Hays USD 489

Please Welcome Alyson Reed!! My new position is 1st grade at Roosevelt Elementary. Last year I taught kindergarten in Victoria and I really enjoyed it. I am from Hays so my goal was to teach in my home town. I am excited about teaching in the USD 489 district because I love the staff and students! I worked at Roosevelt for a year and have done internships and my student teaching there so I am familiar with the staff and have gotten to know some of the students. I am so excited to be back! A random tidbit about me- I am expecting my first baby! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please Welcome Kaylor Gottschalk!! What is your position with USD #489? I will be teaching 4th grade at Roosevelt! Where are you coming from? I graduated from Fort Hays State in 2019 and have taught preschool for the last 2 years. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? I am very excited to begin building new relationships with both the students and staff. I look forward to learning from those around me and bettering myself as an educator! 4. A random tidbit.. I am a black belt in karate! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Welcome to Oliva Zellmer!!! What is your position with USD #489? School Counselor at Hays Middle School Where are you coming from? I’m originally from Atwood, Kansas, and came to Hays to complete my undergraduate and master’s degree. I’ve been living in Hays the last five years, and have most recently been the K-12 school counselor at La Crosse. My husband Andy and I have two kids, William and Marcilyn who keep us busy! When we’re not chasing babies, we can usually be found working in our garden and backyard. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? I’m excited to meet all the students and staff, and to work and share ideas with a co-counselor! A random tidbit... I have a terrible sweet tooth…there is a 100% chance there is always candy in my desk. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please Welcome Michala Bieker!! I’m a Kindergarten teacher at O’Loughlin Elementary School! I’m originally from Great Bend KS. I graduated from FHSU in the fall of 2020, and this will be my first year teaching. I’m very excited to be at O’Loughlin this year. I completed my student teaching there in the fall and am looking forward to coming back! In my free time, I like to find a good book to read or a new recipe to make. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Welcome Peyton Ostmeyer!! What is your position with USD #489? • 2nd Grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary Where are you coming from? • I grew up and went to school in Natoma, KS. After high school, I attended FHSU and obtained my degree in Early Childhood Unified. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? • Learning, growing, and building connections with the students and staff. Random tidbit about you…. • I am a huge K-State fan :) #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Our next staff intrduction is Jamie Wolbert!! My position for USD489 is a Lifeskills Teacher at Hays High School. I began my career for USD #489 during the 2019-2020 school year as a para-professional in the S.T.A.R program at Roosevelt Elementary. That year I also began my career as an assistant softball coach for Hays High School (Go Indians!). I then moved to KVC Hospitals as a Teacher’s Assistant for the 2020-2021 school year. In March of 2021, I was hired as a Lifeskills Teacher at Hays High School. I am most excited to continue to grow the relationships I have created within the district. We have an amazing team that I am incredibly honored to be a part of. I am eager to assist our students and see them cultivate new skills. I am originally from Southeast Nebraska (Go Big Red!). There was a movie filmed near my hometown when I was seven and I earned a role to be in the movie. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please Welcome Reece Petty!! What is your position with USD #489? Middle School SPED ELA. Assistant High School Football Coach and Assistant High School Basketball Coach. Where are you coming from? Grew up in Liberal, KS. I’ve been coaching college football for eight years, most recently in NY. I came back to Kansas last October due to Covid where I taught SPED in St. Marys. I am now all moved into Hays and will be beginning my first year here in August. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? Being back in Western Kansas around great, hard working people! A random tidbit about you…. - I love pizza! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please Welcome Bryan Zollinger! What is your position at USD #489? JAG-K Career Specialist I moved to Hays about 5 years ago to be closer to my family. Prior to that I coached junior college basketball for over 20 years. I am most excited to be at HHS on a daily basis and be more involved in the school and community. I am also excited about the opportunity to be a part of the JAG-K program and its mission to help all students be successful. I have a 9 year old daughter named Niyah who attends O’Laughlin Elementary School. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please Welcome Marcy Reed!! What is your position in the district: Speech-Language Pathologist Where are you from? Born and raised in Salina, KS. Bachelors degree from KSU, and masters degree from FHSU. I’m excited to meet families of the kiddos I serve that live within my community! I absolutely love/am slightly obsessed with sea turtles. I think they’re beautifully majestic creatures. And clearly (looking at the picture) I enjoy eating sea food. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please welcome Tina Shepherd!! 5th Grade Reading & Social Studies at Wilson Elementary School! My husband Todd and I both grew up in Hays, and after having been away for 22 years we decide it was time to move back home. We moved from Hutchinson last August, and while living there I taught 5th Grade Reading & Social Studies for 13 years at Holy Cross Catholic School. I have both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Elementary Education from Fort Hays, and I am so happy to now be teaching in the same school that I student taught in many years ago. Our daughter, Tylor, just graduated from Fort Hays, and is now an accountant at Adams Brown here in Hays. Our son, Treyton, is a sophomore at K-State, majoring in Business Administration. The center of our family is our large and very spoiled cat, Morris. I feel like the perfect job has found me, and I am so grateful and excited to be a part of the USD 489 Family. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Hays Public Library has some really great stuff going on! Check out the ESL options!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Day 3 of Staff Introductions!!! Please welcome Steven Bolin!! What is your position with USD #489? I am the School Psychologist for Victoria K-12, TMP, KVC, and overflow early childhood Where are you coming from? I earned my Bachelors, Masters, and Eds from FHSU. I did my practicum in Gardner-Edgerton, Kansas (close to Olathe), and my Internship in Lawrence, KS. I grew up in Olathe, KS so this let me cut expenses the last few years living with mom and dad and pay off my student loans as a result. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? I am excited to be able to work in a community that really supported me as a college student, and to work with some fantastic people. I have worked in a large district and I feel that I can make a bigger difference in a smaller district like this one and I am excited for the challenge of this year. I look forward to meeting everyone too and developing professional relationships! I was in FHSU's marching band, brass choir, and symphonic winds as an undergrad! I have always had a great appreciation for music. I also work part time at the Hays Public Library so you might see me there! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Welcome to the Family!! Our new certified staff started in the district today!! We are happy you’re here!! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Please meet Aimee Goetz!!! I am a 4th Grade Teacher at Wilson Elementary. This is my second year in the district. I am moving from HMS, prior to being in Hays I worked in Greeley, Colorado and Chapman, KS. I am excited to be back in the elementary setting, teaching at the school I attended for elementary school and student taught at. I have taught 11 years in special education and this will be my first year as a general education teacher. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Welcome Haley Vajnar!!! I will be a 3rd grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary! I have lived in Hays my whole live and went to school at Roosevelt, Felten Middle school, and Hays High! I enjoyed my time in USD 489 and am so excited that I get to teacher in the same district! This will be my first year teaching! I graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelors in Elementary Education! I am so excited to meet my students and learn from all of my coworkers! This will be year of learning and I am excited to see how much a grow as a teacher! A little about me, I just got Married to my husband Conrad this July! So I am excited to start the year with a new last name! We have a 1 year old puppy named Luna and we love taking her for walks! I love to do puzzles and watch sports especially Track and Field! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Day 2 of Staff Introductions!! Welcome Samantha Pixler to USD #489!! What is your position with USD #489? I will be teaching second grade this year at O'Loughlin and third grade next year! Where are you coming from? My family and I are coming from Ulysses, Kansas. I taught 4th, 2nd, and 1st grade while there. This will be my 8th year of teaching. My husband accepted a job at FHSU this year teaching in the woodworking department. We have two children and one dachshund dog named Pedey. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? My husband and I both went to FHSU for college and loved the town of Hays. I also student taught here at Lincoln Elementary and absolutely loved it. This district was good to me then and I have been welcomed back so generously. I am excited to be back here and raise our children here! A random tidbit about you…. I love organizing and cleaning! Fun Fact: I also named my children after Law and Order SVU (Olivia and Elliot). I have a heart for at risk students and am very close to receiving my Master's in At Risk and Alternative Education. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Welcome Devann Patten!!! What is your position at USD #489? School Psychologist (Early Childhood & Holy Family Elementary) I just graduated from FHSU in May! I got my bachelors, masters, and Ed.S degree all from FHSU (roll tiges). I am originally from Ellinwood, KS. I am so excited to work within this district because of all the different people I get to work with. Everyone is so focused on the wellbeing of students, and I am glad I get to contribute to their teamwork. Random Tidbit? I am the worst crafter, but I could spend all day in Hobby Lobby or Home Goods just looking around. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Up next...Valerie Colip!! This year, I will be the K-2 SpEd teacher at Lincoln Elementary. This is my sixth year in the district and my fifth year at Lincoln. I am so excited to continue my career with USD 489 and Lincoln because I know the students always come first. I live in Gorham with my husband and son and I grew up in Holcomb, KS. My favorite pass times are reading and playing with my son, Benjamin. #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Next up...Sarah Mackey! I will be a Reading Recovery/Title Teacher. I have been in the district for a long time, just transferred into what I love to do! Being in the elementary buildings and seeing the kiddos! They bring so much enthusiasm to the day and make my day better! I am married and have three kiddos ages 17, 12, and 8! I also have a labradoodle named Bentley! #EveryStudentEveryDay489

Our first introduction is Allison Kitchen!! What is your position with USD #489? My new position is MTSS Coach Where are you coming from…. I have spent the last 9 years teaching at Hays Middle School. I was born and raised in Hays and grew up attending schools in USD 489 (O’Loughlin, Kennedy, and Hays High School). I then attended FHSU where I graduated with an Elementary Education degree. What are you most excited about here at USD #489? I am most excited to meet new teachers and staff at all the buildings throughout the district as I help them implement the MTSS system. There are so many people in other buildings that I did not have the opportunity to work with while at HMS. I’m also pretty excited to (hopefully) be able to use the restroom whenever I need. 😊 A random tidbit about you…. I have three sons ages 7, 3, and 1. I have been married to my husband, Brian, for 9 years. He is also a Hays native. We love sports and activities at our house and are ALWAYS busy! #EveryStudentEveryDay489