BVSD add new classroom teachers, staff

When Brandon Valley students headed back to classes last week, they were greeted by 20 new teachers in classrooms throughout the district. This week and in the weeks to come, the Journal introduces you to this new class of Brandon Valley educators:

 

ART – BVHS & VSE

Noelle Vainikka

Noelle Vainikka’s new teacher questionnaire is filled with interesting tidbits about her life. She grew up in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, graduating from Irondale Senior High School in 2008. From there, she headed to South Dakota State, where she combined two of her passions – a desire to teach and a love for art – into art education and English education degrees.

She remained in Brookings for a year to work as a coordinator at the Boys & Girls Club, taking charge of the afterschool tutoring program, and now joins the BVSD, where she will teach art at both the high school and Valley Springs Elementary.

“I was drawn to the suburban size and potential for growth (here),” she said. “Brandon Valley is an excellent district and I’m excited to start my teaching career here.”

Another interesting fact about Vainikka is that she is No. 6 of a dozen kids in her family. She has 10 nieces and 20 nephews, in addition to “many aunts, uncles and cousins all across the country.”

Her interests and hobbies are many: drawing, painting, sewing, cooking, writing, reading, and hanging out with her extensive family.

And one last interesting fact, she was born on Christmas Eve. “So, my mom celebrated my half-birthday in the summer, too,” she said.

COUNSELOR

Kimberly Shemon

With a passion to help children and families, Kimberly Shemon has the opportunity to do just that in her new position as an elementary school counselor. 

“This position allows me to encourage students on their education journey,” she said. 

Shemon said her “genuine warmth and caring approach”, gives her the ability to empower each child to reach their greatest potential.

Shemon, who is originally from Echo, Minn., received her social work and early childhood degree from Augustana University, and her masters in school counseling from South Dakota State. Prior to coming to BV, she was an elementary counselor in Dell Rapids for two years. Shemon said the BVSD’s reputation is what lured her to apply for this position.

“I’ve always heard wonderful things about the district,” she said.

Shemon and her husband, Dean, are parents to three, Daniel, Anna and Isaac, and she lists, “Making memories with my family,” as her hobby.

BRANDON 

ELEMENTARY

Rachael Fode

“I have a few passions in life, and two of them are, one, the arts, and two, watching/helping students grow and learn to appreciate, perform, and express themselves through music!” shares Rachael Fode, who will teach music at Brandon Elementary. 

And if the Fode name sounds familiar, it should, as her husband, Jeff, has been teaching music at Robert Bennis Elementary for 10 years.

“I love Brandon!” Fode said. “My boys (Isaac, 11, and Andrew, 8) have always been in the school district. It’s a district that values education that emphasizes excellence in all things. The teachers that I know are extraordinarily strong and care so much about the students and their education. Brandon is a huge supporter of the arts, both in education and in the community, and that is naturally quite important to my musical family. It’s one of the best school districts in South Dakota, and I feel truly humbled and blessed to be able to be a part of it!”

Fode grew up south of the border in nearby George, Iowa, where she graduated from George-Little Rock High School in 1997.

Her prior experience includes stints at Tracy, Minn. (7-12 vocal music teacher); Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls (9-12 assistant vocal director); music director at Holy Cross Lutheran; media director at Gloria Dei Lutheran; and the West Lyon School District (7-12 vocal music teacher).

Her hobbies, which are family-centric, are varied. 

“Snow and water skiing, baseball, building and creating things, oil painting, riding motorcycle, and ANYTHING with my family,” she said. “My favorite thing to do is playing, working, vacationing - anything with my family.”

Her students will also learn that she’s high-energy.

“I’m a naturally energetic person, and so I teach with lots of enthusiasm and I love of music! (I hope they can handle it!).”

 

Jessica Rasmussen

Jessica Rasmussen will now teach in the school district where she received her education, graduating from BVHS in 2013.

“(This is) my hometown school, so I know from experience that this truly is the best district in the state,” she said.

Rasmussen has joined the BVSD staff as an early childhood education teacher at Brandon Elementary. This is her first teaching assignment since graduating from South Dakota State, where she majored in early childhood education, and earned endorsements in special education and kindergarten.

Babysitting and teaching Sunday school is what led her to this career. “When the opportunity arose, I began job shadowing at Brandon Elementary in high school,” she said.

Rasmussen is excited to “try new things” based on her students’ specific interests. That approach, she adds, will ultimately benefit their learning styles within the classroom.

Jessica and her husband, Grant, had quite an exciting July. Within four days, they exchanged wedding vows and closed on their first home.

In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, going on bike rides, hammocking, reading, cross-stitching, and spending time with family.

 

The BVJ’s new teacher series continues next week.