Ellsworth Community School District will welcome multiple new staff members who are ready to jump into the 2023-24 school year. From music to math, meet your new Panther educators.
Jared Blaeser
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Ellsworth Community School District will welcome multiple new staff members who are ready to jump into the 2023-24 school year. From music to math, meet your new Panther educators.
Position: Social studies
Hometown: Chippewa Falls
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: Camping, boating, traveling, anything outdoors
Family: I have two older siblings (Ryan and Jessica), two nephews (Kael and Kaece) and two nieces (Katiera and Kallie). I love all my family!!
What are you most looking forward to this year? Making connections with the students and building a great community!
Position: EES art teacher
Hometown: Northfield, Minn.
Education: UW-Stout
Hobbies/interests: Reading, running, hiking, soccer, cooking
What are you most looking forward to this year? Meeting the students and creating art with them!
Position: School social worker
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: Winona State University
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with friends and family, reading, going on road trips with my boyfriend, and walking with my dogs.
Family: My mom, Julie Carlson, is an Ellsworth alum and is an independent health insurance agent. My dad, Mike Carlson, is also an Ellsworth and owns Carlson Heating & Electric. I have one sibling, Jacob, who is 20.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I look forward to providing the community and school district that I love and grew up in with resources to enhance the students and their family’s well-being and school experiences.
Position: EHS science teacher
Hometown: Westby
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Baking, painting, volleyball and softball
Family: I have a large family with five siblings. I just got married to my husband, Dillon, this summer!
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to know the students, staff and Ellsworth District as a whole.
Position: EHS math teacher
Hometown: Viroqua
Education: UW-Stout
Hobbies/interests: Exploring state/national parks, mountain biking, reading, and cheering on Wisconsin sports teams.
Family: My fiancée and I live in Menomonie. WE look forward to our wedding coming up on Oct. 7 of this year.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to getting to know the students, parents, and Ellsworth community members.
Position: EHS math teacher
Hometown: Shakopee, Minn.
Education: UW-Oshkosh
Hobbies/interests: Baking, hiking, spending time with family
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to getting to be a part of the Ellsworth community.
Position: Alternative education coordinator and school counselor
Hometown: Hudson
Education: UW-Stout for my undergraduate degree and UW-River Falls for my masters.
Hobbies/interests: yoga, hiking, camping, reading, travel, animal advocacy, mental health, education
Family: Married my husband, Matt, in 2022 and have three fur children – Tilly and Fez are our cats, Louie is our dog. We are obsessed with them!
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to getting to know the students, staff, families and community resources that make up Ellsworth. I am excited to earn from others and share my knowledge and perspective on mental health in schools.
Position: Special education math teaching assistant
Hometown: Spring Valley
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Gardening, farming, reading
Family: My family farms and we enjoy caring for animals and growing crops to feed them. We like to see the growth and progress animals and plants make.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to helping students learn more about math and become more confident. I also like helping students make progress in their skills.
Position: EHS English teacher
Hometown: Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Walking my dogs Paul and Newman, coaching youth softball, baseball and football here in town, and watching Vikings games in my man cave (aka my garage) when it’s not too cold.
Family: My wife Jessica is a registered nurse and we have lived in Ellsworth for 13 years. We have four kids – Tate (sixth grade), Sawyer (fifth grade), Atticus (fourth grade) and Tenley (second grade).
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to meet the students!
Position: Athletic director
Hometown: Pepin
Education: UW-Stout (undergrad and masters) and UW-River Falls (admin degree)
Hobbies/interests: All things sports (Badgers, Packers, Brewers, Bucks), golfing, grilling, home improvement projects
Family: My wife Kaycee and I live in Prescott and are expecting our first little one later this year!
What are you most looking forward to this year? Building relationships with the new staff and student-athletes I get to work with, along with their parents and the community.
Position: special education aide at EMS
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: Rasmussen
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy spending time with my friends and family – from bonfires to board games! I also love baking, cooking, shopping, camping, boating, antiquing, coffee and writing!
Family: I come from a close-knit family of five. I have two brothers, and I’m the middle child. I have two awesome sons! Beau is 12 and Hunter is 9 years old. They’re entering seventh and fourth grades this year. I love watching Hunter play football; he’s also a wrestler. Beau is autistic and loves to go swimming and jump on our trampoline! Legos, pizza, and Nerf guns have taken over my life.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I cannot wait to meet the students I’ll be working with at the middle school! I’ve also heard nothing but amazing things about the EMS staff, so I’m excited to get to know them as well. I’m looking forward to building connections, and I’m aiming to help each child achieve their academic and social-emotional goals.
Position: Interventionist
Hometown: Baldwin-Woodville
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Walking with my family, paddleboarding, swimming, reading
Family: My son and I live in River Falls. Over the summer, we kept busy with many extracurricular activities, swimming, paddleboarding, going for walks, spending time with family and friends, and reading, just to name a few. I have a dog and a cat.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I’m looking forward to meeting my students and helping them learn and grow together.
Position: First grade teacher
Hometown: Elmwood
Education: UW-Stout
Hobbies/interests: Dancing, painting, traveling, hiking
Family: I have three children ages 4, 2 and 1. We love to spend out time “driving” emergency vehicles and playing at the park.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to experience a full year with students and building that close-knit environment in my own classroom.
Position: Eighth grade math teacher
Hometown: Moberly, Mo.
Education: Missouri Western State University
Hobbies/interests: Gardening, board games, adventuring
Family: My husband and I are celebrating 21 years married this summer. We love experiencing new places, people and things. Our daughter had been a great adventure companion for the last seven years.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to watching students’ eyes light up when they discover they can do math they thought was hard. I enjoy building the kind of relationship with my students that leads to lots of laughs as we work together!
Position: Phy ed/health teacher
Hometown: Port Washington
Education: UW-Platteville
Hobbies/interests: Painting, reading, hiking, kayaking, videogaming, attending concerts, shooting trap
Family: I have two cats and a long-term boyfriend who is the manager at the Menomonie Cooperative Creamery plant. The rest of my family resides in the Milwaukee area.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to teaching the outdoor adventure course as that is something I’m very passionate about. I also look forward to meeting new people and possibly taking on a coaching position as well.
Position: Speech language pathologist assistant
Hometown: Baldwin
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: Reading, listening to music, spending time with my friends and cat.
Family: I have an older brother, along with my parents. But my younger cousin received speech services for a while, which helped jumpstart my interest in the field and is why I’m here.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to know all the kiddos I’ll be working with.
Position: Teaching assistant
Hometown: St. Michael, Minn.
Education: Rasmussen College
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy spending time with my family camping. I enjoy gardening, putting puzzles together, going on walks and coloring.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to meeting lots of new friends, watching them grow and learn. I love to see the smiles on children’s faces when they learn new things and achieve new things.
Position: Special education
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: Rasmussen College
Hobbies/interests: Tubing down the Rush River, spending time outdoors with my two dogs, a black lab and golden retriever.
Family: Husband Chad, five sons, one daughter, two dogs and two cats
What are you most looking forward to this year? Meeting new people and helping students succeed.
Position: Math teacher
Hometown: Hudson
Education: UW-Stevens Point
Hobbies/interests: Reading, family time and dogs
Family: I’m a mother of 18-year-old triplets, two boys and one girl. I’ve been married for 28 years.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Teaching in Wisconsin again. Last three in Minnesota.
Position: Seventh grade social studies teacher
Hometown: Hayward
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interest: Reading, writing, spending time outdoors, spending time with family.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to building relationships with my students and the families which support them and our school district.
Position: 4K teacher and PKC Director
Hometown: Hager City
Education: UW-La Crosse
Hobbies/interests: Volleyball, reading, spending time with family
Family: We love to stay busy by going places like the beach, zoo, water parks. Our son loves sports so we are also busy watching him play soccer, T-ball, etc.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to meeting all the new students and staff.
Position: Health aide
Hometown: Boyceville
Education: Globe University, Associates of Health Sciences
Hobbies/interests: Camping, hiking, crocheting, spending time with family, friends, love for dogs, animals in general, being outside, and reading.
Family: I’m currently engaged , live in Spring Valley with fiancé Gary and our three dogs: Winnie, Rosco and Taffy, and four chickens.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I’ve worked the last five years in a clinic setting, so I’m looking forward to the change of work environment working with children, getting to know their individual routines, along with getting to meet and know staff.
Position: EMS band director
Hometown: Cuba City
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: Reading! I also like outdoor activities (hammocking, walking, biking, etc.)
Family: My mom is an occupational therapist and my dad is a facility operations manager (both at Southwest Heath in Platteville). My twin brother teaches 5-12 band in Potosi.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Starting students on a new musical experience and watching the growth/development of my students throughout the school year.
Position: EES music teacher
Hometown: Mondovi
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: I love spending time with family, friends and my chocolate lab Chip! I enjoy gardening, yoga, reading, kayaking and just being outside.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I look forward to getting to know the students, staff and community!
Position: Library media specialist
Hometown: Glen Flora
Education: UW-Milwaukee
Hobbies/interests: Reading, crafting, hiking
What are you most looking forward to this year? Transitioning into this new position and getting to know staff and students.
Position: Custodian
Hometown: Ellsworth
What are you most looking forward to this year? My hope is that students and staff will have a great year.
Position: Fourth grade teacher
Hometown: Chippewa Falls
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: I like to spend time with my family at my family cabin up north!
Family: I have an older brother and sister and two golden retriever dogs, Maggie and Molly!
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to getting to know my students and colleagues!
Position: Special education teacher aide
Hometown: Shoreview, Minn.
Education: St. Cloud State/St. Mary’s University
Hobbies/interests: Love anything Disney, outdoors, camping, hiking
Family: I am married with two sons. We love spending time outdoors. We also have two dogs, Lady and Fred.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Spending time with the students.
Position: EHS school counselor
Education: UWRF for both undergrad and master’s
Hobbies/interests: Video games, motorcycles, heavy metal music and baking
What are you most looking forward to this year? Being a midyear hire last school year got me started in the profession right out of grad school. Looking forward to furthering relationships and growing the EHS mentor program.
Position: Seventh grade language arts
Hometown: Hudson
Education: UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Hiking, kayaking, creative writing, cheering on the Green Bay Packers
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to building strong relationships with the Ellsworth staff, student population, and community! Go Panthers!
Position: EHS band director
Hometown: Kenosha
Education: UW-Stevens Point
Hobbies/interests: Traveling, cooking, hiking and going to concerts
Family: Wife Myranda
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to sharing great music with Ellsworth’s students and community members.
Position: Third grade teacher
Hometown: River Falls
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Hiking, kayaking, camping and family trips (aka adventures)
Family: My husband of 20 years and I live in River Falls with our two kids, Noah (19) and Kaelyn (15).
What are you most looking forward to this year? I’m looking forward to being a part of the Ellsworth community and new adventures in the third grade.
Position: EHS social studies teacher
Hometown: St. Paul
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Hockey, music, spending time with loved ones
What are you most looking forward to this year? I am looking forward to getting to know all my students and a lot of good learning opportunities.
Position: Spanish teacher
Hometown: Hudson
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: Singing, hiking, spending time with family and friends
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to know my students and seeing how their Spanish progresses throughout the year.
Position: Teaching assistant (aide) in fourth grade
Hometown: Rogers, Minn.
Hobbies/interests: Singing and watching movies (Marvel)
Family: My husband Pete and son Marcus and I moved to Ellsworth this past November and are enjoying the community.
What are you most looking forward to this year? Getting to know new kiddos.
Position: Elementary special education teacher
Hometown: Red Wing
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy running, reading and exploring around the area.
Family: I am newly engaged and will tie the knot next June with my fiancé of five years.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I student taught at EES so I can’t wait to get back and work with the wonderful students and staff again.
Position: special education paraprofessional
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: B.A. Augsburg – Minneapolis, M.A. Augsburg
Hobbies/interests: Golf, grandkids, time at the lake, therapy dog training
Family: Married to Michael Werner, four grown sons, six grandkids
What are you most looking forward to this year? Becoming more connected to the Ellsworth learning community of teachers. Learning more about student needs and services.
