The grand total of new staff this year is thirteen, ten of whom are new teachers. Joining the work force are Kim Brotzler, Gayle Brown, John James, Carly Jordan, Rachel Karns, Kiersten Kerr, Tom Kuhns, Rachel Molsee, Zach Penston, Shawn Radcliff, Dave Scammel, Christina Stylc, and Warren Olson.
Rachel Molsee is the new Biology and Environmental Science teacher. She got her degree in biology and secondary education from the University of Idaho. Molsee moved here from Moscow after teaching physical science at Moscow Alternative High School.
“The simple excitement and love for science and the desire to help kids see the exciting things of the subject motivates me,” Molsee said.
Zach Penston is the new biology teacher. He got his degree in biology from BYU in Utah. Coeur d’Alene High School is his first teaching assignment. He moved here from Utah.
“I like watching the students succeed and get involved in learning,” Penston said.
In college Penston was an avid collector of bugs and plants.
New physical science and chemistry teacher, John James, recently moved from Boise to the CdA area.
Although originally planning on entering the field of kinesiology, the study of human movement. He changed his mind after coaching at a school in Kellogg, Idaho, realizing a newfound desire to work with kids.
“I love CHS,” James said. “It’s a great administration and the staff is outgoing, friendly, and positive. It’s something to look forward to coming to in the morning; and of course, I love the kids.”
Former wildlife biologist and environmental scientist for Kohler, Shawn Radcliff is also a new biology teacher at CHS this year.
“I like CHS,” Radcliff said. “I think that the students are very respectful.”
Radcliff displays his collection of bones in his classroom. He acquires the showpieces while hunting or hiking.
Christina Stylc is the new Physical Science and Chemistry teacher. Her degree is in natural science from Gonzaga. She has taught at Lakeland High School in Rathdrum, but lived in Coeur d’Alene. Her motivations as a teacher includes the chance to connect with the students and finding new ways to spark their interest in science.
“Coeur d’Alene is a busy place with lots of really good, cool things going on,” Stylc said.
Carly Jordan teaches English 9 and 10. Jordan received her degrees from Washington State University. She has a master’s in teaching and a minor in English.
“I really like to spend time with kids, especially the high school age group; I have a lot of fun,” Jordan said. “As an English teacher I get to combine two of my favorite things; literature and spending time with my students.”
Thomas Kuhns teaches English 9 and 10. He got his degree in English from the University of Idaho. CHS is his first teaching assignment but he did teach rock-climbing in Washington and skiing in Austria. In his spare time he loves to read spy thrillers.
“It’s great and really rare that you find a community like Coeur d’Alene,” Kuhns said. “Coeur d’Alene is probably the best place to be in the world.”
The new librarian is Kiersten Kerr. Kerr worked at Hayden Meadows Elementary School for four years before transferring to CHS. She received her degree from the University of California San Diego. Kerr has a bachelor’s degree in communications and is currently attending the University of North Texas for a master’s in library science.
“I’ve lived in Coeur d’Alene for several years now,” Kerr said.
“I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
The language department now includes Kim Brotzler, the new French 1 teacher. Brotzler has degrees in elementary education, French, and a minor in math from Montana State University. Before moving to Coeur d’Alene, she taught at an international school in Papua, New Guinea.
“I love the impact I can have on my students’ lives,” Brotzler said.
Gayle Brown is the new math teacher, although she is not new to CHS.
She has been working as an instructional assistant for nine years, though this is her first year as a teacher. Brown received her degree from Multnomah University. She also acts as a tutor outside of school.
“I love it here,” Brown said. “All five of my kids have graduated from CHS.”
Behavior Support has an additional member, Dave Scammel.
Scammel specializes in important life skills and deals directly with prevention (and even at times intervention) for students struggling with suicide, substance abuse, and other counseling topics related to behavior support.
“I’ve always had a desire to talk with people, listen to them, and help them process things,” Scammel said.
He really enjoys hearing others’ stories and learning about them as people. A few of Scammel’s goals for this year are to see Coeur d’Alene become an interconnected community and to see kids reaching out and touching other’s lives.