Wallace welcomes trio of new educators
Photos by Josh McDonald Pictured (clockwise from bottom left) are new Wallace Jr./Sr. High School teachers Danyel Ward, Brandon Voorhees and Bryn Cotter.
WALLACE — The beginning of a new school year generally means new faces, both students and staff.
This year, Wallace Jr./Sr. High School welcomes three new teachers into the fold — Bryn Cotter, Brandon Voorhees and Danyel Ward are all beginning their first years as Miners.
Cotter, a 2007 WHS graduate, has taken the reins of the popular screen printing class; a class that actually set Cotter on her career path all those years ago.
“I have been a freelance graphic design artist for 10 years working from home doing contract jobs,” Cotter said. “So when this position opened, they approached me about it.”
“This class is actually what set me on the course to be a graphic designer. I took the class for four years, including twice as a senior,” she added.
Cotter has it going from the experience standpoint. From an educational standpoint, she is really enjoying her first year as a teacher.
“It’s been a new challenge,” she said. “I really like it, it’s really fun.”
Danyel Ward has joined the WHS special education department, covering reading, math and science, among others.
Ward was recently a paraeducator at Kootenai High School, but now commutes to Wallace each day because she truly loves what she is doing at WHS.
“I have amazing support from my administration, I get to work with a wonderful staff and the kids here are just amazing,” Ward said. “Everyone here has the best attitudes and I’m super excited to see where this year takes all of us.”
Brandon Voorhees has taken over the role of instructor for WHS’s engineering technology department, which has him teaching metal shop, wood shop, as well as AutoCAD, a computer-aided design and drafting software application.
While he has experience tutoring at the college level, this is Voorhees’ first year as a full-time educator and he is excited to see where his students take his instruction.
“I’m looking forward to keeping them engaged, that is my primary focus,” Voorhees said. “I’m just so happy to be here. I’m getting the chance to teach kids a skill that they can use going forward, or they can see if it’s something they really even like doing.”
From the sounds of things, these teachers have had a solid first few weeks of school.
“These three have been such a good fit for us here,” said Chris Lund, WHS principal. “We are very excited to have them.”