Newest La Porte County Teachers Introduced by Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce

New teachers at several La Porte County schools were welcomed with open arms by the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce, which highlighted the county’s newest educators at their monthly luncheon at The Silver Palace on Thursday.

Laura Francesconi, chairman of the Chamber board, said the Chamber is proud to “continue to promote business-education partnerships” while thanking the Chamber staff for organizing the luncheon as well as several sponsors such as First Trust Credit Union, Horizon Bank and the United Way of La Porte County for sponsoring the educators at the luncheon.

About 50 or so of the 65 total new teachers in the New Prairie, South Central, La Crosse, Wanatah, La Porte, New Durham school districts as well as La Lumiere and Ivy Tech Community College were present and introduced by either their new school’s principal or superintendent.

“We are very happy to have them on board,” said Jim Dermody, superintendent of New Prairie United School Corporation, of the 19 new educators at New Prairie schools.

The district with the most new educators is the La Porte Community School Corporation, with 26 beginning their first year when school begins.

School superintendent Mark Francesconi, who is also engaging in a new endeavor in his first year as superintendent after serving as an associate the past few years, said introducing new teachers is “exciting.”

“It’s a shot in the arm,” he said. “We can learn from the new teachers just like they can learn from the ones who have been there.”

Curtiss Strietelmeier, superintendent of MSD of New Durham, spoke particularly highly of the five new teachers at his school district in southern La Porte County.

“Very seldom do you get to hit a home run, but I feel we hit a grand slam,” he said.

Prior to the introductions, a video message was played from U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, who is familiar with the La Porte-area when he served as a state senator prior to being elected U.S. Senator in 2012.

Donnelly, via video from Washington, D.C., congratulated the new teachers, concluding that he is “extremely grateful for their efforts to provide quality education for our students.”

“Thanks to you, our students are starting out on a great foundation,” he said.

WELCOME New Teachers

Jessica Hull, Chloe Wells, Robyn Kubsch, Drew Miller, Colleen Henehan, Patrick Teykl, Joe Giovannetti, Nick Rissler, Emily Laukus, Kelli Tanger, Ben White, Jennifer Litza, Angela Allen, Justin Kinzie, heidi Schellinger, Benjamin Strole, Megan Horvath, Kimberly Krauklis, Katelyn Touhey (New Prairie)

Amy Morrison, Jennifer Karbler, Zachry Janssen, Chris Erickson (South Central)

Jennifer McCormick, Tara Walden, Erin Sharpe, Dan Barkas (La Crosse)

Jennifer Roushelang, Laura Roth (Wanatah)

Jerry A. Adrian, Rebecca L. Hummel, Jason Brown, Haley A. Hannon, Abigail Jones, Amy Mitchell, Natalie C. Pope, Kimberly S. Reid, Mary L. Roe, Katelin J. Rosenbaum, Jennifer A. Shelton, Sarah D. Stef, Ashley N. Thompson, Carly A. Troy, Ashleigh Trumble, Emily M. Veen, Robert D. Walker, April M. Weisman, Mariah Bohl, Katie Anderson, Bridgid McLinn, Andrew Robinson, Nathan Mrozinski, Meghan Stalbaum, Holly Welsh, Martha Terhune (La Porte)

Andi Jones, Sarah Jones, Tim Earl (La Lumiere)

Samantha Joll, Heather Kasselman, William Smith, Molly Ochall, Heidi Hale (New Durham)

Robert Bauer, Patty Kokesh (Ivy Tech)