Introducing KPS' new teachers

As the Kimball Public School District begins the search to replace school nurse, Emily Stull, several new teachers have already begun their duties.

Ben Aarestad takes over the Kimball High School Physical Education program following Nick Kuxhausen and Aarestad will also step in as the High School football coach.

We did not receive requested information from Aarestad by press time.

Art teacher Kim Beyer has taken over as the Director of Curriculum and Assessment and left her positions as High School art/publication and career teacher behind and year book sponsor behind.

In her stead, Wendy Hansen, of Stockville, began teaching local art and publications students. Hansen hopes to add some excitement to the class and will also sponsor the year book.

"I believe that art is important and I want to make sure that students are given the opportunity to learn as much about it as they can," Hansen said. "Art is an expression of oneself, surroundings, and experiences. Art can give anyone a visual way of communicating with others, and I want to help students to learn this."

Hansen added that, to her, the most rewarding aspect of being a teacher is assisting students uncover skills and abilities they never knew they had.

Ashley Heidemann has been hired as the new Kimball High School English teacher for her first year teaching. She will also assist coaching the speech team.

From Hillsdale, Heidemann said that though she had many great teachers in her life, they were not the ones who influenced her decision to become a teacher.

"Honestly, it was the not-so-great teachers that made me want to be one," she said. "I saw how they were and promised myself and my future students that I would never quit on them."

She looks forward to getting to know the Kimball students, and with class sizes much smaller than she is used to, she said she believes she will become acquainted quickly and easily.

The newest Pre-K teacher, Kaeleigh Muir, of Rawlins, Wyo., and Morrill, said that she always thought teaching was something she never wanted to do.

" All of my parents are educators and I always thought I didn't want to go into this field, but when I got to college it's all that appealed to me," she said. "I truly love helping children and coaching. It's so exciting to see a child learn something new!"

She enjoys working with young children and is looking forward to seeing them progress throughout the school year.

"It's always exciting, especially at this age when they learn something! Their enthusiasm and adorable faces make teaching the best profession," she said. "I'm just looking forward to a great school year, and I have been blown away with how welcoming everyone has been. It's been so nice to have kind people to work with and Kimball has been so nice to my husband and I."

Scott Muir, Kaeleigh's husband, has taken over Junior High social studies. We did not receive requested information prior to press time.

Liz Rasmussen is the one other junior high new hire, and she comes in as the science teacher. We did not receive requested information prior to press time.

Sarah Parsons, who was a Kimball High School English teacher as a new educator last year, is now teaching Kindergarten.

Joining Parsons in the Kindergarten classrooms is Jennifer Sladky, a first year teacher from Oxford.

Sladky said she was inspired to be the best version of herself and to make a difference in the world by her preschool, Kindergarten and fifth-grade teachers so she became a teacher.

"I looked up to them and all that they taught me over the years," she said. "That, and my passion for working with children, ultimately led me into a teaching career."

While she looks forward to making a positive impact on her young students, Sladky also said that she anticipates meeting people and making connections in the community.

Rounding out the new teaching staff at Kimball Public Schools is Jarrod Williams, teaching computers in grades 3 through 7.

"I got into teaching because I love to work with kids and I want to help them reach their full potential," he said. "I hope to encourage kids to not be defined by their circumstances and to work hard and believe that they can accomplish great things."

Williams joins newcomer Ben Aarestad as an assistant coach for the high school football team.