The new school year is underway for the Greene County School District.

Superintendent Tim Christensen says there’s been 20 new hires prior to the beginning of the school year. He talks about some of those new hires and the subjects that they are teaching, ahead of the opening of the career academy, which is currently being built on Highway 30, west of American Athletic Incorporated.

“We’ve got someone teaching some college welding classes this year that will transition right into career academy. (We’ve) Expanded our healthcare offerings through Iowa Central (Community College) that will transition right into the career academy. I’m excited, you know we’ve got the ag-plot out on the southside of the (new high) school. We’ve got a good looking corn crop and I’m excited for the kids to harvest that this fall. Can’t say enough positive things about everything going on.”

Going along with part of the district’s mission state ment of providing real-world learning opportunities, Christensen explains the different areas that students can take advantage of, starting with the Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG) program.

“It’s going to be getting kids in businesses (and) working. We’ve got our workplace experience that’s getting kids out (into the working world). Obviously construction program is going to build another house, there’s a great real-world opportunity. We’ve got Ram Restaurant that’s continuing. I’m very excited about the real-world opportunities and the opportunities for kids to work, just to see what that’s really like.”

Check the list below to see all the new hires for the district.

Erin Aalfs – Pre-Kindergarten

Shawn Bennett – IJAG

Caden Duncan – MS PE, Head Football, Strength and Conditioning

Lindsey Duncan – Middle School Special Education   

Brent Gerzema – Technology Director

Raelyn Harris – Vocational Agriculture

Josh Carlson – Industrial Technology

Todd Gordon – Activities Director

McClain Holst – Middle School Science

Amber Lawton – ICCC – Health Care

Tanner Lawton – ICCC – Ag

Kyle Harding – ICCC – Welding

Bailey Paulsen – Elementary Special Education

Brenda Lingren – Third Grade

Josephine McDonald – Second Grade

Heidi Miller – Middle School Special Education Associate

Nicole Townsley – Middle School Special Education Associate

Kadyn Hutchinson – High School Special Education Associate

Erica Guge – Elementary Special Education Associate

Cynthia Thurman – Middle School Special Education Associate