Peabody-Burns USD 398 welcomed three new teachers this year.
At the elementary school, Brenda Bartel will direct the kindergarten through sixth grade vocal music program.
Bartel lives in North Newton. She is married with two grown children, both of whom are students at Bethel College. She earned two degrees from Bethel in music education and elementary education.
Bartel taught elementary music in Silverton, Ore., and Denver, Colo. She spent three years working with non-formal health education in Haiti.
She is also director of Newton Community Children’s Choir, an award-winning program that has served Newton and the surrounding area for 20 years. This is Bartel’s third year as director.
Among her goals for the coming school year is a desire to share her enthusiasm for music.
“I hope to instill a greater appreciation and love of music and the fine arts through classroom participation and performance,” she said.
Brian Lightner is a Tabor College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and three years’ teaching experience in the Cimarron district.
He just completed the “Transition to Teaching” program, an alternative certification program, at Fort Hays State University.
Lightner will teach algebra and geometry at PBHS, and seventh-grade math at PBJHS. He also will serve as assistant high school boys’ basketball coach and assistant high school track coach.
“I expect good things to happen this year,” he said. “I am hoping to share my joy and passion for mathematics with the students and assist in assessment preparation to give the students the best opportunity I can to help them succeed.”
Lightner is single and lives in Peabody.
Cassey Langerot will commute to PBHS from Wichita to teach science. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Friends University. Langerot is completing a master’s degree in education.
She will teach biology, chemistry, environmental science, and anatomy and physiology. Although she is officially a first-year teacher, she has substantial experience as a substitute.
“I want to establish a positive relationship with the students, my peers, and the communities,” she said.
Langerot is married. Her husband, Nathan, heads the commercial division of Netco.
Classes began Tuesday for USD 398 students.