Eric Beckner
Every year I.S.D. 166 welcomes new teachers to the school district, and this year is no exception. Below is a brief introduction to this dynamic group of instructors, a new counselor, a new occupational therapist, and new school secretary.
Haley Scott was hired to teach pre-school full time. Haley is from Maple Plain, Minnesota. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 2018 and this past spring graduated with a Masters in Elementary Education. She has worked in school/daycare settings since she was 16. In her bio Haley says, “I believe that compassionate and empathetic teaching creates change makers and world leaders.”
Former school board member and substitute school secretary Jeanne Anderson was hired as the new school secretary. Jeanne has a Bachelor of Science degree in Office Administration with minors in Business Administration, Computers and English from Bemidji State University. She and her husband Steve live in Lutsen. Their oldest child, Leif is starting his third year at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus and Malin will be a senior at CCHS this fall.
Eric Beckner was hired as the Early Childhood Special Education teacher. Eric is from Warroad, Minnesota, attending UMD after high school. For the last three years he has worked in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as an Early Special Education teacher. “I look forward to bringing my experience in Special Education to this community.”
Thomas Long will be the new Sawtooth Elementary fourth grade teacher. Originally from Maryland, Thomas moved to Minneapolis in 2015. He recently relocated to Lutsen and lives in a cabin with Brooks, his 10-year-old black lab who is a rescue dog found on the streets of Puerto Rico.
“When I was living in Minneapolis, I worked as a special education para for a few years at a charter high school in downtown St. Paul. I fell in love with the work and decided to go back to school and become a licensed teacher.” Thomas said his first choice to teach was in Cook County.
Kelly Kotowicz is the new school counselor.
Said Kotowicz in her bio; “I became a school counselor so I could make a difference in children’s lives. I wanted to help shape themselves into the best person they could be and help be productive and sincere members of our world.”
April Knight will be the district’s new occupational therapist.
April is from Greenville, South Carolina. She has been coming to Grand Marais for the last ten years to explore the BWCA. She is looking forward to being part of the community, “and not just a tourist.”
With 13 years of teaching special education and physical education behind her, Lill Raynard was hired as a special education teacher. Lill grew up playing hockey and baseball with her three brothers in Midwestern Ontario. She came to Minnesota to play college hockey and has been here ever since. “I like being a teacher because I think kids are funny and I enjoy learning from my students.”
Lacy Fischer, who has worked for the school district since last March, will once again be the middle/ high school special education teacher. Lacy brings 15 years of experience to her position. She moved here from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, and has four children ages 17, 15, 13, and 11.
“I became a teacher after working as a paraprofessional at a school and fell in love with the job. I pursued my Masters degree and then my autism license as I wanted to learn and grow as an educator.”
Nancie Deming is the new Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) worker. She will work with families with children between the ages of birth to kindergarten.
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