The Becker Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual New Teachers Welcome luncheon in the BHS cafeteria Wednesday afternoon. A group of 16 new teachers and staff members were on hand for the program, along with members of the school district administration and a large group of Chamber members.
Chamber Secretary Lynette Brannan welcomed the attendees to the event, which was catered by the Café Pawz restaurant at Becker Furniture World. After a hearty lunch of lasagna, salad, bread sticks and dessert, Chamber members at each table stood and introduced themselves. After that, the new teachers and staff took turns at the microphone, introducing themselves and providing a bit of background on their journey to the Becker district.
Becker Supt. Dr. Stephen Malone then closed out the program, welcoming the new arrivals and wishing them well on their new careers in the Becker schools.
New teachers and staff for the coming year include the following: Lauren Pauley, kindergarten; Christine Simmet, kindergarten; Nicholas Jacobs, primary school behavior specialist; Shelly Froehling, third grade; Gabrielle Harteneck, third grade; Graham Newman, primary school special education; Ashley Peterzen, intermediate school special education; Sarah Struck, intermediate school special education; Karen Trudeau, high school special education; Chad Johnson, high school special education; Tiffany Flesner, high school special education; Nate Doimer, high school English; Craig Vogl, high school band; Max Egbert, high school science; Cally Simanski, high school math, and Dominic Squires, middle school physical education. Special education coordinator Stephanie Loesh was not able to attend the luncheon.
Also attending were administrators Sandy Logrono, BHS principal, Mark Kolbinger, BHS asst. principal, Nancy Helmer-Weiss, BMS principal, Chantel Boyer, BMS vice-principal, Dr,. Christine Glomski, BIS principal, Dale Christensen, BPS principal, Jean Duffy, district curriculum director and Michelle Peacock, community education director.
Sponsors of the gift bags presented to the new teachers and staff included the following: Liberty Paper, Inc.; Xcel Energy/Sherco; Sherburne State Bank; Mary Kay Cosmetics – Audrey Orton; Becker Centra-Care Clinic; Edward Jones – Tim Suchy; Pebble Creek Golf Club; Farmer’s Insurance – Troy Robinson; Central Minnesota Law; StarCor Credit Union – John Hardekopf; Anytime Fitness; Great River Area Faith in Action; Sen. Dave Brown; Becker Police Dept.; Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge; the City of Becker; Becker Community Center; Guardian Angels Senior Community; SNAP Fitness; ACT on Alzheimer’s; Hubbard Studio; Insight Eye Care; Majestic Creations, American Family Insurance – Amy Chmielewski Agency, and TST Travel – Twisted Sister Tours.
Board members of the Becker Area Chamber of Commerce include: Chairman Mike Brubaker, Sherburne History Center; Vice-Chairperson Candice Wampach, Sherburne State bank; Secretary Lynette Brannan, LB Productions Advertising/Graphic Design; Treasurer Carol Van Heel, Friends of the Sherburne national Wildlife Refuge; and directors Larry Newell, Liberty Paper, Inc.; Amy Chmielewski, American Family Insurance and Darin Bohlken, Great River Area Faith in Action.
