Mrs. Lacy Buck perviously had a job as a chemist in two different laboratories. Photo by: Isabelle Miller
By Isabelle Miller
This school year, we have added twelve new teachers and administrators to our staff. Learn more about these twelve fresh faces as they tell about themselves.
The new WSOI Science teacher is Mr. Johnson. He has taught at John Glenn, Culver, and Argos. Before he was a teacher he worked at an Aluminum Extrusion factory and was a night clerk at a hotel. He attended IU Bloomington and Ball State for his undergraduate education and his masters degree. He enjoys both watching sports, especially his children, as well as playing them. A usual day for him is, “I start my day in the WSOI and end my day in the science wing. You will probably see me lugging my stuff around in my black bag.” Some of his favorite things are, “[The color] blue, chicken wings and, Spring.” To describe him in one word it would be busy.
This year is Ms. Marquardt’s first year as a school social worker, but she spent a year as an Options Counselor at REAL Services. She is a recent college graduate from Ball State University and graduated from PHS in the class of 2008. She is an avid tennis player and she played a lot in high school. She has also been to Key West, FL, the southernmost point in the Continental United States. A typical day for Ms. Marquardt is, “There is no set schedule for me but I stay constantly busy. I have been helping the kids with their social problems and have been attending a lot of meetings and trainings. I am always on the go, but I like that.” A few of her favorite things are, “The color pink, golden retrievers, my family, friends, my niece, the Fall, Chicken and Noodles and mashed potatoes, the BEARS, the Cubs.” To describe her in one word would be caring.
Being a teacher for nine years, Mr. Jacob Riley moved from Oregon Davis to Plymouth to continue his teaching career. Photo by: Isabelle Miller
Mr. Riley is the new Agriculture/ WSOI teacher. He is the former agriculture teacher/ WSOI facilitator at Oregon Davis Jr. and Sr. High for nine years, as well as many other jobs during college and high school. He attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN. He lives in Warsaw with his wife, two young daughters, and their two dachshunds. His typical day includes “Arriving around 7:10 am and heading to the Agriculture classroom 145. I look over the day’s agenda and prepare anything that still needs completed. Around 7:30 am, I walk to room NT 202 in the WSOI and prepare for the day’s first class, a combined course of Chemistry I and Advanced Life Science: Foods, with my co-facilitator Mr. Johnson. After this class and homeroom/SRT, I go back to the Agriculture room for the Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources class. Next, I have prep which allows for planning and preparing. My last class is Advanced Life Science: Animals which is a dual credit credit class through Purdue.” Some of his favorite things are the color blue, spring, and Drive by Daniel Pink.
Mrs. Ring is one of the new English teachers. She is a recent graduate of Purdue University and Indiana University. She previously taught in South Korea for 2 years. Some of her previous jobs include barista, editor of student newspaper, freelance video game journalist. Some of the things she likes to do are Crochet, do crafts, play videogames, watch Adventure Time, travel around the world, Sushi, Fall, and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. A typical day for her includes, “Coming in early, making coffee, teaching 11th grade, teaching 9th grade, eating lunch, catching up on grading and lesson planning, teaching 11th grade, teaching 9th grade, going home.”
One of PHS’s new English teachers is Mrs. Ring. Her previous jobs include working in a frame shop framing artwork, cleaned houses and offices, a title company typing policies, at an ice cream shop, and taught for six years in North Carolina. She attended Saginaw Valley State University and Grand Canyon University. A typical day for her includes, “… Involves watching students come into class and work on various projects, drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. I enjoy the majority of my day which is spent helping students learn how to improve their work and write about art. I also often get to watch and help students work through choices in their artwork as it progresses and changes. As the teacher it is important to always make sure students are cleaning up, keep yourself organized, and try to make sure that you make decisions based on what will help the students understand the material and goals for the projects.” A few of her favorite things include, the color violet, favorite food is raspberries, her favorite book series is the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. If one word could describe her it would be optimistic.
Ms. Brittany Marquardt is the new social worker at PHS. She graduated from PHS in 2008. Photo by: Isabelle Miller
Mrs. Buck previously taught at LaVille Jr.-Sr. High, and is now our new science teacher. Some of her other jobs include, a chemist at two laboratories and working at a compounding pharmacy. For her college education she attended University of Southern Indiana, University of Southern Michigan, and Indiana University of South Bend. Some of her favorite things are, “I love to stay active. I love to run, bike, lift weights, etc anything that gets me moving.” If one word could describe her it would be smiley.
Ms. Schwartz is the new math teacher at PHS. Some of her former jobs are research positions in astrophysics and material science. She is a recent college graduate from Valparaiso University. Something interesting about her is, “I am a flutist. I played all through high school and college in the orchestra, band and marching band. I even toured with an orchestra in China, performing my piccolo concerto in Shanghai and Nanjing.” Her favorite things include, “I am an avid reader. Several of my favorite books are The Thorn Birds, Pillars of the Earth, and Game of Thrones. My favorite color is purple and my favorite season is fall.” If one word could describe her it would be creative.