By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Peabody-Burns students began a new school year Tuesday with five new faces among the faculty.

Alex Walters

Alex Walters is the new ag education teacher.

The Department of Communications and Agricultural Education at Kansas State University selected Walters as an outstanding graduating senior. She completed her student teaching at Haven High School.

Walters graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a minor in animal science and industry.

“I have always been passionate about agriculture and FFA, and I want to share that with students,” she said. “Educators made an impact in my life and I hope to also be a positive influence in students’ lives.”

She grew up in the small community of Plainville and is looking forward to working in a similar environment. She also hopes to continue the strong FFA tradition at Peabody-Burns.

Walters will teach high school and middle school agriculture — introductory classes, plant and animal science, food science, ag mechanics, and ag leadership and communications.

“I want my students to not only learn about agriculture, but also build skills that they will be able to use in their future education or career,” she said. “We do this by practicing employability skills while focusing on key technical skills in the ag industry.”

Walters and her husband, Jeremy, a native of Halstead, have been married a year and live in Halstead. They have two fur babies.

Walters enjoys crafting and spending time with her husband walking the dogs, kayaking, and watching sporting events.

Lillian Lingenfelter

The new social studies teacher believes education is the best way to change the world. Lillian Lingenfelter said she wants to help students reach their fullest potential while teaching them to be productive, civically engaged citizens.

She grew up in Spring Hill and wanted to teach at a smaller school and stay close to the Emporia area.

She graduated from Emporia State University in December 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education and minors in political science and Spanish. She is pursuing a master’s degree from American University in education policy and leadership.

She will teach social studies, world history, American history, and government.

“I want my students to be able to understand history through a variety of viewpoints,” she said.

Lingenfelter’s classroom is based around student centered teaching. She uses flexible seating, so students have a variety of places to sit.

“Many of the lessons I teach are rooted in cooperative learning strategies, which involve a lot of student collaboration,” she said. “I also try to pull in as many outside sources into my lessons as I can, so students can learn from documents and photos that aren’t in the textbook.”

Lingenfelter is single and enjoys traveling, reading, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.

Kody Tegtmeier

Kody Tegtmeier is big on exercise. He will be teaching health, physical education, and middle school leadership.

Tegtmeier grew up at Hanover. After teaching the past six years at Bird City and Downs, he is happy to get back closer to family.

“I wanted to have a chance to impact young adults’ lives for the better, like my teachers did for me as a kid,” he said. “I welcome the opportunity to focus on teaching strength and conditioning.”

Tegtmeier received a degree in health, physical education, and recreation from Kansas Wesleyan University in 2009.

“My goal for my students is for them to get better every day – athletically, academically, socially, and personally,” he said.

Tegtmeier is single and enjoys watching, playing, and coaching sports. He hunts, fishes, and likes to spend time with family.

Michelle Foster

Michelle Foster is the new middle and high school mathematics teacher.

She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary mathematics education last spring from Emporia State University.

Foster grew up at Saint Mary’s and learned about the Peabody-Burns job at a job fair. She said Principal Scott Kimble encouraged her to apply and visit the school.

“Once I did my research on the school and saw the community, I instantly fell in love with the area,” she said.

Foster is single.

Megan Crosley

Megan Crosley of El Dorado is following in her parents’ footsteps. Both were teachers.

She will be an elementary school Title 1 teacher and will coach middle school girls’ volleyball and basketball.

Crosley attended Butler Community College and went to Emporia State University to get a degree in elementary education. She is studying at ESU to become an administrator.

She taught school at Harper Elementary School and was a long-term substitute in Wichita.

Crosley said she took the job at Peabody-Burns because it is close to her family in El Dorado.

She hopes to provide positive reinforcement of her students’ efforts.

“I want to praise my students when they are doing great in class, and I want to always challenge them to their fullest potential,” she said.

Crosley enjoys boxing at the YMCA, reading, and volunteering at Life Church in Wichita. She continues to follow KU basketball, the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs, and ESU basketball and football.