By Jef Rietsma
Continuing a December tradition, Vicksburg Community Schools administrators introduced staff members new to the district in 2023-24 during the Dec. 11 Board of Education meeting.
School principals, starting with Adam Brush from Vicksburg High School, took turns acknowledging the district’s newest employees and sharing anecdotes about them.
- Laura Hayman, agriscience. Hayman has worked at the school since 2018 as a CTE aide but now teaches agriscience full time.
- Maureen Mead, English. Brush said Mead worked in Wisconsin after graduating from Western Michigan University. Mead said she and her family returned to Michigan to be closer to relatives.
- Bob Verduzco, geometry and algebra. Brush said Verduzco oversaw the in-school suspension room in 2005.
Next up was Vicksburg Middle School Principal Allison Dygert.
- Michelle Krob, seventh-grade English. Dygert said Krob previously taught at White Pigeon Community Schools. Krob is in her ninth year of teaching and coaches volleyball.
- Matthew Musialczyk, seventh-grade science and eighth-grade English. Musialczyk, who was born in Poland, previously taught at Galesburg-Augusta.
- Jenny Stubbs, extended learning opportunity for English-learning students. Stubbs spent 29 years in Hartford, where her work included teaching children of migrants.
Vicksburg Pathways High School Principal Rick Place took his turn.
- Shelly Johnson, student support coordinator. Place said Johnson also works as student success coordinator.
- Rob Nolan, science. Nolan is from England, and previously taught in London and Germany. Nolan worked for the district as a contracted employee before COVID-19.
Amie McCaw, Sunset Lake Elementary principal was next.
- Amanda Dabideen, special education. Dabideen was Sunset Lake’s building-wide substitute last year. McCaw said Dabideen returned to school and received certification to teach special education. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree.
- Allison Brussee, behavior specialist. Brussee works at all three elementary schools. McKay said Brussee has 14 years of experience working with students of trauma and students in foster care.
- Michelle Turczyn, fifth grade. Turczyn has a K-8 math endorsement. She taught six years in Arizona and three years in Constantine before coming to Vicksburg.
- Triston Lee, fourth grade. McKay said Lee is new to the profession. He is a native of Buchanan and a Western Michigan graduate.
Tobey Elementary Principal Mike Barwegen followed.
- Melissa Wilcox, third grade. Wilcox worked as a paraprofessional at Tobey before taking on the third-grade job on a full-time basis.
- Emily Duncan, fifth grade. A Paw Paw native, Duncan is an alumna of Western Michigan University. She is a first-year teacher.
Indian Lake Elementary Principal Sarah Bacalia wrapped up the introductions.
- Josh Cardosa, physical education. Cardosa, a Mendon native, is a Vicksburg graduate and earned a degree from Western Michigan. He is an assistant coach for Vicksburg’s varsity boys soccer and varsity girls basketball teams
- Catherine Fry, third grade. Bacalia said Fry previously worked as an after-school tutor at Indian Lake. She has a master’s degree from Xavier University.
Following the Dec. 11 meeting, Superintendent Keevin O’Neill said the district is fortunate to have such a high caliber group of new employees.
“It gives me great pleasure to welcome all our new teachers to the VCS family,” O’Neill said, “an outstanding blend of experience, positivity and expertise to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.”
