High Plains Welcomes New Staff Members
by John Kucera
August 24, 2011
As we begin the 2011-2012 school year we are pleased to welcome two new certified staff members to the High Plains Community School District: Ms. Kathryn Meade, HS Spanish and Mrs. Julie Hendricks, MS Business exploratory classes. Mrs. Tabitha Rieken will move from 6th Grade/Title I to 1st Grade and Ms. Bonnie Campbell is moving from 5th Grade to 6th Grade/Title I and Judi Hughes will help in the office in the afternoons. Non-certified additions to the school district include: Denise Ziemba, Clarks cook and bus driver; Jeff Wurtz, bus driver; and Donna Parsons, special education para.
Kathryn Meade is the new Secondary Spanish teacher at High Plains Community Schools. Ms. Meade is a native of Edinboro, PA and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Kathryn also has studied abroad in Toledo, Spain. She will be teaching Spanish levels 1-3 and International Film Study at High Plains this year. Kathryn is a huge Husker fan and looks forward to the start of her teaching career.
Julie Hendricks will teach 6th Grade Computer Literacy, 7th Grade Computers and Current Business Events, and 8th Grade Business/Government and HPCS TV, Marketing classes. She will continue in her role as administrative assistant at the Clarks site and hot lunch manager. Julie is completing the final requirements for her 7-12 Business Degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Julie and her husband Stan reside in Clarks with their children Frankie and Griffin.
Denise Ziemba will fill two roles within the district. She has been hired as a cook at the Clarks site and will also drive the afternoon bus route and activities. Denise and her husband Adam grew up in the area and reside in Clarks with their children Landon who will be in 1st Grade, Laine, five years old and Londyn, six months. Denise will be coming to HPC after working at West Point Implement. “Being a cook will be a completely new adventure, but I am excited to join the staff at Clarks and meet the children. I hope to pass onto the children my enthusiasm to learn, without being one of their teachers directly.”
Jeff Wurtz will be a morning bus route driver and will also drive for activities. Jeff, his wife Cindy, along with their son Jabe, reside in Clarks. Jeff and Cindy have four other children: Melissa, Angie who will be moving to Germany with her husband in September, and Dee and Margo who also reside in Clarks.
Joining the special education team is Donna Parsons. Prior to coming to High Plains, Donna worked at the Genoa Nursing Home for eight years as a CNA and social worker. She will miss the residents and families whom she has been associated with but to EXCITED to join the HPCS team! Donna and her husband James live in Clarks with their two sons, Tanner and Jarrett.
