When kids return to their classrooms next week, more than 30 new teachers will help welcome them to the 2016-2017 school year.
Great things are expected of them and the rest of Clarkston Community Schools teaching staff, said Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock.
“It’s not easy to get a job as a teacher. Each of these people goes through a comprehensive application and interview process,” Rock said. “Their initial orientation, ongoing learning, expertise, and commitments to kids have a huge effect on how they serve our kids for the long term.”
The new teachers include:
Julie A. Crist, Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Teacher at North Sashabaw Elementary.

Crist went to Novi High School from 2004-2008, where she was member of National Honors Society and played clarinet in marching band. She lives in Novi, and attended Michigan State University, where she earned her Masters of Arts in Special Education, with endorsement in ASD, and Bachelors’s degree in Child Development.

She taught at Doherty Elementary in West Bloomfield from 2013-2016, and Glengary Elementary in Walled Lake from 2012-2013. Her hobbies include reading, writing, biking and rock climbing.
“I have lived in Michigan my whole life. My favorite vacation spot is Higgins Lake, Mich.,” she said. “I have a younger sister name Jamie and an English Springer Spaniel named Zoey. I play the guitar and clarinet. I enjoy rock climbing and being outside. I am a 24 year leukemia survivor and love to teach.”
Kaitlin Farver will be a Spanish Teacher at Sashabaw Middle School, North Sashabaw Elementary and Bailey Lake Elementary.
Farver went to Romeo High School. Activities included NHS, Band, Theater. Honors, Perfect attendance award, highest honors upon graduation. Her present hometown is Oakland Township.
She went to Saginaw Valley State University 2014, was in Living Leaders program, dorm and board, theater. She graduated with highest honors. She is currently attending Oakland University.
She previously taught at Oakview Middle School in Lake Orion Sept. 2015-June 2016. Her hobbies include: spinning and knitting yarn, yoga, movies, hobby farming, reading, traveling, pet-a-pet therapy with her dogs (they visit senior

centers).

“My husband and I attended Romeo High School together, as well as SVSU. Nearly nine years after meeting, we finally got married June 2016. I am currently working on an MA in counseling. Nate has yet to choose what to do next (he is a history/PE teacher). We love cooking, traveling, and watching movies as well as our two cats. We hope to one day start our own family and our own food and fiber farm.”
Ciara Marti will be a School Psychologist.
Marti went to Bedford High School and was involved in varsity tennis, National Honors Society, and Student Council.
She attended University of Michigan – Ann Arbor April 2008, University of Toledo, MA in 2013 and Ed. S. in 2015. Present hometown is Farmington Hills, Mich.
Her previous psychology experience includes Wyandotte Public Schools from 2015-2016, and an internship

atBerkley Public Schools, 2014-2015.Her hobbies include baking, playing tennis, and traveling. She also enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as her English bulldog, Dash.
“I am a born and raised University of Michigan Wolverines Football fan. I always look forward to fall football Saturdays, even traveling back for several games a season when we lived in Washington DC. This year has been especially exciting as I am recently engaged and have been planning our wedding for 2017. When we aren’t wedding planning or watching Michigan football, we like to kayak, play tennis, cook, and play with Dash.”

Laura Monticello will be a Student Support Services Special Education teacher.
Monticello went to St. Clair High School where she played four years of varsity soccer, Yearbook Editor, NHS member and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Her hometown is Grand Rapids.
Monticello went to Michigan State University, where she got her Bachelors in Special Education – learning disabilities, MA in Special Education. She was a member of the Spartan Ski Club. She also studied abroad in Europe.
Previously she taught at Ionia High School from Aug. 2014-June 2016, and Knapp Forest Elementary from Aug. 2013-May 2014. Her hobbies include Red Wings hockey and other Detroit sports teams, Michigan State football, traveling, skiing and live music.
“In 2014, I donated 65 percent of my liver to my dad who had been placed on a transplant wait list for many months. This procedure saved his life and meant a lot to our entire family. He is now better than ever and lives with my mom in St. Clair. Livers are a regenerative organ and now we both have fully functioning and full sized livers.”

Lauren Persin will be a Student Support Services social worker.
Persin went to West Bloomfield High School where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Her present hometown is West Bloomfield.
She went to Ohio State University (BSSW) June 2012, University of Michigan (MSW) July 2013. She received the Garland Academic Excellence Award, Dean’s List 12 out of 12 quarters, National Buckeye Scholarship, Trustees Scholarship, Undergraduate Student of the Year 2012, BSSW with honors and research distinction, school social worker certificate.
She interned at Haviland Elementary in Waterford from July 2013-June 2016, North Farmington High School from Sept. 2012-June 2013, and Beechwood Elementary in Whitehall City from Sept. 2011-June 2012. Her hobbies include exercise, reading, college football, spending time with friends and family and country music.
Jeremy Rowe will be a teacher at Clarkston High School. He went to No

rth Farmington High School and participated in Games Club, JV football, freshman Football, and varsity football. His hometown is Farmington Hills. He went to Central Michigan University, 2012. Wayne State University, present. He was involved in IM Football, basketball, hockey, Writing Center, baseball, Student Government, softball. Taught at Shared Time in Livonia and Northville High School in Northville.
Hobbies include reading, board games, bowl, role-play games, writing, card games, computer games, and drawing.
Leah Schmitz will be a special education teacher at Bailey Lake Elementary.
Schmitz went to Troy Athens High School, where she was captain of the soccer team, Cum Laude and a TTA Member (Teens Taking Action against drug and alcohol abuse). Her hometown is Troy.

She went to Western Michigan University, April 2016, CEC Member, Magna Cum Laude. Previously she taught at Portage Central Middle School in Portage , Sept.-Dec. 2015, Independence Elementary, Jan.-Apr 2016, and Andersonville Elementary, May-June 2016. Her hobbies include playing soccer, golf, reading, spending time with family and friends, wake boarding, biking, and being outdoors.
“I grew up in Troy with my dad, Mike, mom, Lynda, sister, Jessa, and brother, Tyler. We spent our childhood engrossed in sports, including hockey, soccer and swimming. Family has always been very important to us. My sister lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, Mike, who are expecting their first son. My brother lives in Berkley, Michigan, working for Faurecia. In my free time, I love being active, and just being surrounded by people. I have always wanted to become a special education teacher. I have been dedicated to my studies, and making personal connections to ensure joining a district I love. I have been in Clarkston Schools as a student teacher and long term substitute. From the short time I have had, I was able to fall in love with the district. I am so excited for my future with CCS and feel blessed to have such an incredible opportunity at my dream district, doing my dream job.”
Hanna Spickard will be a Special Education teacher at Springfield Plains Elementary.
Spickard went to East Lansing High School. Her hometown is Fowlerville, Mich.

She went to Eastern Michigan University, Dec 2014, Dean’s list 2012-2014. She previously taught at Kreeger Elementary in Fowlerville, Aug.-Dec. 2014, Fowlerville High School, Jan. 2015-June 2016.
Her hobbies include cooking and baking with family, fishing in Minnesota, walking/biking outdoors, home projects, crafts, reading an excellent book, and cuddling their golden doodle puppy.
“My husband, Steve, and I have been married for 15 years. Steve is a sixth grade math teacher in Walled Lake. We have two children, Reed, 11, and Grace, 9. Our ‘furry’ children include Oscar, our ‘portly’ black and white cat, and Rizzo, our 1 1/2 year old golden doodle pup. Our children enjoy volleyball, football, basketball, and baseball. We spend a lot of family time at their sporting events and practice. We enjoy whatever comes our way and try to grow and learn from our experiences as a family team.”
Chelsea Treece will be a third grade teacher at Bailey Lake Elementary.
Treece went to Lake Orion High School and participated in varsity soccer and was the Editor-in-Chief of Yearbook. Her hometown is Burton.

She went to Oakland University, 2016, Dean’s list from 2014-2016 and taught at Clarkston Elementary from Aug. 2015-April 2016. Her hobbies include soccer, golf, canning jam, reading, hiking, playing with her dog and cats.
“I am the oldest of three girls. I am happily married to an accountant (human calculator)! I have three fur-babies. A dog named Tyson, and two cats, Charlie and Gnarles. I love all sports and love being outdoors.”
More new teachers will be featured in next week’s Clarkston News.