Every year, along with the hundreds of new students who walk through the MHS doors are numerous new faculty members. There are 12 joining our team of Grizzlies this year. Nichelle Palmer is the new counselor. She grew up in Minnesota and received her undergraduate degree at University of Minnesota and her master's at Portland State University. "I just finished up my master's program in June. I've worked with kids in many different capacities before, but this is my first official year as a counselor," said Palmer.
For part of her student teaching time she taught improvisational theater in the black box at the school. She found this experience especially uplifting because it was during the same time as 9/11.
"To see how they went from the first week being too cool to do theater stuff and then at the end of the year [were] putting on plays for the community [was inspiring]," said Palmer. She also spent time as a Youth Development Program Coordinator at the local YMCA. Francesca Morrison is also a first year teacher. She received her bachelor's and master's degree from Western Oregon University. Before teaching she was a part of sales, advertising and marketing with major companies such as Hewlett-Packard and IBM. Because she was a part of international sales, she ended up in the U.S. looking for a sales partner.
"I wasn't planning on staying here forever, but when I got married and had a child, obviously, that was it, it was going to be my home," said Morrison.
The reason for her career change, "I want to make a difference and I know I won't as an individual, but [I would love to] inspire some students, give them extra confidence and whatever tools they need. I want to see them succeed," said Morrison. Morrison teaches PAWS and U.S. History. Laura Syring isn't new to teaching; this is her second year at the high school level and she has previously taught at Linn-Benton Community college and as a teaching assistant at a University.
"I got my graduate and undergrad at U of Michigan and met my husband in graduate school," said Syring. When thinking of majors, science was the most logical choice.
"I gravitated towards science, because in my mind it's application of all these other subjects in one field," said Syring.Lena Kim is not a first year teacher either; her first two years of teaching were spent in Japan as an English teacher. Kim double majored in Japanese and Mathematics and is not new to McMinnville; she received her degree from Linfield College.
"I like making connections and being around people with lots of energy, and where else can you find that?" said Kim. Meagan Briery is a third year teacher, she previously taught at McKenzie High School outside of Eugene. She majored in Spanish and minored in Political Science. She received her undergraduate degree from U of O and her master's at Pacific. Briery's favorite part of the job is interacting with the students.
"I like feeling like I'm not producing a product, but I'm creating something and I like that you can take to Spanish whether you are a stellar student or not," said Briery.Our new action corner advisor and marketing teacher is Sarah Breyer. This is her third year teaching; she previously taught in Portland and Bend. She received her bachelor's degree from U of O and her master's from PSU.
"The kids always make me laugh and I learn so much from them, when I'm the one supposed to be teaching them. They teach me," said Breyer.The other new faculty members to our school are Brian Crain, Katie Copperwheat, Danica Eisenman, Daniel Russ, Steve Norman and Kim McCoy.