School welcomes a record number of new and moved teachers and staff

Mill Valley News: How did you decide to move positions within the school? Ashley Agre: So becoming a librarian has always been a dream of mine, but one that I thought was not achievable. Mostly because of the librarian that was here for the first 20 years. When he left I had not gone to school yet to get my Media Center specialists licensure. So they hired somebody else, and I thought she'll neve...

Mill Valley News: What is your background? What did you do before you came to Mill Valley? Joshua Barnes: Sure. So my background in education is this is my fifth year. The last four years I was teaching at Prairie Ridge Elementary, so, still in the same district. I've been teaching or coaching football here for the last five years now. So it's good to get into the building Valley and be a part ...

Mill Valley News: Have you worked as a social worker before?  Tawnya Bettis: Yes, I have. I have been a social worker since 2016. So, about six years MVN: Where did you work as a social worker? TB: Before this, I was a social worker for two and a half years in the Olathe school district. And before that, I worked at a domestic violence shelter.  MVN: What are some of your goals for Mill...

Mill Valley News: First question, just tell me what your background is. Darrell Bunger: Well, I started out in the Navy, right out of high school, learned electricity, learned how to be an electrician and I also learned IT a little bit toward the end of my career in the Navy. [Later,] I went to school at DeVry to major in electrical engineering from 2000 to 2002. I didn’t really have a minor, c...

Mill Valley News: Can you describe something on your desk or in your classroom or office that has special meaning to you? Shelly Domnanish: This is [a picture framed of] my daughter when she was six months old, she was a little lucky leprechaun.  MVN: Nice. So, what is your background? SD: I was in the business world for about 15 years and then I transitioned to teaching. I taught business f...

Mill Valley News: Why did you want to get into education and teaching? Folsom: Why did I get into teaching? I had some really great teachers in high school. One who was especially really great at hands-on learning and I really appreciated the experience I had in high school.  MVN: What is your background?  Folsom: I have a background teaching yearbook, newspaper, photography, broadcast and graphic ...

Mill Valley News: What did you do before you came to Mill Valley? Joey Lazor: I was a teacher at a Catholic school for the last two years before this. Before that, I substitute-taught up in Iowa for about five or six years while I was coaching college wrestling and then training for the Olympics. MVN: What college did you attend and what was your major? JL: I attended the University of Northern Iowa ...

Mill Valley News: What is your background in counseling? What did you do before you came to MV?  Megan Mixon: I was a high school counselor before I came here. I was a counselor at Piper High School last year and I worked at Mill Creek before that. I worked in the corporate world before then for about 15 years, and then I got my masters in counseling and did my internship at Mill Creek.  MV...

Mill Valley News: Let's start with your background, where were you before Mill Valley? Where did you go to college and what did you major in? Reece Petty: I've been to a bunch of different places. I went to the University of Kansas. Then after that, I taught at Lansing High School for two years then I taught college football for eight years. I was in Iowa and then New York. Then I came back to Kansa...

Mill Valley News: What did you do before you came to MV?  Scott Poertner: I taught at Bonner Springs for 22 years and I still live there.  MVN: Can you describe something in your room or desk that means something to you? SP: This rock was given to me by my kids. I have always just had it.  MVN: What are some of your goals for Mill Valley? SP: One of my goals for Mill Valley is to lea...

Mill Valley News: What is your background and what did you do before you came to Mill Valley? Samuel Preston: I taught at Pleasant Ridge High School as a part of the eastern USD 449 school district for the last eight years and this is my first year here at Mill Valley. I’m teaching biology and plants in the environment.  MVN: What college did you attend and what was your major and minor? SP: So, I actually attended ...

Mill Valley News: What is your background? Kelly Prickett: Before I became a teacher at Mill Valley, I worked in Bonner Springs at the middle school and I taught eighth grade science. And then before that, I worked in parks and recreation including the National Park Service with the Everglades. MVN: What college did you attend and what did you major in?  KP: I went to K-State and I majored in park...

Mill Valley News: So what did you do before this? How long have you been a debate coach? Shawn Rafferty: I've been a debate coach, I guess this is my 21st year. I spent the last seven years in Jenks, Oklahoma coaching speech and debate. And then before that I was 13 years at Manhattan, Kansas. MVN: You're gonna take over a pretty messy program here, so what are some goals that you've got for...

Mill Valley News: Describe something on your desk or in your classroom/office that has special meaning to you? Julie Rugenstein: Last year I got nominated for an award called the Making a Difference Award. MVN: What is your background? What did you do before you came to MV?  JR: I was the secretary at Horizon [Elementary] for five years. MVN: What do you do in your free time outside of ...

Mill Valley News: How did you decide to move positions within the school? Michael Strack: It happened really late in the summer. It’s hard sometimes to find teachers but I taught English here previously and so even before the job opened, Dr. Holder and I had casual conversations about maybe someday moving back into and being in this classroom. Once the opportunity arose, I decided to go ahead...