7 new teachers and staff at Elk Mound

By LeAnn R. Ralph

ELK MOUND —  The Elk Mound school district has a total of seven new teachers and staff for this year.

Jennifer Olson

Jennifer Olson is a 1997 graduate of East Troy High School. She graduated from UW-Eau Claire in 2002 with an undergraduate degree in special education, cognitive disabilities and learning disabilities PK-12. She earned a graduate degree in 2009 in special education emotional behavioral disabilities 6-12.

Jennifer will serve as the special education director and director of pupil services for the Elk Mound school district.

She taught special education for three years at Eleva-Strum and four years at Eau Claire and was the director of special education and pupil services for four years at St. Croix Central.

When asked why she chose to apply for the position, Jennifer said, “I have heard wonderful things about the Elk Mound community, and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Brittney Foss

Brittney Foss is a 2008 graduate of Boyceville High School and a 2012 graduate of UW-River Falls with a degree in choral and general music education. She will be teaching fifth grade general music, middle school choir and high school choir at Elk Mound.

When asked why she chose to apply for the position, Brittney said, “My family was nearby, and I have lived nearby since middle school.”

Ben Robertson

Ben Robertson is a 2009 graduate of Robbinsdale Armstrong and a December 2012 graduate of UW-Eau Claire with a degree in special education cognitive disabilities and learning disabilities. He will be teaching elementary special education (fourth grade co-teaching) at Elk Mound. He served as a long-term substitute teacher in Altoona prior to coming to Elk Mound.

When asked why he chose to apply for the position, Ben said, “I was encouraged by several teachers to apply at Elk Mound because of their excellent reputation.”

Amy Kent

Amy Kent is a 1990 graduate of Altoona High School and a 1998 graduate of the University of Minnesota – Mankato and Western Technical College with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts.

She will be teaching middle school and high school art at Elk Mound.

Dylan Pronschinske

Dylan Pronschinske is a 2008 graduate of Arcadia High School and a 2013 graduate of UW-LaCrosse with a degree in mathematics education. He will be teaching Algebra I, Intermediate Algebra and Geometry at Elk Mound.

Jonathan Langreck

Jonathan Langreck is a 2003 graduate of Neillsville High School and a 2009 and 2012 graduate of UW-Stout with a degree in vocational rehabilitation and special education. He will be teaching high school special education at Elk Mound.

When asked why he chose to apply for the position, Jonathan said, “I really like the Chippewa Valley area and the small-town atmosphere.”

Brandon Powell

Brandon Powell is a 2005 graduate of Elk Mound High School and 2010 graduate of UW-Stout with a degree in science education. He will be teaching middle school (sixth and seventh grade) science at Elk Mound.

Brandon previously taught at Menomonie High School.

When asked why he chose to apply for the position, Brandon said, “I am a local graduate, and I wanted to get back home.”