The Marion-Florence and Goessel school districts have six new faculty working with students as classes begin this fall.
USD 408, Marion-Florence
? Kelsey Metro has been hired to teach middle school science as well as the eighth grade technology class.
A Marion High School graduate, Metro went to Emporia State University and later earned her master?s degree from Newman University.
Prior to returning to Marion, Metro taught math and served as the math facilitator in Great Bend.
Her husband, Jordan, is business and finance manager for USD 408.
Metro said her goal is ?to get kids excited and involved in science and technology.?
? Tim Cassidy will lead the vocal music program for grades five through 12.
Prior to coming to Marion, Cassidy completed his master?s degree at Kansas State University in Manhattan. He earned his undergraduate degree from Emporia State University.
After graduating from ESU, he taught vocal music for five years at Arkansas City High School.
Cassidy and his wife Tamara have two daughters: Sophie, 2, and Julia, 6 months.
Cassidy hopes to continue last year?s success.
?I?m looking to make sure that we continue with the sense of momentum from the previous year,? he said. ?There was a pretty strong year for the district.?
He is interested in forming other ensembles in addition to the Marion Singers, he said.
?I?ve got experience performing and teaching a number of different types of performing vocal groups, including some of the more contemporary vocal pop groups like Pentatonix.?
In addition to taking students to contest, he said he will give lessons and also hopes to provide students with exposure to music outside the classroom.
?I?d like to see if I can take the kids up to see music at K-State; maybe go see the Renaissance Fair in Kansas City,? he said, adding that he would eventually like to take students on trips to New York.
USD 411, Goessel
? Andrew Voth, a first-year teacher, will lead the vocal music program for middle and high school students and will also direct the Elbiata Singers.
A native of Topeka, Voth graduated from Bethel College last spring.
? Scott Taylor will lead the instrumental music program, directing the fifth grade, middle school and high school bands.
Before coming to Goessel, Taylor served as band director at Inman for 12 years.
A Lincoln, Neb., native, Taylor attended the University of Nebraska
? Ricardo Sanchez, a first-year teacher, has been hired to teach K-12 art classes.
Sanchez student-taught in Newton and Hesston and graduated from Bethel College last spring.
? Alyssa Kroeker will teach high school math and coach junior high volleyball.
Prior to coming to Goessel, Kroeker taught math in Great Bend.
She is a graduate of Hesston High School and Tabor College.
Still to come: New teachers at Centre, Hillsboro, Peabody-Burns and the Marion County Special Education Cooperative.