April 19, 2024

New year, new faces

New Creston Community School District educators pose for a photo during staff orientation and professional development Tuesday. From left, front, are Lakyn Weers, Karlyn McCutchan, Danielle Dickinson and Casey Tanner; middle are Tara Waigand, Crystal Still, Brent Douma and Brett Watson; and back are Eric Ehlen, Jeff Sand and Kevin Teno. Not pictured are Don Ray, Jarrett Belden, Susan Andersen and Angela Coke.

There will be 15 new faces floating around the Creston school buildings this year. Meet these educators and read some background about each one.

Susan Andersen

Age: 55

Formerly of: Adair-Casey

Teaching: Middle-school technology, shared with Murray

Experience: Four years

Family: Three kids Fun fact: Enjoys doing theater

Jarrett Belden

Age: 40 Formerly of: Carterville, Ill. Teaching: Eighth-grade American history, shared with Murray

Experience: First year Family: Wife, 13-year-old daughter, nine-year-old son

Fun fact: Has visited nearly every state in the continental United States

Angela Coke

Age: 41

Hometown: Creston

Teaching: Freshman algebra 1

Experience: 10 years

Family: Husband Chris, son Jacob

Fun fact: Co-owner of former Savta’s Greenhouse

Danielle Dickinson

Age: 24

Formerly of: Greenfield

Teaching: Sophomore English

Coaching: Independent speech

Experience: Two years

Family: Two siblings

Fun fact: Will be running her fourth half-marathon in the fall

Brent Douma

Age: 47

Formerly of: Orange City

Teaching: Seventh-grade math

Coaching: Head high school girl’s basketball

Experience: 23 years

Family: Three children

Fun fact: Creston is his third Hawkeye 10 school

Eric Ehlen

Age: 42

Formerly of: Belle Plaine

Teaching: Elementary- and middle-school P.E. and health

Coaching: Assistant high school wrestling

Family: Wife, Jill, and two children

Fun fact: Wrestled for University of Iowa

Karlyn McCutchan

Age: 29

Formerly of: Lamoni

Teaching: Elementary- and middle-school music

Experience: Three years

Family: Husband Aaron, daughter Julianne

Fun fact: Has been in seven professional operas

Don Ray

Age: 53

Formerly of: Mount Ayr and Creston

Teaching: Geometry

Experience: Five years

Family: One son

Fun fact: Taught math in Guatemala for a year before returning to Creston

Jeff Sand

Age: 23

Formerly of: Waukee

Teaching: Sophomore world history and world cultures

Coaching: Middle school wrestling

Experience: First year

Family: Single

Fun fact: Wrestled at Simpson College

Crystal Still

Age: 39

Hometown: Creston

Teaching: First grade

Experience: Eight years

Family: Husband Greg, children Bryce, Austin and Alexis

Fun fact: Goes on motorcycle rides

Casey Tanner

Age: 24

Formerly of: Orient

Teaching: Middle-school extended math, shared with Murray

Coaching: Assistant high school football and assistant middle school wrestling

Experience: Two years

Family: Single

Fun fact: Played football at Central College

Kevin Teno

Age: 47

Formerly of: Winterset

Position: Director of Educational Services, oversees curriculum and special education

Experience: 21 years

Family: Married with two children

Fun fact: Played tuba in high school and college

Tara Waigand

Age: 25

Formerly of: Orient

Teaching: First grade

Experience: Two and a-half years

Family: Husband Ben

Fun fact: Got married this summer

Brett Watson

Age: 32

Formerly of: Elk Horn

Teaching: Success

Coaching: High school boy’s basketball

Experience: Nine years

Family: One son

Fun fact: Played basketball at Wayne State College

Lakyn Weers

Age: 22

Formerly of: Osceola

Teaching: Third grade

Experience: First year

Family: Fiance Cody Mundy

Fun fact: Loves pigs