River Falls School District welcomes the following staff members for a successful 2023-24 school year.
Madison Bosshart
Hometown: Spring Valley
Position: Second grade teacher, …
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River Falls School District welcomes the following staff members for a successful 2023-24 school year.
Hometown: Spring Valley
Position: Second grade teacher, Greenwood
Education: UW-River Falls
Family: I grew up in Spring Valley with two brothers and lots of pets. I currently live in Baldwin with my husband Dylan who is a design engineer in St. Paul.
Interests: I enjoy being outdoors and anything that has to do with animals. I also love reading and spending time with my family.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose to teach because I want to instill the skills necessary for children to be successful and be an advocate for them. Giving them the problem-solving skills and independence to be successful inside and outside of school is very important to me. Building connections with the students and community as a whole is how I plan to do that. I want to learn right alongside them and the fact that every day as a teacher looks very different will help me accomplish that.
Hometown: Madison
Position: ID special education at Greenwood
Education: UW-Eau Claire for undergrad and UW-La Crosse for masters
Family: I’m married and have two daughters; Ella is 3 and Annie is 10-months-old.
Interests: I love to go hiking and camping with my family. I love going down to Madison to visit my Family and we are big MN Twins and Green Bay Packers fans!
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I’ve always loved working with children and found myself really drawn to special education and ensuring that all students feel included, welcomed, challenged and supported at school!
Hometown: River Falls
Position: School counselor, high school
Education: Capella University and six-plus years of experience as a high school counselor in Ellsworth along with a long-term sub experience at Hudson High School. I took a year off and returned to Ellsworth as the Before and After School Program Grant Director where I worked with staff to implement fun programs for students as well as create academic support groups for students who struggled academically. I spent almost ten years in the MN Air National Guard as an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician (Flight medic on C-130's). My work experience, military experience and background help me to make lasting connections with students.
Interests: I grew up in River Falls, but moved away and returned in 2006. I love to travel, work out, kayak, paddle board and attend concerts with my son, Parker.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? When I was in high school, I always knew that I wanted to be in the helping field. I just wasn't sure if it would be in the medical field or a school counselor. I feel fortunate that I have been able to do both and love knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life. I love building relationships with students and helping them plan for their future. Covid may have added more challenges to my role, but it has only reassured me that being a school counselor is exactly where I am supposed to be.
Hometown: Menomonie
Position: Second grade teacher, Rocky Branch
Education: I graduated from UWRF, and had the opportunity to student teach at Rocky Branch in a K-1 multi-age classroom under the mentorship of Caroline Henk. River Falls has given so much to me over the years, and I could not be more excited to begin my teaching journey here as well!
Family: I grew up in a sports-crazy family, as a middle child to two sisters in Stillwater, Minn.
Interests: When I am not teaching, I enjoy going to dirt track races, spending time with family at the cabin, and all things Minnesota sports. I love watching cooking shows (although I’m not a great cook myself) and listening to audio books.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose to teach, as I always knew I wanted to make a difference. Not only do I have the opportunity to support students' learning and growth, I get to continue learning and growing alongside them as well. I get to make learning fun while challenging students to reach their full potential.
Hometown: Hudson
Position: Library media specialist, Greenwood
Education: UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater
Family: I am a brand-new teacher, re-entering the workforce after staying home for 14 years to raise my children. I have been married for 18 years to Richard and I am mother to Shirley, Richard Jr., and Brynn, who all attend Hudson schools. We have lived in Hudson for nine years.
Interests: I am an avid golfer, reader and crafter. I love listening to mystery audiobooks while I work on my crochet or cross stitch projects. Any chance I get I am at the golf course all summer. In the winter you will find me cheering on both my husband and son at the hockey rink.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? When our youngest daughter started kindergarten, I started working in an elementary school library and absolutely fell in love with it. I decided to go back to college and earn my LMS certificate because I find working with children more fulfilling than anything else I have ever done. Building relationships with students AND working with books is a dream come true.
Hometown: Colby
Position: First grade teacher, Greenwood
Education: UW-Stout
Family: After college, I moved to Ashland with my partner, Jacob, and our cat, Espresso. I taught first grade at Washburn Elementary while living there for two years. The three of us moved to Stillwater, Minn. this summer. We are also living with my partner’s brother and his two cats for the year while his wife works in Colorado. We are so excited to be closer to our families and to settle down in a beautiful area!
Interests: I enjoy playing guitar and ukulele, going on walks and runs, playing any kind of game, and listening to live music.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose to become a teacher because I love working with children and watching them grow and learn. It always amazes me how much each individual develops in one year. It’s also an exciting profession that changes every year and sometimes every day.
Hometown: Hudson
Position: Fifth grade teacher, Westside
College attended: UW-Eau Claire
Family: I have two brothers. We were born and raised in Hudson.
Interests: In my free time I enjoy anything outdoors from hunting, fishing, to camping. My goal in life is to camp at every national park.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose teaching because I love to see students learn and grow. The joy on a child’s face when a subject clicks is so rewarding.
Hometown: Grand Rapids, Minn.
Position: School counselor, RFHS
Education: I did not immediately opt for school counseling right out of high school, however, and instead spent my early 20s traveling and sorting out what I wanted to spend my time doing. I knew I needed to find a meaningful career, and, of course, I realized the apple might not fall too far from the tree and began my journey into school counseling. I received my bachelor's at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in psychology and completed my master's at UW-Superior. I am thrilled to be a part of the River Falls community, as I have long adored this area of Wisconsin, having spent many days hiking and exploring the beautiful natural landscape.
Family: I grew up in northern Minnesota and was inspired, in part, to become a school counselor because of my mother. She was a high school counselor at my school for almost 20 years and did fantastic work and touched the lives of many individuals and families.
Interests: I am an outdoor fanatic, whether hiking, camping, swimming, or just wandering around my yard barefoot. As I write this, I am packing for a trip into the great Minnesota Boundary Waters! Another thing that brings me so much joy is raising monarch butterflies; I have been doing this since I was around 6 and enjoy the opportunity, no matter how small, to help their populations rise. Cooking is another passion of mine, and I'm always trying out new recipes and ingredients to create delicious meals (hopefully delicious, haha). And when I'm feeling creative, I love to sew and make clothing and home decor. Hmm... I feel like that's the most important stuff! I also know a LOT about King Henry VIII, as this time of history is my favorite to read about.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? As a school counselor, I am driven by my desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students. I chose this career because students deserve and need someone to listen to them without judgment and offer guidance when they need it most. My mother was a massive inspiration for me and instilled a strong sense of empathy and compassion, which has helped me connect with students from all walks of life. Being a school counselor is not just a job for me; it's a passion. It is what I love to do, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of young people every day.
Hometown: Spring Valley
Position: Art teacher, Greenwood
Education: UW-River Falls and UW-Milwaukee
Family: I have lived in River Falls for the past 16 years with my husband Jesse and our two kids, Gabe (who will be a senior at RFHS) and Claire (who will be a sophomore at RFHS), plus a lovable black Lab. We are proud to be a part of the stellar RFHS Band family and you'll find us at nearly every band event!
Interests: My family and I love to hike, travel and play board games. If I'm not with my family, you'll likely find me reading, cooking, knitting, or having coffee with friends.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I have always loved making art, and earned my first college degree in Fine Arts and Art History back in the early 2000's. When my kids started school, I re-entered the workforce as a school secretary, which I loved because I enjoy helping people and working with kids. However, after nine years, I decided I wanted to pursue another role in a school setting, so I went back to college to get my teaching certification. This enabled me to teach K-12 art, and I am so glad I did! Inspiring my students and sharing my passion for art energizes me and gives me such a sense of purpose.
Hometown: Storm Lake, Iowa
Position: Fourth grade teacher, Greenwood
Education: UW-River Falls
Family: In 2018, my husband and I moved back to his hometown of Ellsworth and bought the house his family built in the 1880s. Since then, we have adopted some dogs and barn cats, done a lot of remodeling, and now have two adorable children who never stop moving. This will be my eighth year teaching and I am excited for my career to continue in the River Falls School District.
Interests: I love knitting, reading, spending time outside, and spending time with my family and friends.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I've always enjoyed working with children, whether teaching swimming lessons, lifeguarding or teaching dance. I realized early on that the energy and perspectives kids bring to everyday life was something that I wanted to always be around, so I became a teacher!
Hometown: South St. Paul, Minn.
Position: Second grade teacher, Greenwood
Education: UW-River Falls for undergrad and St. Mary’s University for masters
Family: My husband, Sam, and I have been married for five years. We met in junior high and have been
together ever since! We currently live in River Falls with our puppy Gus. I previously taught kindergarten and special education in the Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul school districts in Minnesota.
Interests: In my spare time I love to read, play golf, be with my friends and family, and play with our dog.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose to go into teaching to create meaningful relationships with students and families and to cultivate positive experiences for all types of learners at school. My biggest influence in choosing to become a teacher is my younger brother and his journey in school as a special education student.
Hometown: Appleton, Minn.
Position: Second grade teacher, Rocky Branch
Education: UW-River Falls
Family: I have been married for 14 years. I have three children, 7, 4, and 1. This is my second career and my first year teaching.
Interests: I enjoy golfing and creating all kinds of art.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I coached my son's t-ball team and absolutely loved it when I was able to teach the team something new and watch their eyes light up when they executed the task perfectly.
Hometown: Eau Claire
Position: Phy ed teacher, RFHS
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Family: I am married to my wonderful wife, Erin. We have three very busy children, Kennedy (10), Madden (7), and Reese (4). We also have a dog who enjoys spending time outside with us (Emmy). We spend lots of time at fields and courts, with our children being very active in soccer, football, baseball, and basketball.
Interests: I am a very active person who enjoys spending as much time outside as possible. When there is time available, I enjoy biking (road and mountain), working out, and spending time on the lake.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I chose teaching as a profession because it offers me an opportunity to share my passion for movement, healthy living and social interaction with our youth. My goal is to open the eyes of our students to the many benefits of physical activity, including physical, mental and social benefits.
Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minn.
Position: Business education teacher, RFHS
Edcation: St. Cloud State University
Family: I have a really smart wife and two awesome adult sons. I grew up in Minnesota and have had chances in my life to move away but have always found this area to be my home. I have had a few careers in my life including being a Country Club Golf Professional and a picture company sales representative. I have spent the last seven years as a River Falls School District substitute teacher and coach for the girls and boys golf teams and boys JV hockey team.
Interests: When I am not working with kids, I enjoy playing golf, fishing, hiking and reading. As a young person I was a part of our lake resort's water ski show. I rode the circle board and helped out on the pyramid.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I have always wanted to help people understand things. That moment when they "get it" is just so rewarding.
Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minn.
Position: Math teacher, MMS
Education: UW-Eau Claire
Family: I come from a long line of teachers and have always known math was my jam. This past June I got married to another teacher, adding more to the family! I have taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade math for the past six years.
Interests: I enjoy watching sports, spending time outside with my dog, reading new books and trying new foods!
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? The Light Bulb moment - that moment when a kid is struggling through something and is finally successful. The look on their face and the confidence they feel is awesome!
Hometown: River Falls
Position: Science teacher, MMS
Education: For the past 19 years I have taught Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, and Sport Science at Park High School of Cottage Grove. I majored in Biology and Conservation at the University of River Falls. A few years later, I received a Masters Degree in teaching focusing on project-based learning. Over the past 19 years I have taken on many leadership roles including site team manager, department chair, and teacher performance pay liaison. I am fully trained within the International Baccalaureate and AVID organizations.
Family: I am married to Katrina Loy, a speech pathologist within the district. Both my children have attended the school district of River Falls their whole childhood. My daughter Anika will be a senior this year, and my son William will be a sophomore.
Interests: I enjoy hobbies such as fishing, hunting, golfing and hiking. My favorite hobby is spending time with my family and friends. I am a marching band, hockey, cross country and golf parent, so that occupies a majority of my time. I love all sports, especially hockey, baseball and football.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I have always loved school. Teaching has been in my family the past two generations. I was raised by a teacher and going to school in September has been a huge and exciting part of my life the past 40 years. I wanted a profession that would be rewarding and challenging. The relationships built with students and staff are incredibly rewarding. Most of all, I just like helping adolescents by teaching them and instilling values that prepare them for the next step of life.
Hometown: Sauk City, but I have lived in Roberts for the last 15 years.
Position: First grade limited term teacher, Greenwood
Position: UW-Platteville and UW-River Falls; I obtained my teaching license from UW-River Falls. I have worked at Greenwood for the past two years as a general education paraprofessional and long-term substitute second grade teacher.
Family: I live in Roberts, Wisconsin with my husband and three daughters.
Interests: I enjoy the outdoors (hiking, camping, running), reading, and baking.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I enjoy teaching and working with children.
Hometown: Pequot Lakes, Minn.
Position: Physical education teacher, Rocky Branch
Education: St. Cloud State University; the 2023-24 school year will be my first year at RFSD, but 13th year overall. I taught K-5 PE in Merrill for nine years and I spent that last three years teaching 6-8 PE in Baldwin.
Family: My wife will be starting her fourth year as the PE teacher at Meyer Middle School. We have three kids, and they keep us busy all year long. Addy is 12 and will be starting sixth grade at MMS, Brody is 10 and will be starting fourth grade at Greenwood, and Cooper is 8 and will be starting second grade at Greenwood.
Interests: I love all sports, both coaching and playing when I'm able. I also referee youth hockey during the winter months. In my spare time, I love spending time outdoors with my family, watching sports on TV, and remodeling our basement.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I feel like I have been a teacher since I was about 5 years old. My mom ran an in-home daycare, and I was always the oldest kid. So, I took it upon myself to organize all kinds of different activities throughout the day. So naturally, I made a career out of it, and I can't see myself doing anything else outside of education.
Hometown: Hudson
Position: Mathematics teacher, MMS
Education: UW-Platteville
Family: I grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin, with my parents and my younger sister. My sister is currently attending the University of St. Thomas. I also adopted a 2-year-old rescue dog, Austin, who currently takes up most of my time.
Interests: I enjoy reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with my family and friends. I also spend a lot of time going on walks with my dog, Austin.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I love building relationships with students and staff. The opportunity to play a part in creating and fueling a passion for learning in students, as well as watching them grow in their learning, is incredibly rewarding.
Hometown: St. Charles, Ill.
Position: Cross categorical special education teacher, Rocky Branch
Education: Western Colorado University
Family: I relocated to River Falls three years ago with my wonderful spouse Taylor. She is currently a teacher at RFHS. We live in Prescott with our dog Lucky; he is a "tripawd” so only has three legs but gets around very well and is such a good boy! I have worked for RFSD for two years as a paraprofessional and am excited to continue my time at Rocky Branch as a special education teacher.
Interests: In my free time I enjoy visiting state and national parks, gardening, and playing disc golf. I also really enjoy watching a variety of sports, but professional football is by far my favorite!
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I love working with children and want to provide them with the knowledge and tools to be the best version of themselves that they can be. I want students to understand that they can accomplish anything they desire with hard work and determination.
Hometown: Mishicot
Position: English teacher, RFHS
Education: UW-Stevens Point
Family: Originally, I am from a small town in northeast Wisconsin. I grew up with three siblings, including a sister who is also a teacher. My oldest brother and his wife have two children, who I love spending time with on my visits home.
Interests: In my free time, I enjoy reading and writing, going to coffee shops, and playing with my cat, Reggie.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I was lucky enough to have several educators who inspired me to pursue the field of education. These teachers advocated for my needs and utilized engaging methods to help me learn. Today, this career allows me to share my creativity, personality, and knowledge in a way that allows my students to be successful, too.
Hometown: Mooreland, Okla.
Position: Special education teacher, RFHS
Education: Southwestern Oklahoma State University & Slippery Rock University
Family: I am the oldest of three, with a younger brother and sister. I have two nieces and two nephews; the youngest is a seventh grader here in River Falls. My first seven years of teaching were in a very small town in Oklahoma. From there I moved to Las Vegas for two years and taught in a middle school. I then moved back closer to home and family and lived in Amarillo, Texas for 10 years. In 2012 I moved up here to be closer to my sister and nephews after they moved up here. I taught in the Saint Paul school district for eight years and in the Stillwater school district last year. The majority of my career has been spent in special education. I taught seventh grade language arts three years in Amarillo. I have taught all subjects, and have been a resource teacher, a self-contained classroom teacher, and a co-teacher.
Interests: I love to cook and bake. I love to read and usually have three or four books going on at once. I am an avid gamer.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? When I decided to enter the teacher program at my university when I was a sophomore, I knew I did not want to be restricted to a specific grade level. My options at the time were either athletics (I am not in any way athletically inclined), music (my musical prowess is evident only in Rock Band or Guitar Hero), or special education. I chose special education.
Hometown: Garner, Iowa
Position: Special education teacher, RFHS
College attended: Concordia University WI, University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s University
Family: My husband and I lived in New Richmond with our three boys until 2015. We moved to southwest Minnesota (Worthington) in 2015, then returned to Hudson last summer. My husband is the pastor at Trinity in Hudson. In Worthington, we adopted three sisters from foster care. In my former life, I taught piano and voice lessons while our boys were young before entering the teaching field about 10 years ago. Now, I lead the worship bands for church on Sunday mornings, usually with at least a couple of my kiddos helping out. At this point, we have three to four living at home. We don't cry when they move out:) We are DIYers and have been in a major remodel project for the past year, but we’re close to being done! Our oldest is getting married this October, so more fun to come!
Interests: Hiking in the mountains (BTW....where are they in Wisconsin?!), playing piano, landscaping, house projects, exercising.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? One of my boys has autism, and seeing his struggles gave me a real passion to help students who struggle in school.
Hometown: Sauk Centre, Minn.
Position: Math teacher, RFHS
Education: UW-River Falls; I am originally from Sauk Centre, Minn. I came to UW-River Falls in 2019 with the intent to become a vet, but I started tutoring and realized I loved teaching others. I ended up tutoring math for three and half years of my college career. I fell in love with the community and area, and decided to student teach at the River Falls middle school and Ellsworth High School. I am so happy that I get to continue my teaching career in this wonderful area.
Family: I currently have a black German shepherd dog named Duke (who I love very much).
Interests: I like to do anything you can think of outdoors, things like hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, snowshoeing, and many others. I like to relax by doing diamond paintings and reading during the winter. I love to get outside as much as possible in the summer.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? Teaching was not my first choice at the beginning of college, but it was always in the back of my mind. It started when I helped my roommate with her math class in college and that led to me tutoring, which I fell in love with. More specifically I realized that I wanted to become a math teacher.
Hometown: Colfax
Position: Instructional Coach, Rocky Branch
Education: UW-River Falls
Family: I have lived in River Falls, with my husband Mike and our four children since I graduated from UWRF. Avery and Olivia have both graduated from River Falls and are attending college. Cal and Riley will be juniors at the high school this year. I have been an educator for 26 years.
Interests: I enjoy the summer sun and any chance to be outside. I enjoy flea markets and repurposing found treasures. Much of our family time is spent attending and watching sporting events. We are always up for visiting new places and trying new things.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? Growing up, I watched my family place a great value on education. I have always seen it as a very noble profession and considered myself very lucky to be a part of my students' learning journey.
Hometown: Spring Valley
Position: Reading at Montessori
Education: UW-Stout. My professional experiences include teaching preschool, planning children programming at the public library, and teaching Title I Reading and Math at the K-5 grade levels.
Family: My husband, Jeremy, and I have three children: Grace, Emma, and William.
Interests: We enjoy spending time riding the ATV trails, spending time outdoors on hiking trails, gardening and exploring, and watching movies. I also enjoy reading (especially mysteries), crafting/creating, and attending my children's events.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I became a teacher to share my love for reading, support children in learning how to read, and to continue to learn new things!
Hometown: River Falls
Position: Math/science teacher, Renaissance
Education: St. John's University for undergrad and Marian University for master’s. I have been working in alternative education for the last 12 years. I love working with students to find a common ground between their life experiences and their education. This will be the third program I have worked in; eight years in the STRIVE program in Hudson and four years in the MECAS program in Milton. During that time, I also coached football for the last 10 years and helped to start and build the varsity hockey program for Milton High School. I love challenging students in the classroom to think in new terms and always strive to find new, creative and innovative ways to engage students in the classroom, and bring the learning to them.
Interests: Coaching, watching, and playing football and hockey is inconceivably exciting! Whether I'm shouting "Inconceivable!" or cheering on my team with a spirited "Have fun storming the castle!" the thrill of these sports fuels my passion. When summer rolls around, I embark on adventures that would make even Westley and Buttercup proud. Camping under the stars, I can almost hear Fezzik saying, "I'm on the brute squad!" And on the golf course, I channel my inner Inigo Montoya, perfecting my swing and whispering, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my par, prepare to die!"
Family: Amidst these endeavors, my heart lies with my cherished family and loyal dog Lola. Together, we create memories that would make Miracle Max exclaim, "It's only mostly dead!" And as a lung cancer fighter/survivor, I face challenges with unwavering determination, echoing Westley's words, "I'll fight you both together or separately. Whichever you prefer." I continue to run and train, preparing for events like the Twin Cities Marathon and TC 10 Mile, because as Princess Buttercup once said, "There's a shortage of perfect runners in this world. It would be a pity to damage yours."
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I come from a family of education; my mother was a first grade teacher and my father worked for UW-River Falls. It wasn't until I was studying abroad in Greece and encountered a professor/archeologist that my true passion for education was unlocked.
Hometown: Hudson
Position: Kindergarten teacher, Greenwood
Education: University of Minnesota-Duluth; I grew up in Hudson where I went to school and eventually went to Duluth to study education. I graduated with a degree in Integrated Elementary and Special Education with a minor in Early Childhood Studies. This will be my first year teaching and I am super excited!
Interests: I was a figure skater for 10 years. I love reading, napping, and most of all Taylor Swift.
Why did you choose teaching as your profession? I have always loved working with kids. Something about the way they view the world is so positive and their smiles are contagious.
