Plenty of new faces will soon be running around the Clarkston School district.
With so many changes (in buildings, in redistricting and with the start of a new school), The Clarkston News is taking a moment to present the district’s new teachers over the next two weeks.
So take a look ? and enjoy meeting those who are shaping Clarkston’s future:

Rodney Pierson is a new fourth grade teacher at Andersonville Elementary. He earned his bachelor of science in geology with a post-bachelor teaching certification from Eastern Michigan University and Oakland University.
What brought him to Clarkston? ‘The small community as well as the friendly atmosphere associated with such a ‘family.??

Steve Baker is the new K-5 physical education teacher at Andersonville Elementary. He earned his bachelor degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University. He came to Clarkston for ‘the community atmosphere.?

Marisha Sunday is a sixth grade math teacher at Sashabaw Middle School. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan ? Ann Arbor and has been teaching for two years.
Why did she want to work in Clarkston? ‘The great community support, involved parents and wonderful students.?

Carianne Elizabeth Wargowsky will teach eight grade language arts and ninth grade oral communications at Clarkston Junior High School. She holds a bachelor of English.
‘I have heard great things about the Clarkston community, its schools, staff, students and programs. I am excited to now be a part of this team.?

Hank Passmore holds a special education degree in cognitive impairment from Eastern Michigan University. He will teach sixth and seventh grade autism in the spectrum disorder program.
Passmore already has experience in the schools. He previously worked for Clarkston Schools as a paraprofessional and on the grounds and maintenance department.

Mindy Hart holds a special education degree in learning disabilities from Michigan State University. She is currently working towards her master’s degree in emotional impairments with an endorsement in autism.
Hart is teaching elementary autism in the spectrum disorder program. This is her second year of teaching.
Why come to Clarkston? ‘The ASD center program and this is my hometown!?
Kimberly Strader is a new autism spectrum disorder teacher in the SPICE program at the Early Childhood Center. She currently holds a degree in elementary education from Oakland University and is working on a special education master’s degree with endorsements in autism and early childhood.
‘I came here for the autism program and I also moved to the community. I wanted to work where I live.?

Cynthia Pebley is a new sixth grade social studies teacher at Sashabaw Middle School. This is her third year in teaching.
Pebley holds a bachelor of science in elementary education from Oakland University. She earned a master’s degree in curriculum and teaching from Michigan State University.
She said she came to Clarkston because the district’s wonderful reputation, great schools, growing community, involved parents and awesome kids.

Lynn Gasparella holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Michigan ? Ann Arbor. She is a new sixth grade language arts and technology teacher at Sashabaw Middle School.
‘I grew up in a town similar to Clarkston and was fascinated by the amazing community involvement in and out of the schools. I also noticed the excellent athletic programs in all the schools. Being a college athlete, I was very happy to see a well balanced community in extracurricular activities and the core academic curriculum.

Natalia Hausmann is a new fourth grade teacher at Andersonville Elementary. She earned a bachelor of arts in English literature with elementary and middle school certifications from Marquette University in Wisconsin.
‘I truly enjoy the ‘small town? community atmosphere in Clarkston. Also, all of the warm and smiling faces, as well as the high rate of student success have brought me here.?

Julie A. Spencer-Potter is a sixth grade technology teacher at Sashabaw Middle School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree from Ferris State University. She is now in her tenth year of teaching.
Why did she come to Clarkston? Easy, she relocated from Grand Rapids with her husband.

Dan Mooney holds a bachelor of science in elementary education from Central Michigan University. He will teach seventh grade math and physical education at Sashabaw Middle School.
‘I have had family and friends attend Clarkston Community Schools and hear wonderful things about the district. I also like the ‘small town? feel of Clarkston.?
Mike Olsen is a new teacher at the Oakland Science, Mathematics and Technology Academy ? Clarkston Campus. He is teaching 9-12 biology, chemistry and integrated science for ninth and tenth.
Olsen has taught now for 11 years. He has a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry and a master’s degree in education from Oakland University.
He came to the OSMTech Program because of the high level of support from the Clarkston Schools administration for teachers in the classroom.

Michelle Laing is teaching seventh grade language arts and science at Sashabaw Middle School. She has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Western Michigan University and a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Laing has substituted on and off for the past five years and assisted with reading support at Sashabaw Middle School for grades 6-8 this past year. She said she enjoys the wonderful community with a supportive staff and parent base.

Susan Linder has a bachelor of arts from Ashland University and a master of arts from Indiana University. She is teaching seventh grade language arts at Sashabaw Middle School.
Linder spent eight years teaching in Ohio, one year in Indiana and 3? years as a guest teacher in Clarkston.
‘My children are in the 10th and 11th grades at CHS and we have lived here for seven years. I’ve been working as a guest teacher for 3? years here, and have done four long-term assignments at Sashabaw.?

Mike Harris is a new physical education and health teacher for K-5 elementary at Pine Knob, Clarkston, Independence and Springfield Plains elementaries. He has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University.
He said he came to Clarkston because of the district’s reputation. ‘I grew up in Waterford and had many friends go to Clarkston Schools, all spoke very highly of the schools. My student teaching was done at Sashabaw Middle School and Clarkston Elementary.?

Bob Cattin is quite literally a homegrown teacher. He graduated from Clarkston High School and recently changed careers to teach in his old district.
‘This is my first year; although I was a guest teacher beginning Jan. 2004 until June 2005.?
Cattin holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s in business administration from Wayne State. He received his teaching certification from Oakland University in December 2003.
Cattin is a new sixth grade math and science teacher at Sashabaw Middle School.

Joyce Sherman is teaching eighth and ninth grade French I and II at Clarkston Junior High. She earned her bachelor’s from University of Michigan, her teaching master’s from Oakland University and her Spanish endorsement from University of Michigan.
She has taught French in various private schools for the past 20 years.
‘My teaching advisor, Dr. Emily Spinelli from the University of Michigan, told me to introduce myself to Clarkston Schools. She thought it would be a good match. I was lucky to have a long-term French position in the spring of 2005 and I’m thrilled to be a full-time teacher this fall. I’m looking forward to being a part of this wonderful teaching community.?

Katie Marasco is the new physical education instructor at Independence Elementary. She earned her degree in kinesiology from Michigan State University.
She wanted to teach in Clarkston because of the ‘great reputation of the school district and community.? She also was impressed with the district’s physical education and health curriculums.

Emily Jackson is the new eighth and ninth grade Spanish I and II teacher at Clarkston Junior High School. She holds a degree in English and Spanish from Western Michigan University.
‘The atmosphere of the community brought me here. I am proud to be working with such supportive and enthusiastic staff, team, students and community in this wonderful and rising district.?

Patricia Schneider started her undergraduate education by studying at different universities in Germany for a total of three years. She returned to the states and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan. She is in the process of earning her master’s from Oakland University.
This is Schneider’s first year of teaching after spending time on another career and family pursuits. She will teach eighth and ninth grade German I and II, eighth grade U.S. history and provide social studies support at Clarkston Junior High School.
She said the wonderful community drew her to the district.

Kimberly Schroyer is the new elementary health (grades 2-5) at Independence, Pine Knob, North Sashabaw, Bailey Lake and Clarkston elementaries.
Schroyer holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s degree in teaching. She attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California and Saginaw Valley State University. She is in her fifth year of teaching.
What brought her to Clarkston Schools? ‘The pursuit of academic excellence and investment of personal growth for educators and students alike. I am thrilled to have accepted the elementary health teaching position for Clarkston Community Schools.?