Introducing Hamilton's New Teachers!

Photo from Hamilton School District.

McKenzie Mamayek

The 2023-2024 school year has brought 14 new teaching staff members to Hamilton High School and numerous others throughout the rest of the district. These new teachers are so excited to meet everyone at Hamilton and have already expressed how much they love our school spirit and pride. Each new staff member at the high school was asked to talk a little about themselves, their career, and their first impressions of Hamilton. Let’s meet Hamilton’s new teachers!

Name: Ms. Marquea Goike

Email: goikma@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: IMC

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family, etc.)?

I was born in Illinois and lived in Arizona for a few years. I love to do anything outdoors: camping, hiking, backpacking. I am a National Park fanatic! I love sports—specifically, softball, baseball, and football.

How long have you been teaching?

I have taught for 13 years.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I started teaching in Arizona, then Hartland, and now here in Sussex. I was at Silver Spring Intermediate before coming to the high school.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I am in the library as an LTL (Library and Technology Literacy) Instructional Coach.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

I love it! I used to coach softball here, so I have always felt like Hamilton is a special place. The teachers are amazing, the students are wonderful, and the school spirit and energy is contagious!

Name: Mr. Carl Grunewald

Email: grunca@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Tech Ed

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

My wife works at Quad, my stepson is in third grade at Maple Avenue Elementary School, and my daughter is two. My hobbies include deer hunting, watching action movies, and eating food (I especially like eating food while I watch action movies). I am an Iraq War veteran ('10-'11) and spent eight years in the Army National Guard.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 11th year teaching.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I taught for the last four years at Kettle Moraine High School. I taught for four years at the Delavan-Darien School District ,and my first two years teaching were at Webster Transitional School in Cedarburg.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I teach 8th grade AET at Templeton in the mornings, Architecture and Construction I & II this semester, and AC I and Woods Manufacturing I next semester.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

It has a great school community with a strong Applied Engineering Technology Program.

Name: Mrs. Heidi Kawczynski

Email: kawche@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Comm Arts

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I have an amazing three-year-old son named Miles. His dad and I love taking him to museums and parks whenever we get the chance. My favorite thing to do outside of hanging out with my family is to go to concerts. If an artist I like is performing anywhere close, I'll be there! I also enjoy playing tennis and was a high school tennis coach for ten years.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my thirteenth year teaching.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I taught for the last ten years at Waukesha North High School. Before that, I taught at a choice school in Milwaukee called Wisconsin College Prep Academy.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I am teaching Communication Arts 10 and College Reading & Writing. I am also an advisor for the forensics team.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

I am having a great time at Hamilton so far! Everyone is friendly, and homecoming week was a blast. Plus, I have finally figured out how to navigate the maze of these hallways :)

Name: Mr. Kyle Kuechle

Email: kuecky@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Math

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

My hobbies include watching movies, lifting weights, and playing with my two cats named Orville and Rodeo.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my third year teaching. I also student-taught for a semester.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I taught in Phoenix, Arizona for my first two years.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I am teaching Algebra, Geometry, and Advanced Topics this year.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

My first impressions are all positive! I love all of the school pride, and I have loved teaching here so far.

Name: Ms. Rebecca Lloyd

Email: lloyre@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Art

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I am a creative person at heart! I have a long love of *creation* ... people making things, things made by people. There is an endless variety of what people create, what tools/mediums they use, and how they share their work. It's fascinating!!! I look at artwork all the time. I BUY what I can't make myself! I have great respect for the various disciplines in the creative arts. I have a personal history (as a teen) with choir, acting, and 2D visual arts (drawing, painting). As an adult, I've worked in graphic design, print production, art direction, photoshoot development, retouching, digital design, and advertising. I am a "lifelong learner" who is always looking for the next Continuing Ed course in the creative arts to build my experience. Last fall was all ceramics: hand-building and wheel workshops. All I can say is that PRACTICE means everything!

I have two kids (Adelaide (female), 6yrs & 1st Grade; and Avery (male), 8yrs & 3rd Grade). Watching their artistic interest and development grow, from drawing to coding, is my JOY right now!

How long have you been teaching?

This academic year is my 4th year of teaching. Teaching art is a second career for me, and it's still hard to "begin again" after being a professional in another realm. Despite my own growing pains, I am SO excited to be in a position to guide new Artists toward their own interests and the development of their individual talents. They will put the visual Face and Design Experience on our next generation. There is so much to come!

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I started teaching with Milwaukee Public Schools at the beginning of COVID. My first year was entirely virtual! I've been told universally this was the WORST time to enter this career. Each school year since has proven challenging, with new procedures and restrictions. Every successive teaching year became another "first year"—a start-over. I look forward to digging in now and growing a solid "rooted" foundation in teaching art at HHS.

What classes are you teaching this year?

Art Survey. Drawing. Photography Expressions.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

Previously, I worked at HHS for almost 2 years as a paraprofessional in the IMC while I completed my Master of Arts in Teaching program at Carroll University in Waukesha. The first day I walked into this school, I encountered display cases FULL of student ARTWORK! I thought, "I am absolutely in the right place!" Since then, HHS has remodeled its facade, Art Department, and administration ... and of course, today's students have also weathered the effects of attending school through the COVID years. I have much to learn about today's students—my students! Every day moves us forward together.

Name: Ms. Kristin Miller

Email: millkr@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Comm Arts

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I've ridden horses my entire life and used to compete in show jumping. In college, I used to play Ultimate Frisbee competitively. These days, I am an enthusiast of Survivor and The Great British Bake Off and, unsurprisingly for a Comm Arts teacher, I also enjoy reading. I live in West Bend with my boyfriend and our two cats.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my 10th year teaching!

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I taught at Fond du Lac High School for the past 9 years.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I am teaching American Literature and Honors Comm Arts 10.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

I love the amount of school spirit that I see. All of the students have been very welcoming and are excited to explain things about the school that I am finding out for the first time. However, don't ask me where a classroom is because these room numbers make no sense to me!

Name: Ms. Abigail Stank

Email: stanab@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Biology

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

For hobbies, I enjoy kayaking, reading, and anything with my friends. For my family, it is just my mom, dad, and myself, but I do have a leopard gecko named Nova.

How long have you been teaching?

This is my first year officially teaching!

What classes are you teaching this year?

I am teaching Biology and Earth and Space.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

I really like Hamilton and am excited to see what this year and the many following years bring!

Name: Ms. Jennifer Rodig

Email: rodije@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Comm Arts

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I am an eclectic person with a wide variety of hobbies, including sewing historical costumes, playing Dungeons and Dragons, singing, and camping. I have a cat named Toby, who is 20 years old. He's been with me since he was 3. I also have three nieces and a nephew, between the ages of 6 and 9, of whom I am very fond.

How long have you been teaching?

I've been teaching for 7 years.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

First at Homestead High School, then at Hartford, where I worked for five of those seven years.

What classes are you teaching this year?

This year, I teach Comm Arts 10 and American Literature.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

My first impressions of Hamilton are not my first at all: I am a 2012 Hamilton graduate and very glad to finally have landed in the place where I first decided that I wanted to be a teacher. It is a very different campus physically, but it is still the same place of scholarship I have so appreciated through the years.

Name: Mr. Andy Wargin

Email: wargan@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Biology

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I have a wife, a two-year old-daughter (Isla), and a one-year-old son (Aaron.) I am an avid Wisconsin Badger Athletics supporter, as well as other local sports teams.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been in classrooms for ten years. This is my fifth year of teaching.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I taught for four years at Franklin High School in Franklin, WI. There, I taught AP Biology and the ninth grade biology class.

What classes are you teaching this year?

I teach the Human Anatomy & Physiology course and the General Biology course.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

I feel very welcome here. I am excited to make my mark on this school and continue to get to know the wonderful students and staff at HHS.

Name: Mr. Zach Wettengel

Email: wettza@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Fitness Education

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I love to coach football, hunt, golf during the summer, and hang out with friends and family!

How long have you been teaching?

9 years.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

Howards Grove High School for 2 years and Waukesha North High School for 6 years.

What classes are you teaching this year?

Fitness Education and Ace.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

Hamilton has been great so far. The staff and students are very friendly. It has been fun getting to know everybody and seeing what Hamilton is all about! I look forward to the coming weeks and months working in the Hamilton district!

Name: Mrs. Lori Woodford

Email: woodlo@hamilton.k12.wi.us

Subject: Paraprofessional

Questions:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself (hobbies, family)?

I love to participate in theater and support my 3 children by chauffeuring them to their rehearsals and watching their shows as well. I get to work part-time as a gymnastics coach at Midwest Twisters, mainly teaching preschool classes. I enjoy hiking, crocheting, and going to baseball games and stadiums (my family has visited 26 of the 30 MLB ballparks so far). I love learning Sign Language as well.

How long have you been teaching?

I have been a para multiple times over the years.

Have you taught at other places? If so, where?

I have most recently worked in Pewaukee and before that, I was a para in Ohio with time in between Ohio and Pewaukee to get married and raise my children.

What classes are you teaching this year?

So far, I get to help out in an Algebra A class, Physical Science, and Photography.

What are your first impressions of Hamilton?

My first impressions of Hamilton have been hugely positive as I have loved my time getting to know coworkers, students, and the subjects I get to work in. The staff and the students have been so great to get to know!

Please also welcome the following new staff who did not respond to our request for an interview:

Mr. Danny Wichser, Paraprofessional

Mr. Alex Chanto, Band