Back Row (L to R): Michelle Klein, Heather Nolting, Barbara Glasener, Whitney Ott-Zuzich, Ryan Andreassen, & Trela Rottinghaus
Front Row: Dean Youngblut, Samantha Thornton, Sara Harrold, Megan Schultz, & Jennifer Dillon
Front Row: Dean Youngblut, Samantha Thornton, Sara Harrold, Megan Schultz, & Jennifer Dillon
Connector Teachers |
Specialist Teachers |
Michelle Klein has taught for 28 years at the middle school level. She has taught 5-8 literacy, 5-8th math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, 5-8 social studies, 5-8 language arts, and had spent her last 8 years in the Jesup Community School District as one of the middle school special education teachers. She is the high school girls’ golf coach. Michelle has a Bachelor's degree from Central College University in Pella, Iowa. She and her family live in Jesup where both children have graduated from Jesup High School. Michelle Is looking forward to the challenge of her new position this year and working with teachers district-wide.
Currently Learning About: Coaching Classroom Management, Student-Centered Coaching, Student Engagement(Teach Like a Pirate), Mental Health in Education, Data-Driven Decision Making. Very interested in: Math and Literacy Strategies and finding "hooks" to get students engaged . 
Samantha Thornton is in her eighth year at Jesup Community School District. In previous years she has taught K-12 Talented & Gifted and middle school Literacy and Language Arts. Samantha has a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota and her Gifted & Talented Endorsement from Morningside College. She is excited to support and collaborate with teachers district-wide.
Currently Learning About: Technology Integration, Student Engagement (Teach Like a Pirate), Using Data to Drive Instruction, Integrating Social Media, Standards-Based Grading, Differentiation for All Learners 
Dean Youngblut has taught for 18 years at the High School and Junior High level. He has taught Middle School Math, General High School Math, Pre-Algebra, Consumer Math, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, Statistics, and Precalculus. He has been teaching in the Jesup Community School District for two years. Dean has a Bachelor’s Degree from UNI in 7-12 Mathematics Education and a Master’s Degree from Drake University in Educational Leadership. Dean graduated from Jesup High School in 1998 and has three children attending Jesup Schools at this time.
Currently Learning About: Coaching Classroom Management , Student Engagement, Standards-Based Grading, Data Driven Decision Making |
Jennifer Dillon is the third year agriculture educator and FFA advisor at Jesup Community Schools and is starting her 15th year of teaching. Jennifer has her B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Education Degrees from Iowa State University and has a Master Educator License in 5-12 Agriculture, 5-12 Biological Sciences, and 5-12 Agriscience/Agribusiness. She enjoys technology and looking for ways to improve professionally. She continues to build her flipped classroom, implement interactive notebooks, develop some project based learning lessons and exploring more differentiation options for her students. Jennifer and her husband have three boys who are definitely into agriculture as they jump at every opportunity to farm. She is anticipating an awesome learning experience as we choose our adventures.
Currently Learning About: Technology Integration, Project-Based Learning, Flipped Classrooms, Interactive Notebooks, Differentiation 
Sara Harrold is in her eleventh year of teaching. She has taught 2nd and 5th grades at Fort Madison, Midland, and Jesup Community Schools. At Jesup Community School, she currently teaches 5th grade Math and Social Studies. Sara received her B.A. in Elementary Education and a Reading Endorsement from Loras College. In her free time Sara enjoys spending time with her family, reading, attending and coaching athletics. She is looking forward to working with different staff members throughout the year and helping to continue to make Jesup Schools great!
Currently Learning About: Technology Integration, Google Classroom, and Using Formative Assessment to Drive Instruction 
Heather Nolting is in her 17th year of teaching, her 13th at Jesup. She has taught Middle School Social Studies for grades 5-8, Language Art and Literacy for 6th grade, Technology for grades 5-8, 6th grade Math, and one year of High School Business. She enjoys learning and looks for ways to improve the understanding of her students. This was her focus when she earned her Master of Arts Degree in 2009. Heather has 2 teenage daughters at home that keep her very busy and a son who is now off to college at U of I. With her new position this year she is looking forward to sharing what she has learned and increasing her own knowledge by working with other staff members.
Currently Learning About: 
Whitney Ott-Zuzich is in her tenth year of teaching middle school here at Jesup. She has taught 6th & 7th grade Literacy, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Social Studies, and 6th grade Language Arts. Whitney received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and K-8 Social Studies from the University of Northern Iowa, and received her K-8 Reading Endorsement from Upper Iowa University. Whitney lives in Waterloo with her husband and daughter, but enjoys working in a smaller, close-knit community like Jesup. She is excited to work with our staff and help build stronger relationships among teachers.
Currently Learning About: Technology Integration, Reaching High Achievers and Higher Order Thinking Passionate About: Classroom Environment, Classroom Management, New Instructional Strategies, Data/Document-Based Questioning & Inquiry-Based Learning 
Trela Rottinghaus is in her 21st year of teaching, her fourth at Jesup as a middle school English and K-12 Talented and Gifted teacher. She received her BA in English Literature and Secondary Education from Loras College, MA in Education from Viterbo, and Talented and Gifted endorsement from UNI.
Currently Learning About: Technology Integration (Google Classroom and Coding), Integrating Social Media Purposefully (Twitter, Facebook, Kidblog). She is passionate about Student Engagement through Interests & Choice 
Megan Schultz is enjoying her eleventh year at Jesup Middle School. Over the years she has had the pleasure of working with students in 5th through 8th grades in the subject areas of math, literacy, language arts, and technology. She has also served as a Math Bee coach and Student Council advisor. Megan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University. She also obtained a Master’s Degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Middle School Mathematics Education. She is looking forward to getting to know other teachers better and being able to work with other staff members throughout the district.
Currently Learning About: Standards-Based Grading, Technology Integration, and Second Chance Reading 
Ryan Andreassen is in his 4th year of teaching. Enjoys the challenges and many rewards that go with teaching and learning along side 3rd grade students. Ryan earned his BA in Elementary Education with emphasis in Special Education, and is currently pursuing his masters degree. He is looking forward working shoulder-to-shoulder with Jesup’s top-notch teaching and support staff to help to continue to make Jesup Schools the best place for every learner.
Barbara Glasener
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