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Four new instructors and two full-time substitutes will join the teaching staff of Luverne Public Schools as classes begin Tuesday for the 2020-21 school year.
At Luverne Elementary, Madeline Jones will begin her second year of teaching with first-graders. She spent her first year teaching at Tri-City United Schools in LeCenter.
The New Prague native graduated from high school in 2015 before attending Minnesota State University, Mankato, for elementary education. She will finish a master’s degree in reading early next year.
Jones will make her home in Luverne, a familiar location as her grandparents, Marlene and Robert DeSplinter, still live here.
“It will be nice to be close to them,” Jones said. “I’m really looking forward to becoming a part of the Luverne community. This is a great school district and the Luverne community is very welcoming.”
Lucas Larson will teach high school government and economics. He is also the assistant tennis coach.
Larson graduated from Winona High School in 2016 and attended the University of Minnesota, Morris. He received a bachelor’s degree in social studies and history.
“This will be my first full year in the classroom,” he said.
Larson student-taught at Minnewaska and Benson high schools before accepting the teaching position in Luverne.
“I am looking forward to exploring the subject of government with students during such an important time in our country’s history,” Larson said.
Rudi Vennard will be the elementary speech therapist. She lives in Hartford, South Dakota, with her significant other, Dave, and the couple is expecting their first child in October.
The Washington High School, Sioux Falls, graduate begins her tenth year of teaching, having spend the past nine years at Southgate Elementary School in Austin.
She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communication disorder from Minnesota State University, Mankato, finishing in 2011.
Jake Aukes will teach elementary special education.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in special education from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
The Luverne High School 2015 graduate is the son of Mark and Mary Aukes of Luverne.
To facilitate a more fluent substitute teacher schedule, Luverne School Board members hired two full-time substitute teachers. The hiring was approved Thursday.
Charlie Sietsema, a 2015 graduate of Luverne High School, will be the full-time elementary substitute.
He attended Winona State University and received a degree in elementary education.
Stacey Thone, of Luverne, previously substitute-taught in the Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek districts. She graduated from the University of Northwestern in St. Paul with an elementary education degree and a minor in pre-primary.
She will be the full-time substitute teacher for Luverne Middle-High School.