Top: Nate Asmus, Marilee Schmalen Bottom: Randi Swanson, Robert Bishop

Daily Reporter Staff

When the bell marking the start of the 2008-09 school year rings on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 20, Clay Central/Everly students will be greeted in their respective buildings and classrooms by a handful of new staff members.

The school district's new social studies teacher and assistant volleyball coach, Nathan "Nate" Asmus, explained Superintendent Monte Montgomery "made a great offer" and "sold" him on "how great a learning and working environment CC/E schools are."

Following a long-term substitute teaching assignment, the 26-year-old native of Lake City taught social studies at East Sac High School for one semester before transferring to Rockwell City-Lytton High School, where he taught social studies last school year.

Asmus claims to hold a great work ethic, as well as an appreciation for and understanding of what his job means to students and members of the community.

"I am looking forward to teaching at CC/E and doing the best job that I can," Asmus said.

"I will always keep learning and growing as a teacher while striving to be a great role model for my students," he assured.

Born and raised in Des Moines, Robert Bishop is a recent graduate of Graceland University in Lamoni.

During his college years, Bishop was active with the symphonic band, the symphony orchestra and the jazz band. He has also worked with bands from Graceland University, Lamoni Community Schools and the Indianola School District.

The 23-year-old, who will serve as CC/E's new instrumental music teacher, is marking his first year as a teacher.

"While I am passionate about music, and have worked with some really great bands," Bishop said, "I look forward to getting to know the students and parents, and am looking forward to a good year."

Bishop has been married for one year. His wife Kendra will be finishing college at Graceland over the next two years.

Marilee Schmalen will be teaching family-and-consumer-science classes at CC/E during the morning hours and finishing her school days this year doing the same at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn. Schmalen, who lived in Everly 15 years ago, welcomed the opportunity to teach in both school districts, as well as return to the people and area that make up CC/E.

Schmalen graduated from Sheldon High School and attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, where she earned her bachelor's degree in home economics, with a double major in education and retailing. She spent many years in the retail field before returning to the teaching profession in 2003, to teach at Spalding Catholic High School in Granville. Schmalen also received her master's in education from Briar Cliff University in 2006.

"While many teachers are thinking of retiring within a few years of my age, I am just getting started and loving it," she exclaimed. "Life circumstances have taken me down a different path: I have worked in social work, retail, banking and owned a business. This, I think, gives me a different perspective."

Schmalen and her husband, Don, the service manager at Spencer International, have three children: Annie, a teacher in Houston; Nick, who is employed by Pheasants Forever in Spirit Lake; and Michael, a junior at St. John's University.

Also in 2008-09, Randi Swanson, a CC/E alumna, will serve as the district's school nurse. The 24-year-old began her medical career at the Northwest Iowa Health Center while still enrolled as a student at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon. After moving to Spirit Lake, she worked at Lakes Regional Healthcare on a full-time basis and part-time with GrapeTree Medical Staffing.

"One of my goals was to become a school nurse," Swanson said. "But my ultimate goal professionally is to go where I am needed, to help as much as possible."

CC/E's new school nurse and her husband, Dan, who owns Swanson Construction, have a 10-month-old son named Luca.

* CC/E will host an open house from 5 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 19 in the Everly and Royal school buildings.