![Striking a pose following their group dance, the 2024 Mr. Longhorn contestants welcome their audience to the show. Throughout the night, the nine competitors participated in an occupational section, skits for the talent portion and a fashion attire show before finalists were interviewed. “It's a fun time getting to hang out with my friends and doing [our] acts. I think I'm most excited for my performance with [seniors Bart Connors, Gavin Hamlin and Colin Hughes]. I like that I get to dance a little bit. I don't think I'm very good, but I'm gonna try my best to put on a show,” contestant and senior Henry Wild said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_9759-1200x798.jpg)
![Kicking off dress rehearsal, Mr. Longhorn contestant and senior Carson Hughes goes over the group routine alongside other competitors. With just two days of practice, all participants learned the entirety of their introductory dance, chose an occupation to embody and crafted skits for the show. “The best part of this [whole thing] was learning the dance and just practicing with the guys. We [have to] try not to laugh the whole time, but we're having a lot of fun,” Hughes said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_5112-1-e1732164157549-1200x812.jpg)
![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
![Latin students pose for a group photo in front of historical ruins in Italy. From March 13 to March 23, the Latin department traversed cities in Italy to immerse students in an educational experience of a lifetime. “I enjoyed being able to learn about the different cultures. [The trip] encouraged me to see other people's lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240318_092633493.jpg)
![From Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, Parkway West High is displaying a wide array of art pieces made by students ranging from elementary to high school. All classes were represented on the displays in both the art wing and the main foyer of the school. “[Art] benefits me because in the middle of a busy day. I can just relax and have some fun doing art and it makes me happy. I think it's important that you show art in the art show so that people can get inspired by it and be inspired to create their own pieces; it’s really impactful,” sophomore Dhiya Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![Voter registration is open for November’s presidential election through Oct. 9. On Oct. 2, students at West High were able to receive assistance with online registration in the library. “When I went into the library to [register to] vote, [librarian] Lauren Reusch made completing my registration very easy and clear. It’s important to learn about voting and it’s important that schools help with voter registration, because it can be confusing for first-time voters,” senior Gianna Lionelli said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-03-at-1.53.06 PM-1200x795.png)
![Junior TJ Polack plays his saxophone solo at halftime for the 2024 marching band show, ‘Coloring Book.’ This year, Polack was one of two soloists in the marching band. “[Polack] is very hard on himself. [His saxophone solo] sounds amazing [and] everyone [cheers] for him; [still], somehow, he thinks it’s a bad performance and he's down. What he does is not easy. It takes a lot of confidence as a person [and] a lot of musical skill to be expressive, and he's doing an amazing job,” drum major and senior Dominic Perez said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.jpg)
![Sophomore Isaiah Meese smiles after his Eagle Scout Ceremony. Meese has participated in the scouting program since first grade, learning new aspects of life and growing a community of a second family. “I almost didn’t do [boy scouting], but I'm glad I eventually did start doing it. I regret that I wasn't [working towards Eagle Scout during COVID]. It might not always seem like the most rewarding thing, but if you put your time into it, there's a good chance you'll get quite a lot out of it: friends, new activities and hobbies, or just more experience,” Meese said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1004-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Justin Lutz arranges his collection of basketball sports cards. Lutz started his first hand at entrepreneurship with an online store on eBay, dealing and trading in the sports card market. “I was already collecting sports cards [before], so I knew a lot of these players and I understood the market. I ventured into other sports, but I really stayed with the ones that I knew the most, [like] basketball. It’s really important to focus on what you know because it's so much easier than starting completely from scratch in a market that you don't understand. Find something that you're interested in," Lutz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-design-2.png)
![Standing in front of the American Sign Language program’s mural, junior Brooke Hoenecke signs with freshman Darren Young. Hoenecke began cadet teaching for ASL this year alongside working towards earning her seal of biliteracy. “I was in ASL class when I received the email [that I qualified for the seal]. I was jumping up and down with my teacher and the rest of the class. One of the reasons why I took cadet teaching this year was so that I could prepare for the Seal of Biliteracy and be immersed in ASL,” Hoenecke said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hoenecke.jpeg)
![Business and personal finance teacher Evan Stern stands in front of his classroom. After facing hardships growing up, Stern learned how to deal with them with the help of role models like his dad. “We dealt with some trauma when I was in middle school, and my dad had to be responsible for all three of us while he was working full-time. I know he had to sacrifice a lot. I'm sure it was really hard for him, but looking back on it, he did a really good job . I didn't appreciate everything that he did at the time because I was so young. Now, I'm engaged and probably going to have kids of my own in the next couple of years so I [am starting] to look at things differently,” Stern said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Untitled-7-1200x900.jpg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
![Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is honesty. I wouldn't say I was the best teenager, but I learned very quickly in high school to always be forthcoming and honest with my parents because it always ended up serving me better in the long run. [My parents] might have been upset with me [and the mistake I made], but I wasn't going down the rabbit hole of a lie because that was just going to get me into more trouble,” Mangrich said. “I passed [that lesson] along to my nephew. Honesty is always your best approach; just don’t lie. I say that to my son all the time. There's no advantage to lying, [and] that's a huge takeaway [from] how my parents raised me.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-26-10.10.12-AM.png)
![Social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian smiles in front of his classroom. Bashirian didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher from early on, but he found the choice to be a good one. “I started [teaching] because there was an opportunity for me to experiment with it. Fortunately, [teaching] was a good choice. In 2012, I became a teacher at Parkway at the Alternative Discipline Center, which is where they send suspended kids to keep being educated if they choose. I spent six years there and then I got drafted to West, [where] I've been for about six years,” Bashirian said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-35-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Angela Frye stands behind her desk in her classroom. Frye went through a lot of personal struggles to get to where she is today, and with each step in her life, she carries her gratitude for those obstacles. “Everything happens for a reason. I believe in [the concept of] good energy, good karma, [from] being a good person. Those are things I don't take lightly. [Struggles] build character. You really appreciate everything you have when you have to work for everything you have,” Frye said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-8-1200x800.jpg)
![Despite the numerous health and ethical concerns of energy drinks, popular influencers still flood their social media platforms with numerous posts, and drinks sell out as energy drink companies continue dropping new flavors. The energy drink industry, worth an estimated $99 billion, has maintained a large growth rate, yet is no stranger to controversy. “[The] curiosity of teens needs to be considered. Showing them other alternatives that are safer — like a small cup of coffee — or having them research and discover on their own [would be safer,]" health teacher Jessica Wheeler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC0038-2-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Sally Peters stands in the history hallway, contemplating her choices in the 2024 United States and Missouri elections on Nov. 5. As a member of Diplomacy Club, Peters has discussed key candidates and issues in contemporary American politics. “[As students], we're starting to become adults. We're realizing how much the policies that are enforced and the laws that make it through the House and Senate are starting to affect us. [Opportunities such as] AP [U.S.Government] and Diplomacy Club [make elections feel] a lot more real,” Diplomacy Club vice president and senior Nidhisha Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flag-1-1.png)
![Eyes tracing his book, freshman Auggie Prsha works to translate a passage in Latin teacher Tom Herpel's classroom. Prsha decided to take Latin after hearing about the fun classroom activities, but he quickly began to see the effects of learning a foreign language in the world around him too. “Sometimes in English class, I can [recognize] some Latin words, and I notice Latin in other places [as well]. I enjoy the people [and] learning from Herpel,” Prsha said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/prsha.jpg)
![Mounting school pressure can leave many students overworked and overstressed. Schools must give students the necessary resources to help assuage student mental health issues and prevent the development of serious crises. “The biggest thing [schools] can do [to protect student mental health] is offer more time [to do work], like a study hall, or offer more support from teachers so that students don't feel stressed out and can get help in areas that they need,” senior Bhavya Gupta said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-4.jpg)
![Like many students, sophomore Medina Nanic experiences pressure to do well in school. Through continuous success and achievements, West has developed a high academic standard for students. “Because we’re seen as one [of] the better schools, we have higher standards than the [schools] who aren’t ranked as high. There’s a lot of pressure on students to do [well] and live up to those standards,” Nanic said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-2-1200x800.jpg)
![In the 1950s, the first recorded spikes in global temperatures were recorded, and ever since, Earth has been in the midst of a disastrous climate crisis, as rising temperatures wreak havoc on susceptible regions and destroy animal habitats worldwide. Junior Nidhi Pejathaya helped found West’s Sustainability Council to create a space where students can educate themselves about climate change and do their part to preserve the environment. “When you're going out of your way to recycle [or] reuse your clothes to save water, you're saving people. You're saving adults, you're saving families, you're saving children. You're saving a whole generation. Just because we don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening,” Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-editorial-feature-1200x800.jpg)
![Eyes glued to his sheet music, senior Andrew Gillies accompanies the Jazz Band as the pianist. During the annual Winter Jazz Concert, Gillies was chosen to improvise a solo during the song, “T.J. Boogie.” ¨I love concerts [because of] how the audience reacts, and just the stage lights [shining on me],¨ Gillies said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC_3774-1200x801.jpg)
![In perfect shooting form and with eyes on the rim, junior Tyler Kuehl is about to shoot his next basket in the last game of the season against Marquette High School. Kuehl has been playing basketball since he was 5. “Even though I played basketball all my life, the game-winning shots can be pressure, it's confidence. If you're going into that shot and not thinking that you're gonna make it, it's obviously not going in. And if you believe, [it will]. That's the only way you can succeed,” Kuehl said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/unnamed-32-1-1200x1200.png)
![“Winning [the Scholastic Gold Key Regional Award for Writing] feels incredibly rewarding. I dedicated a lot of time to putting my feelings into my work, especially ‘Melanin’, which was about my experience with racism and feeling like an outcast because of my skin color [and] primarily due to living in a white/homogenous area. My memoir reflects upon a time in which I lived in a small town that had close to zero people who looked like me and how that affected my mental health, especially how I felt about how I looked. But then I moved to a larger, more diverse city where there were more people similar to me and I had this moment where I realized that my features are unique and beautiful. I feel like a lot of people of color can relate to the feeling of overcoming internalized racism. It's truly validating to see my efforts recognized by the Scholastic Writing Contest especially because it gives me a platform to share my voice. ” - Farrin Rahman, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KadamO_RahmanF3-Opal-Kadam-1-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
!["Becoming a teacher evolved over time. I wanted to be a writer or in theater, [so] I got degrees in English and theater and wrote plays. Every important job involved working with kids. After college, I [worked on] shows with kids, and [everything] I loved came together. That's when I thought [becoming a teacher]. I went back to school [for] a master’s in education. [Being] 5-foot-2, I was a little scared to teach high school, thinking students [might] think I was younger than them, [so] I got a job at the middle [school] and loved [it]. I always wanted to teach high school, and [now I’ve finally done it]. I see [my students’] great writing, and it inspires me. I've written so much myself but haven't sent much out [yet]. I think I'll [focus on that] after I retire. This is my second year at Parkway West and my first [time] teaching high school, and it’s something I've always wanted to do. I love being [here].” – Marcy Rademeyer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KhanY_RademeyerM3-Yusra-Khan.png)
![“I’m the vice president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the co-president of the Women in Healthcare club, and [am also in] of ABC club, NHS first aid, the diplomacy club, and other volunteering activities [in my community.] My main goal in these clubs is to be actively engaged in the school and give back to the community. [Through these opportunities,] I’ve learned to be a better organizer and planner, especially with my roles in MSA and Women in Healthcare. I think these skills will be valuable towards the career path I choose. I’m particularly interested in the medical field, which is why I co-founded Women in Healthcare. As a freshman, I was the chief financial officer of the Muslim Student Association. This year, I’m the vice president. We’ve worked hard to improve the organization and make the club more fun and interactive for everyone. It’s been great to see the club grow, with a lot of new freshmen joining. Balancing all of these activities with my schoolwork can be challenging at times, but the whole team helps with the workload. A misconception others have about the MSA is that [there is minimum involvement.] One time I went to stamp the MSA flyers to get approved down at the office, and the woman was hesitant about it. She asked how many people actually come to our meetings, so I explained that we usually have 35 to 40 people. Parkway West includes lots of diversity and it [helps strengthen] our community.” – Yusra Khan, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1f5dbf90-8b69-452a-a610-22726c8a6ed9-1200x800.jpg)
![“Sports [can] teach you a lot of things, and playing on the team can teach you leadership. When you're working with a bunch of guys, you’ve got to know what's best for the team, and you've got to do whatever is best for the team. Commitment is a big part of sports. Some days, you don't want to show up to practice, [but] you have to do it because it's what's best for the team. You just [have] to be committed. You [gain] better relationships and you make a lot of friends when you play sports. You're spending at least two hours a day with those people, so you build really strong relationships with your teammates. If you put in the work, you're bound to get better.” - Henry Wild, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/4edc5735-3dad-4150-ac6f-3ee8ba65d2b5-1200x803.jpg)
A new schedule, new COVID-19 guidelines and new challenges that come with school during a pandemic are among the challenges the school community is facing. But 12 new faculty members are also navigating their way through new positions.
Kristen Naeger, Family and Consumer Sciences
What is your favorite part of your job?
“My favorite part of the job is making connections with my students over the course of the semester when I have them or even if they [have me] for multiple classes, getting to really know who they are and what their passions are.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, and I really love teaching kids about real-world skills, life skills and so Family and Consumer Sciences naturally lends itself to that. I also really love talking about human development and personal growth. Classes like Child Development or Career and Personal Development are just some of my favorite classes to teach because we get to talk about all sorts of things.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“Reading whenever I can. I mostly love reading either self growth books [on] how to be a better person, or murder mystery kind of things.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“Right now, all of my time is school. I have two kids. I have a daughter who’s five, she just started kindergarten. My son is three, and he just started a new daycare. My husband is also a teacher. When I’m not here at school, I am spending time with my adorable little family. Sometimes we make time for friends too.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“I feel like I’m really flexible and understanding, so if they’ve got something going on outside of school that’s affecting their performance or their schoolwork, I would hope that they would know they could come talk to me. We would work something out. I’m here to support you. My goal is that you learn, that’s always my number one goal, so give me the information that I need to help you succeed.”
Jenni Wilson, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) Interpreter
What is your favorite part of your job?
“The students [are my favorite part]. Well, really all of the people.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I have been an interpreter my entire adult life. Though I have had schooling and training in other areas, I always return to interpreting. I love the language and the culture.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“[My favorite hobby is] writing. Writing is a canvas, a playground, a place to ponder tough intellectual and moral questions. It provides infinite opportunities for us to create what has not been created, or just bring new perspectives into old structures. It invites us to be self-centered and altruistic at the same time. We can restart as many times as we want. It is a record of our growth. What is not to love about writing, really? I write creative nonfiction [including] memoirs, essays, biographies, a lot of poetry, and some hybrid work. I have been writing more intently for about [the last] ten years. I am always working on something!”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“Working in other places, writing, art and spending a lot of time with my family.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“No matter what, I will always be a safe person to talk to, and I will always treat you with kindness and respect.”
Alison Dwyer, Physics
What is your favorite part of your job?
“The students, the labs, all of it [is my favorite part]. I like to see the students learning and making connections to what they know. I like to see the ‘ah-ha’ moment when a student understands something new. Many times that will happen in connection with a lab.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I really love physics so it seemed like a good fit. I love a lot of parts of physics: Kinematics, Electricity, Magnetism and Optics are a few of my favorites. Kinematics describes roller coasters and spinning rides. It connects us to swings, see-saws and slides from when we were kids. Electricity and magnetism is something new to most students, so I always see a lot of growth and fascination when we cover those topics. Optics is: light, mirrors and lenses. Who doesn’t like lasers, rainbows, and Fun-house mirrors.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“Building legos for fun, [and] seeing how it all comes together. Legos are just soothing to me. You have a choice. You can be wild and creative. Maybe it doesn’t work out exactly as planned, but you can try again and have fun going through the process. Or, you can follow directions in the box, and be sure it will turn out exactly like the picture. There is room for both in my life.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“I have kids, family and a dog. All of those things are important and take up time. Family should be important to everyone. They keep you grounded and remind me to have fun and take a break. [Pre-Covid-19], we liked to go to National Parks, amusement parks (like Six Flags), museums [and] the zoo.We also play card games and board games.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“Physics is fun and something they should think about taking. It connects to a lot of what they see around them every day. Maybe we’ll get to go to Six Flags for a field trip.”
Coleen Sumner, German Teaching Assistant
What is your favorite part of your job?
“[My favorite part is] being in the building with kids and just being with students. I love being at [school]. I like the relational side of [working with kids], I like getting to know them, their lives outside of school as well as what their interests are.”
Why did you choose this position?
“It was offered to me in lieu of not having building subs this year. I was going to get the chance to stay in the building. The kids I coach are here and my kids graduated from here as well. I’ve been a long time employee, just not doing this position.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“Working out. It’s part of my everyday routine and I like to mix it up and do something different every day, and a lot of it includes swimming too.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“A lot of family time and a lot of friend time. Our kids are both gone so we do a lot with our friends, and we have a year and a half old puppy.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“I care about them and I trust them until I have a reason not to.”
Christie Staszcuk, German
What is your favorite part of your job?
“My favorite part of my job is just getting to hang out with teenagers and because we’re learning in a different language. We’re also talking about culture and getting to know about each other’s culture. I think German students tend to just be fun to hang around with and fun to work with.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I am currently also teaching at Central High, and the opportunity presented itself to be in both places to help make sure German was available to students at both high schools. I took it because I want German to be available to all students, and I wanted to make sure [we] still had a German program, and that these kids had a teacher that they could count on and let them continue their language skills.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“My favorite hobby is chasing around my children. I have an 11-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter and they are both very active in sports. We like being outside together playing sports and watching them play sports.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“I think the thing I want students to know about me is that I really care and I’m here to help them.”
Zach Balentine, Special Education (Teaching Assistant)
What is your favorite part of your job?
“[My favorite part is] help[ing] out the students if they need anything and be[ing] their friend. For the students, if they are going through something, I can talk to them about anything they want. You know if they’re having problems at home, or school stuff, anything like that. Meeting the students and seeing how their day is going, and seeing what their goals are for the school year [is my favorite part].”
Why did you choose this position?
“I chose this position because last year, I was a substitute teacher, and I kind of love it. I love the students, I love the staff. I want to be a great role model for students to help them be ready for the real-world and help students with their homework. Sometimes if the teacher is out for the day I substitute for the teacher and take over the classroom.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“I like to play video games, love to go outside and love to take a walk. I love to play sports and workout.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“I play video games, watch college football games and National Football League games, watch scary movies and hang out with family and friends. Lastly, I love to travel.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“My long-term goal is to get my masters degree in physical education or health [and] hopefully be a high school football coach.”
Jessica Chackes, Physical Therapist (PT)
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I love seeing kids make progress with their mobility and the result of improved interaction with their peers and environment.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist since I was in high school after volunteering at a summer camp for kids with cerebral palsy. I went to Saint Louis University for undergrad and graduate school and have been working as a pediatric physical therapist for over 10 years. I worked at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital prior to taking this new role. I love having an active position that allows me to make a difference.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“[My favorite hobbies are] traveling, gardening and spending time with my family.
What occupies your time outside of school?
“Spending time with my husband and daughters (ages six and four), soccer games, swim team and playgrounds occupy most of our time.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“If you are interested in physical therapy school or have any questions, feel free to ask.”
Kiara Turner, Secretary to Dr. Pupillo and the sophomores principal office
What is your favorite part of your job?
“[My favorite part of my job is] working with kids. I get to see a variety of different students and get to help everybody on a daily basis.”
What made you choose this position?
“[When I first started working, I was] working with elderly as a medical records coordinator, it was clerical work. Over the years I bonded with the patients. [However, I then switched] to children, working with kids during a pandemic and [the school] wanted me. I wanted to continue to grow and work with more children.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“I love to read [and] learning different things. There are so many different books that you can read to find out new information. My favorite part of reading is absorbing the knowledge, reading is fundamental. [Though] I do not have a favorite genre, [as] I am open to all types of books.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“My children [occupy my time]. I have two little kids: a princess and a prince. My kids are seven and 11. As a family we love basketball. My 11-year-old plays ball and my seven year old cheers for his team. We love the out of town tournaments we take each season, [it gives] us a chance to travel and see other cities and play ball [all] at the same time.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“I’m always here for them. My doors always open and my heart as well. I’m here to help any way that I can.”
Karyn Houston, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) Paraprofessional
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I love working with the students using various ideas and examples and especially seeing their eyes light up when understanding a difficult concept. Not only when they understand difficult concepts but the hard work and effort they put into it.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I have always known that [this] district has been ranked as the fifth best school district within Missouri, which is very impressive. I have always wanted to work with the deaf and hard of hearing students and teachers in the classroom setting. As a deaf person having had great success when I was in school growing up, I experienced first hand how difficult it was not having any support in the classroom. I just want to pay it forward by assisting students with the support they need to find their own success in school and life in general.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“I have a green thumb and love working in the various beautiful gardens and doing landscaping work. [I love] gardening, planting trees [and] being outside. As far as landscaping, I love designing creative gardening areas and walkways with various flowers and creeping phlox. I also grow trees from seed and give them away to friends and students to show them how easy it is to do. I work part time at a local family nursery during the summer months to help out as I enjoy being outdoors.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“I love the great outdoors and I go fishing, kayaking, hiking and camping as well as spending time with great friends [by going] to wineries.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“They can always come to me anytime they need to talk to me, and because I have a social work background, I have always worked with kids. I am an easy person to talk to and love to listen.”
Carrie Leipholtz, Speech-Language Pathologist
What is your favorite part of your job?
“I love the energy and humor students bring to the day. It’s always interesting.”
Why did you choose this position?
“Speech-Language Pathologists are trained to work with all ages — infants to adults. My work experiences have been in a nursing home, hospitals and elementary and middle schools in Parkway. I am excited to join the staff to support communication skills and independence of students moving to adulthood.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“[My favorite hobby is] coaching and playing volleyball. This year, I coached my twin 13 year old’s— a boys team and a girls team. We also play sand volleyball in the summer.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“Having fun with my family [occupies my time outside of school]. I have three teenage children Abby, Molly and Ryan. We love Marvel movies and teaching our golden retriever Milo silly tricks.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“Even though I have a career that I love, I am making plans for my next one. I want to train golden retrievers to pass certification to be therapy dogs. Then we could visit nursing homes and bring cheer to the residents living there.”
Laura Ziliak, Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) Paraprofessional (ie. a teacher’s aid)
What is your favorite part of your job?
“The favorite part of my job is getting to relearn some of the information, but I also get to work with amazing students.”
Why did you choose this position?
“I graduated from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. with a double major in American Sign Language and English. Throughout college, I had been working as a community intervener, which is similar to a paraprofessional position only specialized for students who are Deaf and Blind. So, it made sense to enter a position that utilized my signing skills and was in a field that was fairly familiar.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“My favorite hobby is sewing. I spend a lot of my time outside of school doing just that. I also play a lot of online games like Minecraft and Slime Rancher. I like the open world games for their calming game play”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“I’d like to get back into Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) and archery. In other words, I like to fight with a sword and shoot arrows.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“You may note a Northern accent if you chat with me. I spent most of my time in North Dakota before moving to the area. ”
Kevin Doherty, social studies
Why did you choose this position?
“Since I started teaching, I’ve always thought about how neat it would be to have the opportunity to teach at my alma mater. I love this school and community for everything that it has provided me, and I feel very grateful to be able to give back to this community.”
What is your favorite hobby?
“My favorite thing to do outside of work is to hike and read. I love to be in nature.”
What occupies your time outside of school?
“As so much of my time is spent at school, I try to spend as much of my free time as possible with my family.”
What is one thing you want students to know about you?
“I want students to know that I love my job and am grateful that I get to show up everyday to serve my students. As a former student, and current teacher, I know what a great place West is. I feel honored to be a part of this community again.”
![Business and personal finance teacher Andy Croley stands in front of his 5th hour, Intro to Business. In high school, business was the class Croley enjoyed most. “Business class was my favorite course in high school. I didn't know that was something I wanted to teach coming out of high school, but I wanted a business degree and to own my own business. When I entered university, I thought about a [teaching] avenue. I met with my advisor and looked at different departments. I fell in love with the people in the education department, the professors and the coursework, because it tied right into what I loved about the class when I was in high school. I fell in love with it even more when I was student teaching,” Croley said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/DSC_0008-2-1200x800.jpg)
