New staff welcomed to PPS

 

 

As the first day of school approaches, Perry Public Schools would like to introduce our new faculty and staff to the community. We are welcoming 19 new faces to the school district. 

 

These new staff members were invited to a new employee orientation on Thursday, August 10. They were served a continental breakfast, welcomed by Superintendent Chad Wilson, introduced to all principals and directors, learned about the school district, and received new employee information. Lunch was provided by First Bank and Trust. 

 

Perry Public Schools and the Board of Education are pleased to introduce the following new teachers, staff, and coaches for the 2023-2024 school year:

 

 

The school district has many other current employees who recently changed roles going into the new school year. 

 

In the elementary schools, there were several staff changes over the summer. Emily Androes is moving from a paraprofessional to a kindergarten teacher. Crystal Deken was serving as a 3rd grade teacher, but accepted the new STEM teaching position over the summer. Tanya Johnson will be teaching 6th grade ELAR (combination of ELA and reading). Leslie Kelly was previously a 3rd grade teacher, but is replacing Denise Hall as computer science teacher. Karen Nida will fill Leslie Kelly’s role as a 3rd grade teacher. Kim Russell was teaching 6th grade, but will move to 5th grade ELA and social studies this year. 

 

Lastly for elementary, Amanda Wilson previously taught 3rd grade, but accepted the new STEM Coordinator position for the school district. The new STEM program has been made possible by a generous grant from the Malzahn Family Affiliated Fund. 

 

Staff changes for the junior high include Brad Dolezal moving from elementary PE to teaching U.S. history at the junior high. Travis Cole will now teach body mechanics classes to junior high students. Kirk Kinzie will continue teaching special education at the junior high, while adding coaching responsibilities as the head coach for junior high softball and baseball.

 

Perry Schools was awarded an OSDE “Stronger Connections” grant last spring to allow the opportunity to hire two additional school counselors to better serve the student body. LeEllen Waren was hired over the summer to serve junior high and Melissa Turner was hired to serve lower elementary. With that, our existing elementary school counselor, Dana Hatter, who formerly counseled both lower and upper elementary students will move to the upper elementary this year. The district is grateful to now be staffed with a dedicated counselor at each school site. 

 

Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Tuesday, August 15. Families and students are welcome to come-and-go between 5:00-6:30 p.m. to meet teachers, view classrooms, receive class schedules, locker assignments, drop off school supplies, and more. 

 

All students will return for the first day of school on Thursday, August 17. School doors open each morning at 7:45 a.m. The first bell rings at all school buildings at 8:10 a.m.

 

Any new students to the school district can enroll at their child’s school site. Please bring required documentation with you, including birth certificate, proof of residency, health insurance card, and immunization record. 

 

Visit the school website for any additional information as you prepare for the first day of school. 

 

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