The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

White Salmon Valley School District hires 13 new staff members

For 2012-13 school year

Photo by Ben Mitchell

QUITE THE CROWD — The White Salmon Valley School District has hired an unusual amount of teachers for the 2012-13 school year, due to the many wonderful educators who happened to retire all at the same time last year. Gathered here for a district training are, from left to right, front row: Christopher Cramer, Superintendent Dr. Jerry Lewis, Jenny Vint, Shari Nichols, Geraldine Dennis, Dusty Low (Whitson, Special Ed.), Shelley Wilson, Phoebe Hartnett and John Hallead. The four in the back, from left to right, are: David Monnig, Tim Shampoe, Beth Sauter and Mandel Medenbach. Not pictured: Michael Salitore (Henkle, Special Ed.).

August 28, 2012

While a couple names may look familiar to you as they have held different positions in the district, there are plenty of new faces among the staff members hired by the district for the 2012-13 school year... which believe it or not, is already underway. The newbies are:

Christopher Cramer, Henkle Middle School Physical Education Teacher: Cramer grew up in White Salmon and is an alumnus of the WSVSD. After graduating from Columbia High School in 2003, he dabbled in a variety of interests, hobbies and potential career paths, which included a stint as a paraeducator at HMS, taking a detour toward fire service and Emergency Medical Services and eventually leading him to Western Oregon University, where he earned his B.S. in Exercise Science/Physical Education. While 2012-13 will be his first year as P.E. teacher in the district, it will be his third year as head coach of the CHS boys varsity soccer program. Soccer and coaching are major passions in his life, so in his spare time, he is also Director of Coaching at a competitive soccer club in Gresham, Ore., where he lives with his wife.

Geraldine (Geri) Dennis, HMS Fifth-grade Teacher: Dennis comes from Provo, Utah, having taught grades five and six in the past five years in that district. Prior to Utah, Dennis taught grade six in California and began her teaching career in Washington state. Dennis has taught first through sixth grades in four districts in western Washington. Dennis especially enjoys cross-country skiing, hiking, walking, reading and gardening. Dennis is the parent of two adopted sons, ages 23 and 18 and looks forward to being closer to family in Washington and Oregon.

John Hallead, Columbia High School P.E. Teacher: Hallead was born and raised in Ellensburg. He graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1994, where he was a three-sport varsity athlete, earning 10 letters and being named to All-State for football and baseball. In 1994, he was drafted in the seventh round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the Colorado Rockies and enjoyed four years in their minor league system. After voluntarily retiring from professional baseball, he enrolled in Central Washington University to complete teacher education training, with hopes of becoming a high school teacher and coach. While attending CWU, he participated in football for the Wildcats, earning numerous awards, including All-Conference, Conference Player of the Year and All-American. After graduating CWU, Hallead has taught at the high school level in Washington state since 2002 and has been a high school football and baseball head coach for a combined 10 years, being named League Coach of the Year twice and coaching five state-placing teams. He has also coached football and fastpitch at CWU. In his free time, Hallead likes to spend time with his children, Abigail and Benjamin, working out, attending school events and golf.

Phoebe Hartnett, HMS Special Education Teacher: Though she was born and raised in San Diego, Calif., Hartnett went to Western Washington University in Bellingham. She recently received her B.A. in Education with certificates in Special Education P-12 and Elementary Education K-8. Outside of school, she enjoys staying active by running, hiking and playing sports.

Mandel (Del) Medenbach, HMS Sixth-grade Teacher: Medenbach's educational career began with outdoor and environmental instruction at the Oregon State University Outdoor Recreation Center, Northwest Youth Corps, and Colorado Outward Bound School. He taught skills for sports but also outdoor stewardship, team building and leadership. Working with youths at these organizations came very naturally to him. Medenbach grew to recognize the joys and challenges of teaching. He enrolled in graduate studies in education at Eastern Oregon University and student taught in the Bend-LaPine School District. Upon completing his graduate program in 2009, he accepted a temporary teaching post at Evergreen Elementary in Redmond, Ore. At the end of that assignment, he and his wife made the decision to study abroad for a time. Medenbach was hired to teach fifth grade at Dubai American Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he taught for two years. During his tenure, he also founded the school's first gardening club. Medenbach is excited to be back in the U.S. and honored to teach sixth grade at HMS.

David Monnig, HMS Fifth-grade Teacher: Monnig was raised in Missoula, Mont., and received a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana in 2002. He moved to Vancouver where he worked as a middle school teacher for seven years. Although he has taught a little bit of everything, he specializes in math and science. During his time in Vancouver, Monnig earned a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern Oregon University. In 2010, Monnig and his wife, Ericka, who is also a teacher, moved to Lisbon, Portugal to teach at the American International School for two years. Living overseas was a great experience, but the Pacific Northwest has called them home. Monnig is very excited to have the opportunity to live in White Salmon and teach fifth grade at HMS.

Shari Nichols, Whitson Elementary First-grade Teacher: Nichols graduated from Washington State University with a B.A. in Education. She moved to the Columbia River Gorge during her college years and fell in love with White Salmon. She has worked in the district while studying since 2006, gaining experience working with children and families in a variety of different ways. Nichols grew up traveling around the world with her family and enjoys learning about new places and cultures. Nichols also enjoys snow skiing, watersports and performing community service, especially related to enhancing youth connections to science and technology.

Beth Sauter, WES First-grade Teacher: Sauter has lived in the Gorge for most of her life. She was born in White Salmon, raised in Mill A, went to Mill A Elementary School and graduated from Stevenson High School in 1983. She earned a B.A. in Recreation from Central Washington University in 1988 and earned a B.A. in Special Education from City University in 2003. She has taught at several schools around the Gorge and has taught special education for third- and fourth-graders at WES since 2006. In May, Sauter received a Masters in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction from Washington State University. She has a husband, David and has two children enrolled in CHS: Will, 17 and Hannah, 14. When she has free time, Sauter enjoys many activities including camping, playing cards, hosting dinner parties, playing tennis and photography.

Timothy Shampoe HMS Fifth-grade Teacher: Shampoe is a White Salmon native who has had the pleasure and opportunity to go through all three schools in White Salmon. After high school, Shampoe enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served for nine years, was deployed three times and was stationed in Germany as well as Fort Lewis. After finishing his military service, he started his family and has two sons, ages 4 and 11. During the recession, Shampoe went back to school to get his degree at the City University of Seattle, specializing in Elementary Education and Secondary Mathematics. He is currently finishing his Masters degree with specialties in Science and Mathematics Instruction to Children. Shampoe is honored to come back to White Salmon after 16 years and be able to give back to the community which helped raise him. He is looking forward to the school year and to fostering a community of learning.

Jenny Vint, CHS Counselor: Vint was born and raised in Onalaska. She graduated from Onalaska High School in 1995, where she played volleyball and fastpitch. Upon graduation, she attended Centralia College and St. Martin's College, where she earned her teaching degree. Vint returned to St. Martin's to receive her degree in Counseling. She has been teaching in Washington state for the past 13 years and her most recent experience was as Guidance Counselor at OHS for the past four years. Vint has also coached volleyball, basketball and fastpitch at the youth, middle and high school levels, as well as numerous select summer teams. She was a coaching staff member of numerous state-placing teams, including two state championships at OHS. In her free time, Vint likes to spend time with her children, Stacia and Alicia, reading, traveling, attending school events and is a big NASCAR fan.

Shelley Wilson, WES, Second-grade Teacher: Wilson grew up in Lewiston, Idaho and received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from the University of Idaho. She received her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University. Wilson taught in Lewiston for three years before getting married in 2000 and moving to White Salmon. For the last 12 years, she has taught first and third grades in Carson. Her husband, Chris, works for ESD 112. They have two children, Ella Jane and Henry, who attend WES. Wilson says she's delighted to be here.