New faces
“Hi Mrs. Johnson, how are you?” “I’m great today, how are you?” “Oh I am just dandy today.” Although students often talk to these teachers, what they do not realize is that the teachers have a life and interests outside of school. Each teacher has a persona they carry besides the title of a teacher and this year’s new teachers are more than what meets the eye.
One of the new teachers is Peter Dougan. Mr. Dougan is originally from St. Paul and was drawn to Cannon Falls after various camping trips at Lake Byllesby. He is also fond of the principal, Mr. Hodges. “Mr. Hodges was so nice, how could I resist?” He is passionate about band and is excited to help the students at Cannon Falls. He expressed that, “I want to work with musicians here by learning from kids and teaching the kids.” Another teacher, Ms. Berg is passionate about the subject of math.
Ms. Berg had previously taught at Becker High School. Berg now teaches math to the middle school math students. She states that her favorite activities to participate in are softball and reading. When asked about experiences in high school she stated that, ” I didn’t have to get my wisdom teeth out like everyone else.” In her spare time she likes watching TV shows. “I really enjoy the show Numbers and it’s math related.” While some teachers come to Cannon Falls for their love of the scenery and topic they teach, others were persuaded into it by close friends.
Secretary Jamie Pickerign is filling the shoes of the famous Alison Godfrey. “I came here because of Robin,” Pickerign said jokingly. Pickerign was previously a secretary at Goodhue County High School. When asked what her favorite pastime in high school was she declared, “In my spare time I enjoyed driving around with my friends.” Pickerign also revealed that she used to attend Cannon Falls High school.
Associate Principal, Jennifer Chappius, is new to the Cannon Falls area. Originally from Kenyon, Chappius was used to the small town environment. When Chappius is not on duty she explained enthusiastically that, “…I love to watch Grey’s Anatomy and Modern Family.” Indulging in her favorite TV shows is an activity Chappius enjoys to do in her minuscule amount of spare time. If Chappius isn’t running her daughters around to soccer practice she is always cooking, preparing, and cleaning. She describes herself as a person who believes that everything has a place. “I can’t handle clutter.” Chappius also has four daughters. “Every Friday night we have a movie night. I have a job for each person whether it’s making the popcorn or picking the movie.”
Another newbie is Mrs. Burvee. Mrs. Burvee is the school psychologist and likes many different aspects about Cannon Falls. She enjoys riding her bike on the trail and indulging in Dudley’s Pizza. When asked what she was like in high school she exclaimed, “I loved taking pictures, and was in photography as often as I could be.” Burvee was also active in tennis and loved cheering at various school games with her friends. She described, “When I was in high school I was very quiet and hung out with a variety of people.”
Teachers are real people with various interests. The new teachers of Cannon Falls find time to teach the subject they love and participate in the various activities they enjoy. Some of these interests may include watching the TV show “Numbers”, or spending Friday nights with the family. Next time when you talk to a teacher ask them about their various interests and you will learn that they are more than their title.
Katherine Hoffman is a sophomore lantern writer who enjoys dancing, running and playing the flute.