Nine new teachers join Hot Springs County School District

The first month of school has gone by and IR staff was finally able to catch up with the nine new teachers hired for the 2022-23 Hot Springs County School District so that we can introduce them to our readers.

Jennifer Beamer, Early Childhood, Ralph

Witters Elementary

Beamer taught 1st grade in Laramie, Wyoming, at Linford Elementary for eight years. 

She comes from a pretty strong behavioral background, with regard to teaching, and feels that has prepared her to be ready for any and all situations that may arise with students. She said it also taught her the essential need to create positive relationships with students, and to create a space where they can feel safe, heard and respected.

They moved here to be closer to family, and to be a part of a smaller community. Beamer loves that the school embodies all of the characteristics she was looking for, in a new job and community both. “I am most looking forward to getting to learn and grow with a new group of students,” she said.

Beamer added, “To all families, I just want you to know that I value your child as a whole child. I believe it is my job to work alongside you, to help your child learn and grow into a wonderful member of our community.”

Anne Benboe, Special Education, Thermopolis Middle School

Benboe is returning to the Hot Springs County School District. She worked at the district beginning in 2014 as a paraprofessional, then went back to school, completing her teaching degree in 2018. She student-taught in 4th grade, then taught 1st grade here until 2020. In 2020, her family moved to Lyman, Wyo., where she taught 2nd grade for two years, before returning.

Her past experiences include working in a quilt store, banking and working on her family ranch. She believes all these experiences have allowed her to develop good communication skills, as well as a dedicated work ethic.

She said the Hot Springs County School District has always held a special place in her heart, as this is home.

“I am looking forward to building relationships with the incredible students and amazing staff at the Hot Springs County School District,” said Benboe.

She added, “I believe education is important, and allows students to build a strong foundation for their future, whatever that might be, and that all students are capable of achieving great things.”

Alyssa Brown, 3rd Grade, Ralph Witters

Elementary

Brown taught for four years in Moorcroft, Wyo., teaching kindergarten and 1st grade.

She has been prepared in her educational experience through her undergraduate and recently completed master’s degrees, the latter in reading. She continues her teaching experience through any professional developments she is able to attend. Brown loves learning and finding new strategies to continuously grow as a teacher.

Brown says she was drawn to the Hot Springs County School District by the beautiful landscape, outdoor activities, wonderful community and culture.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know the students, parents and community,” said Brown.

She added “I promise to care for, cherish and support your students through the ups and downs, the mistakes and successes, and the trials and errors in learning.”

Jackson Chitwood,

Music, Thermopolis Middle School/Hot Springs County High School

Chitwood is coming out of his master’s degree in saxophone performance from the University of Wyoming this May. This will be his first year teaching music, but has been at the University of Wyoming for five years, and Casper College for three years before that. He also received his bachelor’s degree in music education at the University of Wyoming.

Throughout his musical career, he has gotten to perform, teach and write music for various groups and classes. Chitwood utilizes all of his connections he has made throughout the years, to other educators of both musical and non-musical backgrounds, to help teach better. The biggest experience was student-teaching, and getting to take everything he studied as an educator and put it into practice. Chitwood learns best from doing and learning everything from every mistake.

Chitwood wanted to stay in Wyoming to teach and wanted a place that was not too big or too small. “ I personally like the school district’s support for all areas of education, including the special, exploratory and non-general areas of education, like music. The students, teachers, admins and staff have all been open and welcoming to me, which has really helped me feel welcome and at home as an educator here,” said Chitwood.

He believes the Hot Springs County School District has some really great things going for it. His goal is to have a very successful first year of teaching in general, but also, slowly but surely, get into traditions of the student culture. Chitwood is excited to show what he has to offer as a musician and educator to the students.

His biggest challenge is to continue the good things that Mr. Brown did in the past, and add his own approach to teaching. Chitwood thinks these changes will be in the best interest of all students. He aims to create not just great musicians, but well-rounded human beings out of every student he teaches.

Alyssa Green,

Vocational/

Biology, Hot Springs County High School

This is Green’s fourth year teaching. She started teaching at Potter-Dix in Nebraska, and started the agriculture and FFA programs that year. Then she had the opportunity to move closer to home, and spent the next two years at H-E-M (Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow) Junior/Senior High School in Hanna, Wyoming, also teaching agriculture and advising the FFA program. At both schools, she taught grades 7-12.

Green has learned a lot about teaching at her last two schools that have helped her prepare to be the best teacher she can be here. She believes that starting an agriculture program from the ground up gave her a lot of the skills she needed to lead a successful agriculture program and FFA chapter.

Green said, “Originally, I pursued this role because of the reputation Mr. Van Heule built here. The agriculture program is groundbreaking for the state, and has been the basis for other schools to add or start changing their agriculture programs, based on what they have done here. It is very impressive what he has built, and I thought it would be great to be a part of it.” 

Green is most looking forward to working with the students and amazing staff. “They are unlike anywhere I have ever taught. The energy in the school is so positive, helpful and encouraging”, added Green.

She is very excited to work at Hot Springs County High School.

Nathan Gurtler,

Music, Ralph Witters

Elementary

Gurtler substitute-taught one year, from 2012-13, for the Sheridan School District #2. He subbed for everything and worked 150 out of 180 school days. He taught elementary music for nine years, from 2013-22, for the Natrona County School District #1. He loved it there and it was hard to leave, but he left on his own terms.

He believes teaching is about relationships, thanks to his parents raising him right, getting to live with his grandparents for a year in Story, Wyo., and working for Lifeway Christian Resources’ Fuge Camps down south for 10 years. His experiences with those 7th-through-12-grade students prepared him, and taught him the value in strong, trustworthy relationships. Gurtler’s BA in music performance and music education contributed. He went on and received his master’s degree in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts. During that time, he took three years and received his Orff Schulwerk certification, an elementary music process of teaching. Paradise Valley in Casper, his school for nine years, is a dual-language immersion program, the target language being Mandarin. Gurtler began an arts program from scratch, writing narrated musical stories that were performed in Mandarin and English. He also got to speak at the National Chinese Language Conference as part of a breakout session.

“I’ve been waiting for this job for two years. I wanted to be closer to my family and marry the woman I love. I also wanted to continue my career in elementary music”, said Gurtler.

He is most looking forward to building foundational relationships with students and staff, and investing in their lives through the unity of music.

His vision is to help raise happy, healthy, well-rounded students. Gurtler said, “We’re going to have fun!”

Heather Love, Special Education, Thermopolis Middle School

This will be Love’s first year teaching, but she has six years of experience within the Hot Springs County School District as a special education paraprofessional and substitute teacher. Love graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2013 with a bachelor of science degree in rangeland ecology and watershed management, with minors in reclamation restoration ecology, soil science, entomology and horticulture. She is currently pursuing master of arts degrees in secondary science education and special education.

After graduating from the University of Wyoming, Love worked for several years as a contract ecologist monitoring reclamation compliance in the mines near Gillette, and in the oil and gas fields of southwest Wyoming. This being primarily summer work, she decided to take a job as a paraprofessional during the school year to round out her time. She said she fell in love with the students in the middle school and high school grade levels, and decided to make the permanent change to teaching.

“I grew up in Thermopolis, and have seen the dedication this district has toward its students and their success. The teachers here work hard to help their students grow and achieve at the highest levels. I’m looking forward to doing my part to keep the momentum going, and help our students be the best they can be,” said Love.

She added, “Parents and families of students should know that I feel it’s such a privilege to spend the day with their children. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to watch them grow, support them when they struggle, and cheer them on when they succeed.”

Janell Snedigar, Math, Hot Springs County

High School

This is Snedigar’s sixth year teaching. She is coming from Western Washington, where she taught at a school of 350 high school students her first year, then transferred to a much larger district, where she taught at a high school of 1,800 students. Throughout her previous five years of experience, she has taught math for all high school grade levels, from algebra through pre-calculus. She attended college at the University of Washington, where she received her bachelor of science in mathematics and master of education degrees.

She believes her collaborative work with past colleagues, as well as her experience teaching all high school levels of math, have helped her to be a valuable and contributing member of the high school math team so far.

“The community and location are what we, my family and I, really fell in love with. From the first time we visited, we felt a warm welcoming from the community in Thermopolis. The district’s focus on, and commitment to, student learning is what made me really excited for this new opportunity,” said Snedigar.

She added, “I am looking forward to getting to know my students! Because I am used to a much larger scale of students, I am enjoying being able to slow down and really get to know our students here at Hot Springs County High School. Not only do I get the opportunity to get to know them in the classroom, but I also get to see them participate in what they love to do outside the classroom and around town.”

“We feel truly blessed to be here. We appreciate all the welcomes and kindness since we arrived this summer,” siad Snedigar.

Cassidy VanKirk, Special Education, Ralph Witters Elementary

Before coming back to Thermopolis, VanKirk was in Sheridan, Wyo. She taught high school English for a year at Normative Services. She then decided to switch from teaching English to teaching special education. While she was working on her degree, she was a special education paraprofessional at Highland Park Elementary in Sheridan.

VanKirk said she has always been drawn to special education. She worked as a special education paraprofessional in Thermopolis, at both the elementary and middle schools, before she moved to Sheridan. At Normative Services in Sheridan, she had a lot of children who required special education, and she enjoyed working with the special education teacher to ensure their needs were met.

“I grew up in Thermopolis, and this is where my home and family are. It was hard to be away, but I learned a lot, and I am really excited to be able to teach in Thermopolis, and be in the Hot Springs County School District again,” said VanKirk.

She added, “I am so excited to be teaching special education here because of all the support that I have. I am most looking forward to working with the students to help them grow. As well as helping the students grow, I hope that this job will help me to grow as an educator.”

“I know that this job will be challenging and a lot of hard work, but I really am excited to get to work with the students here, and all I want is the best for them. I hope that I can help them to reach their goals,” said VanKirk.

Information compiled by reporter Kirk Boxleitner. Photos were not include as they were not available for all.