New teachers have big plans for Reed-Custer

As the first bell rang at the three schools of the Reed-Custer School District, there were plenty of new faces in the halls, including a total of 11 new teachers for the 2021-2022 school year.

The new teachers bring a variety of experience to the district and all share a similar goal—to make the 2021-2022 school year a great one for all the students of Reed-Custer.

Here, a look at those new faculty members and their plans for the year:

DANIELLE SANDERS — Mrs. Sanders joins Reed-Custer teaching pre-K, after earning her Associates and Bachelors Degrees at JJC and National Lewis University, respectively. She previously worked in childcare settings and has experience with all age groups, but mainly taught preschool and younger school-age children. She also has experience as a childcare director, and taught last year with the Reed-Custer/SOWIC preschool program.
“I wanted to be a teacher since I was a child. It was in my blood. I used to play school everyday,” Sanders said. “I believe that all children are unique and should be. I want to make each child feel safe, confident, to be true to who they are. I also believe children learn best through experience, positive reinforcement, and love.”
Sanders said her goal in the 2021-2022 school year is to learn more online platforms, have a creative curriculum, and become more confident in play based teaching.
She also hopes to eventually become a conference presenter for early childhood, focusing on topics such as nature learning and stress relief for teachers.
Sanders has a son who attends JJC in their fire training program, and a teenage daughter who she describes as a great artist with the gift of a kind heart. Her husband is an engineer with BNSF, and they enjoy camping, hiking, kayaking, and visiting wineries.

TYRONE “TY” SMITH — Mr. Smith comes to Reed-Custer with more than 18 years teaching first and second grade. This year he joins the faculty as a Kindergarten teacher, and will also do some coaching on the side.
“I decided to teach elementary school in sixth grade,” Smith said, adding that his sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teachers, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Bately, and Mrs. Roth, respectively, were his influences.
“All children matter and can learn, do your part,” is his teaching philosophy.
Smith said after he researched the area and the district, he though Reed-Custer was a good it, especially coming from another small district. He said his goals for the new year with his students are “Get them fed—Get them home. Let them enjoy learning through a variety of media.”
Mr. Smith said a few interesting facts about him are that he once lived in foster care, and he also once lived in the former West Germany.
He said his likes are coaching all sports, biking, and shopping.
Smith has been married to 15 years to a teacher from Morris. The couple has five children—Jasmine (23), Jayden (17), Anthony (13), Sierra (11), and Lillian (8).
Smith is a graduate of Western Virginia State University.

KATIE HULBERT — Mrs. Hulbert is the new RCHS special education teacher. She comes to Reed-Custer after two years with the Manteno School District and 16 years in the Plainfield School District.
She picked education as a career when still in high school herself, with many family influences.
“I also baby-sat a lot and some families had a child with a disability. My high school history teacher saw past my shyness and pushed me to be more confident in my education,” she said.
Hulbert said she is excited to be closer to home, and for the close-knit family atmosphere offered at Reed-Custer.
“Special education covers abilities and disabilities,” she said of her teaching philosophy. “I believe all students can learn, but as a teacher, we need to build on their experiences, background knowledge, and provide a positive environment. The need to have that teacher who will teach them to learn in other ways in order for them to be successful.”
Her goals for the coming year are to get acclimated to the district and establish a rapport with staff and students.
Hulbert has a Bachelors degree from of Western Illinois University and a Masters degree in curriculum and instruction from Olivet.
Mrs. Hulbert lives in Diamond with her husband and two children. They are both active in their church and teach religious education classes, and enjoy traveling to Florida and spending time with family. Mrs. Hulbert also recently picked up golf as a hobby.

EMILY TAYLOR — Ms. Taylor is a new sixth grade ELA teacher with the district, and comes to Reed-Custer with a Bachelors degree in K-6 elementary education. She has one year of teaching under her belt, teaching seventh and eighth grade literacy and language arts in Iowa.
“Erin Gruwell inspired me to become a teacher and I was lucky enough to meet her and have her talk to my eighth graders my first year,” she said of her decision to go into education. “Every student deserves to be met at their educational, physical, mental, and emotional needs in the classroom.”
Ms. Taylor said a fun fact about her is that her family name is actually Zacharia. But, when her great-great grandfather immigrated to the United States, he misunderstood the question for his last name, and instead gave his occupation—a tailor.
Ms. Taylor is excited to be close to her hometown of Plainfield, and to work in a small community.
“My goal this year is to help my students grow in their needs and goals set by not only the curriculum but also themselves,” she said.

KAYLA SCHEEL — Ms. Scheel, a graduate of NIU with a degree in 5-12 English Education with an ESL endorsement, comes to the Reed-Custer School District for her second year of teaching after first teaching at Palos South Middle School. She joins the faculty as an ELA teacher for eighth grade.
“Both of my parents are middle-level teachers, growing up I was inspired by the bond they developed with students and colleagues,” she said of her decision to teach. “Students would visit years later and thank my parents for the impact they made.”
Scheel said her teaching philosophy is “persevere and prosper.”
“Do not give up when times get tough,” she said. “Change is necessary to flourish the way you want to.”
Scheel said she loves teaching in a smaller community where teachers and students can grow a close bond, as well as encouraging growth both academically and personally.
“I want to show my students not only the benefit to reading literature, but the joy a really great book can bring,” she said of her plans for the school year. “It helps promote creativity and allows exploration of interests.”
Ms. Scheel has traveled to Cancun, Mexico a total of 25 times, and loves sea turtles.
She lives in Woodridge with a cat who is “attached to my hip 24/7” and enjoys running, hiking, tennis, cooking, and summer travel to explore new hiking trails and campgrounds across the country.

BRITTANY ACKERMAN — Mrs. Ackerman, a Reed-Custer High School graduate herself, comes to the district as a new third grade teacher, after student teaching in Wilmington previously. She is a graduate of the University of St. Francis.
“I think I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “The teachers I’ve had all throughout Reed-Custer really made it clear that’s what I wanted to do.”
Of her classroom philosophy, Ackerman said she believes that a classroom should be a safe and caring learning community where students can express themselves.
Her goals for the coming year are to build relationships with her students and her colleagues, and to make every day fun and engaging for her students.
“I always knew I wanted to work in the school district I went to because I had so many teachers who made me want to be a teacher,” she said of seeking a position with her alma mater.
Mrs. Ackerman recently was married, and has two dogs named Black and Blue. She enjoys shopping and crafts, and spending time with her pets.

ABBY SCHONEMAN — Ms. Schoneman joins Reed-Custer as a first grade teacher, with three years of experience teaching fourth grade.
“I first decided to become a teacher in fourth grade,” she said. “My love for teaching blossomed as I worked with kids and observed in a third grade classroom. Teaching was the best decision.”
She said that her teaching philosophy is to teach her students to view each day as a blank slate, and she does the same.
“Each day is a new day to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally,” she said. “My goal is to help students be the best version of themselves.”
Schoneman said she was drawn to the sense of community and connection that Reed-Custer offers.
“My goals for this year are to apply responsive classroom tactics and my knowledge on the workshop model to a new grade level,” she said. “I want to further my knowledge on the process of language acquisition to assist in developing reading skills.”
Ms. Schoneman and her fiancé are planning a wedding for next May. She grew up in Western Springs and Pekin.
Ms. Schoneman lives in Coal City with her fiancé and her dog, and loves spending time outdoors, with family, with friends, and reading.
She is a graduate of Illinois State University.

ALYSSA TIANGCO — Ms. Tiangco is excited to return to her alma mater of Reed-Custer to serve as the new RCES social worker.
She holds both a Bachelors and Masters degree in social work from Aurora University, and completed her internship at Morris Grade School.
“My sophomore year of undergrad I stumbled upon social work and what it was about, and knew it was the job/path for me,” she said of her decision to become a school social worker.
Tiangco said her philosophy is to give students a safe place to learn, grow, and feel heard.
And, she’s happy to be back in her home district.
“I love the district and people and the area,” she said. “It’s a perfect place to start my career.”
Her goals for the new year are to get settled in as her first year on the job as a school social worker, help her students and staff in every way possible, and enjoy every money and memory she makes.
Ms. Tiangco is the oldest of three girls who all attended Reed-Custer schools. She recently moved to Naperville with her boyfriend, Marc, and enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her pets.
Her other hobbies include painting, watching television, and shopping.
Ms. Tiangco will also serve as the freshman volleyball coach, as a former player herself for RCHS. A fun fact about her—her nickname at RCHS was “Taco,” and followed her through college.

FAWN AMES — Ms. Ames will be teaching frosh/sophomore biology and chemistry at RCHS this year. She comes to the district with a bachelors in biology (with a minor in education) and a Masters of Public Health.
Ames has seven years of experience teaching in downstate Bement and Taylorville, where she taught 11 prep courses including what she calls “lots of fun biology elective courses.”
“I had an idea earlier, but I decided during my undergrad that I wanted a career where I can learn and help others,” she said of her decision to go into education. “The positive relationships I had with some of my teachers made me want to become a teacher.”
Ames said her teaching philosophy is to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, engaging in community connections, and creating an encouraging environment for growth.
An only child raised by a single mother, Ames said she highly values her family and her pets. She is originally from Springfield, but is excited to live in the area and explore. She enjoys working out, reading, painting, and Netflix. She has also volunteered at an animal shelter and a domestic violence shelter..
Ms. Ames has traveled to seven different countries, and spent a summer as the West Nile Virus Surveillance Inspector in Sangamon and Menard counties in downstate Illinois.
“I am looking forward to meeting my students and forming connections between the classroom and community at both a local and larger level,” she said. “I’m also excited to teach chemistry for the first time, as it will provide lots of opportunities for hands-on learning.”

RENEE FRANTINI — Mrs. Frantini joins the faculty at Reed-Custer as ELL Support, after 12 years teaching third grade in Crest Hill and one year teaching fourth grade in Bourbonnais.
She has a Bachelors degree from the University of St. Francis and a Masters from American College of Education.
She said she knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age, when she would “play” school. She said that over time, many amazing teachers and coaches solidified that decision.
“I believe all kids can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way,” she said. “But, they all can learn and meet expectations.”
Mrs. Frantini said the small town feel of the elementary school—despite its new state of the art facilities—are part of what drew her to Reed-Custer. She is also excited about the programs and opportunities for students.
“My goals for the coming year are to form relationships with my students and colleagues and improve my students’ academic performance,” she said.
Mrs. Frantini said she and her family recently built their dream home where they are living a simple “homesteading” life. When not engaging in DIY projects, she enjoys camping, thrifting, and spending time with her three children and her grandson.

LAUREN WALSH — Mrs. Walsh comes to the district after 19 years teaching at Gardner Grade School. She will teach K-5 Computer Science.
She said she was first inspired to teach after watching her mother teach preschool. Her teaching philosophy is “give all students a safe and caring learning environment so they can learn to their full potential.”
Walsh said her goals for the coming year is to make technology fun and exciting for her students.
She is excited to be teaching in the same district where her own children attend and to work close to home.
Mrs. Walsh has been married to her husband Bill for 23 years. The couple has three children—Cole (19) who attends the University of Kansas, Quinn (15), a freshman at RCHS, and Maeve (7), a second grader at RCES. Her children all play hockey with the Jaguar Hockey Club, and she also serves on the board of directors for the club as the registrar/secretary.
“I love anything technology related and being a hockey mom!” she said.
Mrs. Walsh has a bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Western Illinois University and a Masters in Educational Technology from Concordia University Chicago.