Herbel has family roots in this area, but grew up in Wichita and graduated with a business degree from Friends University in 1985. Already interested in teaching at the time, she eventually earned an elementary education degree through Tabor College while working in the institution?s advancement office.
Herbel has been a substitute teacher for the past 10 years in the Hillsboro district.
?We?ve got three boys and just wanted to give them a good start in school,? Herbel said about the role. She is married Delayne, a Marion County native.
?This is my first year in special ed, so there?s a lot of new jargon and a lot of new trends out there,? Herbel said. ?They?re trying to get more kids to stay in the regular classroom, so I?ll be their primary support in the regular classroom.
?I just want to get to know each student,? Herbel said of her goal. ?I knew them as a sub, but I want get to know them and their needs so I can help them the best I can to reach their goals.?
Collette Haslett returns to the district after a four-year absence?and with a different last name. A sixth-grade teacher and high school coach from 1999 to 2003, ?Miss Burton? left the district to marry Jeff Haslett that summer.
The couple has been teaching in the Argonia district the past four years. Now both will be assuming positions here this fall?she as a fifth-grade teacher and he as the instructor of high school physical education.
?We really like this part of the state and like this community,? Jeff said. ?We know it?s a nice Christian community, a great school district. We?re excited to be here.?
Collette was raised in Hill City and went to Colby Community College before earning a degree from Fort Hays State University in 1999. She came to USD 410 in the fall and coached volleyball, basketball and track during her years here.
?I know the community is very friendly and knew it was a place where I wanted to raise my children,? she said.? I loved working here and am excited to work for an outstanding school district.?
Jeff, meanwhile, grew up in Syracuse and earned a degree in physical education at Fort Hays State in 1999.
He was the only P.E. teacher in the Argonia district, and coached football, basketball and golf. He also taught driver?s education in the summer for the Attica school district.
In addition to teaching physical education classes at Hillsboro High, he will teach driver?s education and be an assistant middle school football coach and head middle school boys? basketball coach.
?When we got married, I actually tried to find a job in this area because we really like this part of the state and we really like the Hillsboro school district and the community,? Jeff said. ?We couldn?t find any. Then a third-grade position opened up in Argonia that summer right before we got married.?
The Haslettes have a 17-month-old son, Zander.
Danny Lundberg will be teaching elementary physical education this fall. An Arkansas City native, Lundberg went to Cowley College there before transferring to Emporia State University, where he earned a bachelor?s degree in 2004.
For the past three years, he has been teaching elementary P.E. and coaching basketball and track in the Stafford district.
?I?ve heard a lot about the school district itself, and I?ve heard a lot about the sports programs here,? Lundberg said about his decision to apply here. ?Being a coach, I wanted to go somewhere where there?s good tradition and good programs.?
Lundberg said he thoroughly enjoys teaching at the elementary school level.
?I enjoy being around the kids?they put a smile on your face every day, even when you?re down,? he said.
?Then I enjoy the curriculum and the things we can do in an elementary P.E. environment. It?s much different than the middle school and high school level.
?I like the coaching aspect with older kids; it?s just as rewarding as teaching little kids,? he added. ?But when it comes to teaching, I enjoy the little kids.?
In addition to his teaching duties, Lundberg will be assistant high school boys? basketball coach and head tennis coach.
