The Marion-Florence school district has five new full-time teaching faculty this fall while the Canton-Galva system has six.

In Marion, LeAnn Blaesi comes to teach English and coach volleyball at the middle school after teaching social studies for two years at Conway Springs.

"I'm excited to be teaching a new subject that is challenging and fun," said Blaesi, who graduated from Emporia State University.

First-year teacher Crystal Gray, a 2005 graduate of Emporia State University, will take on a second-grade class at Marion Elementary School.

"I'm looking forward to teaching them and building on what they know," said Gray, who grew up in Great Bend. "Hopefully, they will teach me a few things, too."

Teaching at the first-grade level is Tina Hague, a graduate of Tabor College.

"My biggest thing is to make learning fun so the children will want to come back the (next day)," she said.

Hague, who has worked in the Marion school district as a substitute teacher and paraeducator, husband Dan and their two boys live in Marion.

Lucas King, wife Mattie and their son and daughter are returning to his hometown, where he will teach construction technology and science at Marion Middle School.

For the past six year, King taught in Colorado Springs and enjoys teaching middle-school students.

"The kids are pretty eager to learn," said King, who will also serve as head football coach in the middle school.

Teaching third grade this year is Sarah Overton, who grew up in Buhler and also graduated from Emporia State University.

"Third grade is a big year-cursive and multiplication," she said. "I look forward to seeing them progress through the year and applying (what they're learning) in the classroom and on to fourth grade."

Lisa Johnson is teaching English at Marion High School. Efforts to contact her for additional information were not successful.

Canton-Galva

Students attending Canton-Galva schools were welcomed by several new teachers when they started classes for the 2006-07 school year.

Kenton Allen of Wichita is teaching three hours of Spanish in the mornings at Canton-Galva and in the afternoons at Goessel.

Allen earned his bachelor's degree from Lakeland College in Wisconsin and a master's degree from La Universidad Interamericana in Saltillo, Mexico.

In the past, Allen has taught Spanish at Wichita North High School. He said he's looking forward to teaching in a smaller classroom setting.

"I've been retired for some time, and I'm just extremely eager to be getting back," Allen said. "I really enjoy working with young people."

The first grade level has two teachers who are new to the district.

Pam Chapin, who comes from Inman, graduated from Ft. Hays State University and previously taught first grade at St. Joseph's Catholic School in McPherson.

"I've heard many great things about this school district," Chapin said. "The staff have such positive attitudes and the students are fun.

"I'm looking forward to a fun-filled school year."

Joining her is Michelle Duskin, who just completed her first teaching job at Hutchinson. Duskin earned her degree in education from Sterling College.

"This is the first time I've had my own classroom, and I'm just really excited about that," Duskin said.

Returning to Canton-Galva after a recent stint as a Title I teacher at Great Bend is Mary Hawkins. She is the Title I teacher for reading kindergarten through grade six.

"My hope is that the boys and girls will learn that reading is a lifetime adventure," Hawkins said.

Pre-schoolers were greeted by Debbie Hicks, who taught at several levels in the Little River-Windom district prior to joining the USD 419 team.

Hicks earned her education degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the families of Canton-Galva and getting involved in the community," Hicks said.

"And one of the important things I think a preschooler needs to take away from here is the desire to come back next year and be a kindergartener."

Lisa Johnson, who previously has substitute taught in the district, is now full-time teaching second graders. She earned her bachelor's degree from Mid-American Nazarene University in Olathe.

"I helped in the district last year and got to know a lot of people," Johnson said. "I'm just looking forward to working with everyone in this building and learning from them."

Teaching middle school science is Mickey Replogle, who moved to the area from Oklahoma where he taught science for the past 13 years at various levels.

He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University.

"I would like for (my students), of course, to get the basics-the science fundamentals-in order for them to be successful in the future," Replogle said.

"But I also want for them to have fun and see that science isn't just some stuffy subject."