WELCOME, NEW TEACHERS: Chamber greets NCSD’s newest educators at annual luncheon

Twenty-five new educators for the Newton Community School District were welcomed by the community and offered words of encouragement Aug. 11 during the chamber of commerce’s annual new teacher luncheon at the local DMACC campus.

Amanda Price, executive director of the Greater Newton Area Chamber of Commerce, hosted and organized the event, which she said is important for greeting the newest members of the Newton community who will inevitably shape the younger generations to come.

“It is extremely important to start all of these teachers off knowing that there is an incredibly huge amount of support in the community for them, whether they want to start a new program and they want to partner with a business or an industry or something, or whether that’s building a personal relationship,” Price said.

Some newcomers may not know anybody and may have families who are new to town. The luncheon, Price said, is a first step in welcoming them to Newton but also getting them to stay in town to grow their families, be involved with activities and make the town thrive and grow.

Support from the community is strong, Price added, and this is evident in the chamber’s “Gold Apple Sponsors,” a title often fought over by local businesses at the start of the year. This year’s sponsors include: The Dental Practice, Community Heights Alliance Church, TPI Composites and Thombert, Inc.

“It is incredibly humbling, honestly, how impressive our businesses are,” she said. “They really do step up. This event out, of any event that I do, I get the most sponsorships and people jump on board right away. It’s very competitive with our Gold Apple Sponsors. The minute invoices are sent out I get phone calls.”

Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger thanked guests of the luncheon for placing their trust in the school district this past year during the pandemic. Knowing the community is always there to lend its support, Messinger said, helps the school district be successful.

“Look for ways to reach out to the community and support the community and help the community thrive as well, because it is a partnership that we have to contribute back,” he said to teachers. “We’re only as strong as the community of Newton is. And the community of Newton relies on the school district.”

Meet the newest teachers:

• Madysinn Alexander, Newton High School

• Julie Baylor, Berg Middle School

• Jake Bennett, Berg Middle School

• Karla Brazelton, Berg Middle School

• Alyse Bretthauer, Aurora Heights Elementary School

• Tanner Clute, Berg Middle School

• Courtney Douglas, Berg Middle School

• Samantha Dukavas, Emerson Hough Elementary School

• Frankie Faidley, Preschool at YMCA

• Brittney Fredericks, Newton High School

• Rhonda Fridley, Aurora Heights Elementary School

• Wade Fridley, Berg Middle School

• Ashley Gellings, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

• Allison Graham, Emerson Hough Elementary School

• Sara Halferty, Emerson Hough Elementary School

• Nick Harder, Woodrow Wilson Elementary School

• Reagan Maple, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School

• Kailee Meyer, Newton High School

• Debbie Morrison, Emerson Hough Elementary School

• Lexie Morrow, WEST Academy High School

• Erin Jones, Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson Elementary Schools

• Brittany Roseke, Emerson Hough Elementary School

• Noah Stephas, Berg Middle School

• Noah Thatcher, Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson Elementary Schools

• Arryn Zehring-Filippelli, Berg Middle School

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com