New faces abound at growing middle school

Sisters Middle School has grown from a student body of slightly more than 300 last year to approximately 450 students this year. The school is also acclimating to a whole new segment of population - fifth grade students.

Factored into this equation are 12 new staff members, including the principal, eight new teachers, a new part-time special education behavioral specialist, a new school nurse and a new attendance secretary.

More than one-third of the Sisters Middle School teaching staff of 25 are new to the school this year, and their impact upon the school's culture is significant.

"They have incredible varied backgrounds," said middle school principal Kathy Miner. "They're not all new people (to teaching). For example, fifth grade teachers Justin Nicklous and Jennifer Hopp are new to our school, but they come to us already as master teachers in the fifth grade. Justin comes with 12 years experience in Sherwood."

Miner said that Nicklous has organized several student trips to China where students have actually stayed with Chinese families.

Miner said, "What's so nice about having new people is that you get with them their experiences and their backgrounds, and they bring so much information."

Miner said, "Jennifer Hopp, I believe, is in her ninth year of teaching. She was already at the elementary school. She is new here (at the middle school) but not new to the district and not new to teaching."

Hopp brings with her extensive background in literacy. She has worked extensively with high-ability learners.

Miner remarked that although the middle school has four fifth grade teachers, only one, Emily Zoboski, is in her first year of teaching. Zoboski has her Masters in Education from the University of Oregon.

Miner said, "She is very highly educated and ready. She is very prepared to do the job."

Miner, who brings 15 years of experience to the table, has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. She comes to Sisters from Redmond where she was principal at Edwin Brown High School. Although she has only been with the district since August, Miner is already very impressed with the district in general and her school in particular.

"Parents are very supportive," she said. "Kids are eager for exciting experiences. We have our Interim Week. We have the Americana Project. There's all kinds of unique opportunities, and kids take advantage of them, and they're excited about them."

Four of the middle school's new teachers are experiencing their first year teaching. They are Megan Schoenecker, Emily Zoboski, Tim Garland and Cailen McNair.

"They are extremely highly trained," Miner said.

When Schoenecker, who is teaching seventh grade language arts, was asked how she likes her new job, she quickly responded, "It's fantastic." Garland is teaching seventh and eighth grade math. And McNair teaches science and physical education.

New hire Dierdre Kanzig is teaching sixth grade language arts and social studies.

"She's been a substitute for quite a while and she's been very involved in education in homeschooling," Miner said. "So this is again not brand new to her. She's just walking in very naturally."

Some of the new teachers at the middle school have also previously had professional careers. Dierdre Kanzig worked in Park and Recreation Management. Arlene Watkins, who is teaching eighth grade language arts and a computer class, has worked in the field with a technology firm as a marketing consultant and as a journalist.

"She had a 20 year career before becoming a teacher," Miner said. "So again, especially with a small town like Sisters, when you are bringing these people with these various backgrounds, how neat that is."

Watkins also studied Japanese history and culture and speaks some Japanese. She teaches yoga, as well.

Ruth Vettrus is serving as the school's special education behavioral specialist.

"She really has a great background," Miner said. "She has her Masters from the U of O in Special Education and offers experience in teaching at the middle school and high school levels in Springfield. She comes with a lot of experience, too, although she's young."

When asked her feelings about her new job, Vettrus replied, "The staff is great; the parents are great."

Trish Roy, who has been a nurse for 25 years, has spent most of her career working in emergency rooms. She is serving as a school nurse for the first time at the middle school. Part-time attendance secretary Laura Gentry has worked for the State of Oregon Department of Revenue during most of her professional career.

As the village grows and new faces replace old, Miner said that conscious effort is being made to keep the sense of community alive that each person is important. It is this culture that makes Sisters Middle School special.