Truman Elementary welcomes new teachers

Megan Stevens

Fourth grade teacher

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

My grandma, she raised 12 children and earned her master's degree while teaching at an inner city Chicago public school at the same time right before my grandpa passed away. Her perseverance made me first realize the difference an educator can make on children's lives.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

My entire experience abroad in Moscow, Russia will always stick with me. Teaching in a foreign country was unlike anything I believe I will ever experience again.

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

I teach math and science, so I see two groups of students each day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. In between those lessons, my kids go to specials, lunch, recess, and RTI time. When I'm not at school, I am usually relaxing at home or visiting my family on the weekends in Chicago.

What do you like most about your job?

The relationships I build with students.

More about yourself

Hometown: Chicago, Ill.

Family members

Mom, dad, and three younger sisters (Kelly, Mollie, and Emily)

Experience and where (high school, college, position, years)

Maine South High School (Park Ridge, Ill.)

University of Missouri-Columbia (4 years Bachelor's Degree +1 year Master's

Degree with the University of Missouri Teaching Fellowship Program)

Mexico, Mo. (Hawthorne Elementary 4th Grade 1 year)

Moscow, Russia (Moscow Economic School 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade English

Teacher 1 Year)

Academic and/or athletic honors, accomplishments, awards, teams while in school

Member of Kappa Kappa Gamma

Dean's List student

Magna Cum Laude Honors (Bachelor's)

Your hobbies

Reading and cooking.

Emily Howarth

Fifth grade teacher

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

I was inspired to be a teacher when I did my A+ tutoring in high school. I found that I really enjoyed working with children.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

This being my first year, every moment has been memorable. Everything is new and exciting.

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

Typical day is each morning my students come in, make lunch choices. We take care of daily routines. Then students and I talk about PBIS. After that, we switch classes for the math and science with Mrs. Arens' class. Around 11 each day, my class comes back to me and we go through math and science.

What do you like most about your job?

I love talking with the children. They really are the greatest people to work with every day and it's really rewarding when they finally get a concept you're trying to teach them.

More about yourself

Hometown-Nevada, Mo.

Family members

Blake Howarth, daughters Briley and Allison Howarth, Parents-Penne and Dusty Moore

Experience and where (high school, college, position, years)

Nevada High School, Cottey College and Western Governors University, fifth grade teacher first year.

Academic and/or athletic honors, accomplishments, awards, teams while in school

Volleyball at Cottey College.

Theresa Thorade

Paraprofessional

What inspired you to become an educator?

I enjoy the learning/teaching process and I like working with children.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

Those times when I am helping a student that is struggling and all at once they "get it." It's their "ah-ha" moment.

More about yourself

Hometown: San Diego, Calif. Have called Vernon County home for six years.

Family

Husband of 30 years, Paul Thorade; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Roxi; grandson Drew; and daughter Brianna.

School

Graduated Crowder College 2012 Suma Cum Laude, member of Student Activities Council and honor society Phi Theta Kappa, continued on to Missouri State University, where I am in the process of earning my bachelor's degree in education.

Church

I attend Community Christian Church in Nevada.

Hobbies

Quilting and family.

Padraic McHugh

Fourth grade math and science

What inspired you to become an educator?

I started substitute teaching and saw the impact I could make in a child's life.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

This is my first year, so every day has been memorable so far.

What do you like most about your job?

Making connections with the kids, both on an educational level and a personal level.

More about yourself

Graduated from Nevada High School, then Missouri State University.

Terra Gregory

Third grade

What inspired you to become an educator?

I have always loved teaching my kids to read and I have always loved teaching kids new things.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

I think the most memorable moments would be my last days with my students during student teaching. I grew really attached to my students and them to me.

What is a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

I see three classes of third graders throughout the day to teach them math.

What do you like most about your job?

The relationships I make with the students and their families.

More about yourself

Hometown: Rich Hill

Family members

Husband, Jeff Gregory

Children

Cameron (18, senior), Kaitlyn (13, eighth grade), Kara (11, sixth grade), and Chase (7,first grade).

Experience and where

Graduated from Rich Hill High School and attended Southwest Baptist University. Student taught in Stockton, first grade.

Church affiliation and involvement

Youth Director at United Methodist Church in Stockton

Hobbies

Reading and spending time with my family and watching my kids play sports.

Leah Mahanay

Fourth grade ELA Teacher

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

I began college at Kansas State University as a pre-nursing student, but followed the advice of my parents and continued searching for my calling. While taking Pre-Nursing courses, I was the nanny for two families. I was active in philanthropic activities, including the coordination of a fundraising activity for autistic children, student ambassador for a "Christmas for Kids" event to raise funds to purchase gifts for foster children, and a number of other activities. In my extracurricular and work activities, I continued to gravitate towards working with children and realized that teaching is my calling.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

The moments in education that are most memorable to me are the moments when kids become passionate about something you taught them or the moments when both you and a student are so excited because the concept you have worked on with them for days they finally understand!

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

A typical day starts for me about 6 a.m. I get up to get ready for school, make coffee (because I will need it to keep up with the kids), and eat breakfast. I arrive at school at about 7 a.m. to turn on my computer and review my plans and teaching objectives for the day. The kids start arriving at 8, where I greet them at the door with a high five handshake or hug (their choice). After the kids have made their lunch choices on the smart board, wrote in their planners, and started their bell work, I come around and award DOJO points for parent-signed planners. Next, we jump into grammar and whole group reading followed by specials. When the students return from specials, we take a short bathroom break and immediately get started on writing for 30 minutes before we break up into guided reading groups.

After guided reading groups, we head to lunch, recess, and RTI. Following RTI, we switch classes and I teach grammar, reading, social studies, writing, and spelling to the afternoon section. Finally, the students return to their homeroom classroom about 2:45, where we pack up and dismiss students by bells. When the students have all left, I work on grading papers and preparing learning materials for the rest of the week until about 4:30 or 5, when I head home to change and go work out at 6. After working out, I eat dinner, and watch a Netflix episode or two before heading to bed!

What do you like most about your job?

There are so many things that I love about my job, but I would have to say the thing I like most is being the person in a child's life who pushes them, opens up their mind up to life's possibilities, and inspires them to reach for their dreams.

More about yourself

Hometown: Salina, Kan.

Family members

Bill Mahanay (father], Cindy Mahanay (mother], Wade Mahanay (brother]

Experience and where (high school, college, position, years]

Blue River Elementary School, Overland Park, Kan. -- Dec. 2014 -- May 2015

Long term substitute teacher, fourth grade

Stanley Elementary School, Overland Park, Kan. -- Fall 2014

Student teacher, kindergarten

Blue River Elementary, Overland Park, Kan. -- Fall 2014

Student teacher, special education

Manhattan Catholic School, Manhattan, Kan. -- Fall 2013-spring 2014

Volunteer, pre-kindergarten

Heusner Elementary School, Salina, Kan. - Fal1 2012-spring 2013

Volunteer, kindergarten

Stuart Elementary School, Salina, Kan. - Fall 2012-spring 2013

Volunteer, special education

Ogden Elementary School, Ogden, Kan. - Fall 2013

Practicum experience, kindergarten

Lee Elementary School, Manhattan, Kan. -- Fall 2013

Practicum experience, fourth grade

Marlatt Elementary School, Manhattan, Kan. -- Fall 2011

Early field experience, kindergarten

Academic and/or athletic honors, accomplishments, awards, teams while in school

Kansas State University

* Kansas State University Future Outstanding Teacher

Kansas State University

* Deans Honor List

Alpha Xi Delta Women's Fraternity

* Membership Vice President

Kansas State University Marching Band

* Kansas State University Feature Twirler

Kansas State University

* Student teaching scholarship award recipient

Civic, community or club memberships

Christmas For Kids

* Student chair (Autism Speaks)

* Raised money for Autism Speaks Foundation

* Participated in the walk for autism

Manhattan, Kan. (Alpha Xi Delta Women's Fraternity

Career background

Manhattan, Kan.

Au Pair, Justin and Katie Tadtman

* Assumed the parental role for 3 children

* Transport children from school and activities

* Assisted with general household duties

Fall 2011-Summer 2014

Emporia, Kan.

Bath and Body Works

* Sales Associate

Fall 2010-Summer 2011

Salina, Kan.

Shannon's Stars Athletic Twirling Club

* Instructor

Fall 2002-2008