. "Also, I'm a kid at heart, so it's easy to relate to the students at school. I still love recess!"

"I feel one of my biggest goals in life has been achieved: Obtaining a teaching position in Spencer," he added. "...I plan to pursue graduate studies while teaching in Spencer, and I plan to build on my philosophies in education by working with the students, parents, teachers and administrators. My own personal goals include spending quality time with my family, finding more time to read, finishing my home improvements and to drop five strokes off my golf game."

Nicole Stauffer

Nicole Stauffer

This Spencer native will be instructing Spanish on a half-time basis at Spencer High School this upcoming year.

"My father would say that he began to see my first teaching strengths when I was working as a gymnastics instructor for the YMCA while I was in high school," the 28-year-old Stauffer said. "I've been in a variety of teaching experiences since then, ranging from camp counselor to paraprofessional and substitute teacher. I've also worked as a bilingual reading tutor while my husband and I were living in the Phoenix area. Upon receiving my bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and minor in Spanish from Northwestern College, I've worked for Spencer schools as both a substitute teacher and reading paraprofessional."

The long-term substitute teacher recalled learning Spanish through connections she made in college.

"Part of my college experience was through relating to native Spanish speakers in the communities of Orange City and Sioux Center, which allowed us to meet, interact and get to know them personally in their communities and homes," Stauffer recalled. "These experiences of building relationships with non-English speaking families impacted my language learning greatly. It has also impacted my perspective of the Spanish-speaking culture and Spanish education as well."

Amy Metcalf

Amy Metcalf

Metcalf will be the new English teacher at Spencer High School.

The 30-year-old, who graduated from Pocahontas High School, Iowa Lakes Community College and the University of Northern Iowa, student taught in Emmetsburg during the spring of 2000 before being hired to teach there, which she did for seven years.

In Emmetsburg, Metcalf served as a full-time English teacher, a middle school computer instructor, and as the large group speech head coach for six years.

"I wanted to teach full-time English again, so I made the move to Spirit Lake, where I taught eighth grade Language Arts and directed the eighth grade play during the 2007-08 school year," she said. "I married Adam Metcalf in June 2006 and we had our first child, Avery, on June 18. We live north of Dickens, where my husband farms with his family."

Metcalf is finishing her reading endorsement this summer, and is halfway through her master's degree as a professional educator through Morningside College.

John Hansel

John Hansel

Hansel will be teaching first grade at Lincoln Elementary this fall. The 28-year-old Sioux City East and Dordt College graduate spent the last two years teaching at Oskaloosa Christian School, as a fourth grade teacher and as a part-time resource room and art teacher.

"When this position became available, it was very easy for me to accept it," Hansel said of the first-grade job he accepted at the Spencer elementary. "I really enjoyed my time in central Iowa, but it is great to be near family and in a great community. My wife and I are both enjoying our time in Spencer very much."

Hansel, who said he hopes his first graders have been reading this summer, admitted to enjoying being creative in the classroom.

"Last year I played my guitar every day for my fourth graders and wrote a song to help them with memory work every week. They were very encouraging, always telling me what a great guitarist I was, even though I really am not that skilled," he said with a chuckle.

Laura Van Otterloo

Laura Van Otterloo

Van Otterloo will greet Lincoln kindergarten students in mid-August, as well as serve as the seventh grade volleyball coach. The native of rural Hull graduated from Northwestern College in December 2003 with a double major in elementary and physical education. After substitute teaching for one semester in area schools and marrying her sweetheart, Van Otterloo worked various jobs and substitute taught, as well as worked at Pella Regional Health Center, when she and her husband moved to Urbandale and Oskaloosa for his career.

The Van Otterloos moved to Spencer in August, when she also began substitute teaching in area schools.

"While teaching over the next few years, and hopefully at a variety of grade levels, I plan to attain my master's degree and possibly teach education courses at a small college," Van Otterloo said. "Meanwhile, I am very excited about the upcoming year and working with each of my students and athletes. I strongly encourage parents to become involved in their child's education; only if children have a supportive network of parents and teachers will they reach their highest potential. I'm looking forward to a great year!"