By Alan Sorensen
A dozen new faces will be greeting students to Havre Public Schools classrooms when the 1999-2000 school year gets under way Aug. 25.
Nine of the new teachers will take over elementary classrooms, while one moves into the middle school and two report to the high school.
The new Havre High teachers are Peggy Fink in English and Kit McLain in French.
Fink is returning to teaching after several years away from the field. She taught seven years in Montana and then eight years in California. She will serve as the new head speech and debate coach.
Fink grew up in Big Sandy and graduated from Carroll College. She received further education at the masters level in California.
McLain has taught Havre adult basic education and substituted in the district for the last year. A graduate of MSU-Northern, she also taught a year at Lloyd School.
Dustin Kraske will take over an eighth-grade classroom. Kraske said becoming a teacher in the Havre system was a dream come true for him. He is a recent graduate of MSU-Northern and did his student teaching at Highland Park School. He has had the opportunity to do some coaching in the district, too.
The new elementary teachers, their grades and their schools are: June Welch, Kindergarten, Sunnyside; Pam Stenerson, fifth grade, Sunnyside; Kamia Brady, first grade, Highland Park; DaNelle Bakke, third grade, Highland Park; Vicki Hilliard, multi-grade 2/3, Sunnyside; Kim Ray, half time elementary physical education; Nancy Sparks, kindergarten and reading discovery, Lincoln-McKinley; Dustan Toth, third grade, Lincoln-McKinley.
June Welch settles into a routine at Sunnyside after years of substitute teaching and tutoring in the district. Welch, who grew up in Wolf Point and graduated from MSU-Bozeman, also taught a year in Malta.
Pam Stenerson taught in Terry for three years before coming to Havre. She graduated in elementary education from MSU-Billings, but has worked as a travel agent, swimming pool manager, and day care provider.
Kamia Brady compares herself to the Jeep CJ7 that she drives: small, versatile, and able to go anywhere, accomplish any task, but very dependable. Brady, who graduated from MSU-Northern taught at Cottonwood School north of Havre last year.
DaNelle Bakke, who has 10 years experience at St. Jude, Box Elder, and KG, took last year off to be with her children. Originally from Nashua, Bakke is an MSU-Northern graduate.
Vicki Hilliard has 20 years teaching experience in two other states before teaching at St. Jude last year. Hilliard received her bachelor of science degree from Carroll College in Helena.
Kim Ray, a Chinook native and Northern graduate, substitute taught in the district last year. As a half-time PE teacher, Rays primary responsibility will be the swimming program at the elementary school level. Ray, who has previous coaching experience, also will be head coach of the cross country team.
Nancy Sparks, who earned bachelors and masters degrees at MSU-Northern, spent last year as an adjunct teacher at Northern. Now, after three years away from the elementary classroom, shes back. Shell handle kindergarten and reading discovery duties at Lincoln-McKinley.
Carol Blatter is a recent MSU-Billings graduate who brings extensive classroom experience to her first teaching position. Last year, she served as a teachers aide in the Havre High special education department.
Dustan Toth is a Havre native who is starting his teaching career in his hometown after earning his degree at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Toth has always had a strong interest in mentoring young people and will bring that dedication to his Lincoln-McKinley classroom.
The district also has 18 new classified personnel:
New at Havre High School are Tamara Johnson, career education opportunities for students; Lani Carlson, SUNS tutor and career skills preparation; Samantha Kolkman, special education teacher assistant; and Anna Hoops, Title I tutor.
New at Havre Middle School are Leslie Hanson, Title I tutor; Suzi Larsen, Title I tutor; and Sandra Yeats, special education teacher assistant.
New at Highland Park School are Sandra Spinner, Title I assistant; Margaret Berg, Title I assistant; Mary Keith, special education assistant.
New at Sunnyside School are Heidi Boyum, special education teacher assistant; and Nan Gabriel, special education tutor.
New at Lincoln-McKinley School are Diana Greytak, special education teacher assistant; Haylie Sheldon, Title I assistant; and Zana Bitz, special education teacher assistant.
Transportation departments new regular bus driver is Doug Marden.
Barbara Converse is new with the school food service.
Jay Viall is the new information technology specialist for all buildings.
