Six new teachers have joined the Owen-Withee School District staff this year. Here is a bit of background and insight into the new crew.

Matthew Grant

Matthew Grant is the new Middle School Special Education teacher. He grew up in Onalaska and currently lives in Chippewa Falls. He has been married for 24 years and has four children.

Grant graduated from Onalaska High School and earned a degree in education at UW-Eau Claire. Previously he worked at Chippewa Falls High School as a paraprofessional.

When asked how he will inspire students to learn, he replied, “I will inspire students to learn through building positive relationships.”

Matthew feels getting to know the students and families in the Owen-Withee school district community will be the best part of his new job.

Matthew said in his free time, “I enjoy spending time with my family, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.”

Citory Turner

Citory Turner joins Matthew in the Special Education Department as the new high school SPED teacher. She grew up in Gilman and currently lives in Medford. Citory is married and has an 8-month-old child. She graduated from Gilman High School and earned her teaching degree from UW-Eau Claire. Her past teaching experience was as a high school Special Education teacher at Medford High School.

Citory said she will inspire students to learn by, “building a rapport with students which is very important, and it helps create their desire to learn.”

She said the best part of her new job will be, “getting to know the students and help them develop the skills they need to be successful in all aspects of life.” 

During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and hunting. 

Kayln Speicher

Kayln Speicher has accepted the 2^nd grade position and has been a substitute teacher in the district. She grew up in Thorp and now lives in Stanley. She has been married for two years and they have three beautiful children, Skylar (7), Carson (2), and Jayce (7 weeks).

Kayln graduated high school from Thorp and college from UW-Superior. She previously taught in Gilman and Thorp.

Kayln said she will inspire students to learn, “by teaching them learning is fun and by trying new things with my students.” She said the best part of her new job will be, “the people I get to work with. Everyone here is so welcoming and makes you feel like you belong and are a part of something bigger.”

Her hobbies and interests include anything outdoors and with her family.

Lyndsey Stachowicz

The district’s new MS/HS Science Teacher is Lyndsey Stachowicz. She grew up in Colby and now lives in Marshfield. Lyndsey has been married to her husband Andrew for seven years. She has a 6-year-old, Finn and a 4-year-old, Oliver.

This new addition to the O-W school staff graduated from Colby High and from UW-Stevens Point with a bachelor’s degree in social science.  She also graduated from Fox Valley Technical School with an associate’s degree as an occupational therapy assistant.  Lyndsey is currently working on a Master of Education in elementary education from Western Governors University. This is her first teaching position.

“I want to make science fun and interactive for my students, so they are engaged and interested in learning,” said Lyndsey.  “I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know my students and co-workers.”  

Free time favorite activities include spending time up at the lake with her family; getting out on the water; and going to live music events as much as she can.  “I have two little boys that keep me busy and so my interests lately have shifted to catching frogs and worms,” added Lyndsey.  

Caroline Wee

Caroline Wee is not new to the O-W School District but has a new position as a 2^nd grade teacher. Last year she taught MS literature, but this subject needed to be dropped this year due to budget cuts. Caroline said she grew up all over Wisconsin and went to 11 different schools. She now lives in Chippewa Falls with her husband Kelly Aardappel. They have a daughter and two beautiful granddaughters aged five and eight.

Caroline graduated from Eau Claire North High School and attended UW-Eau Claire. She taught in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, and Suwon, South Korea.

“I believe the best way to inspire students is through positivity, enthusiasm, and play,” Caroline said. The best part of her job she feels will be, “the students! I love getting to know each of my students’ uniqueness.”

When asked about her hobbies or interests Caroline replied, “I love to travel! I also enjoy golfing with my husband and arts and crafts with my granddaughters. I taught my oldest granddaughter to sew this summer. She was so excited!” 

Amanda Kosar

Amanda grew up in Texas and only moved to Wisconsin recently. Amanda and her husband Tim, and youngest daughter Lauren live in Greenwood and her oldest daughter Hannah stayed back in Texas. Her husband is the school resource officer for Spencer School District and Lauren is a sophomore at Spencer High School.

Amanda graduated college from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas in 2003 and graduated with her Masters from the University of Phoenix in 2009. “Prior to moving to Wisconsin I taught 4th and 5th grade science at Avalon Elementary,” Amanda said. “Then moved to the Summit Leadership Academy where I taught 3rd grade. When we moved to Wisconsin I taught 3rd grade in Greenwood before coming to Owen-WIthee.”

She said she will inspire students to learn, “by getting to know them and their interests, being a role model, being enthusiastic, providing lots of hands-on activities making them active participants, a positive classroom environment, and providing lots of praise and encouragement.”

Amanda looks forward to getting to know and develop relationships with her students and their families. Watching them have the “lightbulb moment.” Her hobbies or interests include reading, spending time with family and friends, exploring all the new places in Wisconsin, and being outside since Texas is so hot its hard to enjoy the outdoors.