by Mr. Guy Johnson, Supt., reprinted from the August School Newsletter.
Welcome back! We are excited to be getting ready for the 2022-2023 school year! We have been busy over the summer preparing the schoolhouse for the arrival of our students. Tile floors have been shined, carpets have been shampooed and much of the building has a fresh coat of paint. The custodial crew has worked hard to get things looking good for our students and staff.
The District welcomes a number of new staff members this year. Leading the work over the summer has been our new Head Custodian, Melissa Jensen. Mel comes to us with a variety of work experience and a strong desire to learn the ins and outs of how the building functions. We welcome two new principals to the district this year. Mr. Chris McGregor comes to the district with administrative experience in both Parker, SD and Scotland, SD. He has been a principal for the last 11 years, and is looking forward to getting started with our middle and high school students and staff. Mrs. Katie Hoekman will step into the role of elementary principal. Mrs. Hoekman comes to us from the Baltic School District, where she has taught first grade for the past ten years. While this is her first administrative post, Mrs. Hoekman is excited to get the year started. Three new teachers will be joining this district this year as well. Mrs. Amber Schroeder will join the district as a first grade teacher. She has been teaching in the Harrisburg school district, but is excited to come home to Garretson to teach in the elementary school. Ms. Jill Whalen is also stepping into the role of first grade teacher. Ms. Whalen has taught first grade for the past nine years, both in SD and in the Twin Cities metro area. She’s excited to be coming back to her more rural roots in SD. Ms. Whalen will also serve this year as an assistant soccer coach, working with MS and HS students on the field. Mrs. Amanda Nelson rounds out our teachers who are new to the district. Mrs. Nelson completed her student teaching in the Garretson School District three years ago. Since that time, she has been serving as a teacher in the Tri-Valley School District. When we had an opening for a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Nelson was hopeful to have the opportunity to come back to Garretson. We look forward to seeing the impact that our new staff will have as work to create a great learning environment for our kids.
