![Smiling with Parkway North seniors Sarah Ham and Alison Lam (second and third from right), eight West state qualifiers hold up the iconic DECA symbol. The program has connected over 7,000 high schoolers, giving students the opportunity to network and expand their social circle. “Getting along with people that might be different from you is the most important part of DECA. You learn things about people that you originally wouldnt talk to, and its nice to know how to work with other people [as well as] make new friends in a different area,” junior Laya Krishnakumar said. Courtesy of Laya Krishnakumar](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_7918-1200x675.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 peoples lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240318_092633493.jpg)
![Members of concert band work to play the soaring melodies of Crowns of Glory by Jack Wilds during their winter concert. Because of the pieces difficulty, the band had to work together extra diligently to make it sound concert-ready. [Band has] helped me [with] teamwork because its not just an individual thing. The whole group has to be put together to make something amazing, Concert Band member and sophomore Ella Bruner said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/unnamed-3-1-1200x800.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 its 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)
![Moviegoers smile for a picture after watching the Bollywood movie “3 Idiots.” The event ran from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 and was open to students across the Parkway School District. “I decided to come to the movie night because I wanted to introduce my non-Indian friends to the rich culture and entertainment of Bollywood. One of my favorite parts [of the night] was the combination of [the] amazing food and the pure comedic entertainment. [It] was unmatched,” sophomore Aryan Allu said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_5479-e1710180016483-1200x900.jpg)
![Senior Kylie Secrest volunteers at the blood drive signup table.The table provided students aged 16 and up with information about the drive and assisted them in the signup process. “We decorated the stand in the lunchroom with heart related or red decorations from either Dollar Tree or Five Below,” Secrest said. “This year was my first year doing [the blood drive] and it was fun. I got to be able to meet new people and help out the community.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/image2-1200x800.jpg)
![Performing a dance, athletes wave their pompoms in the air as special education teacher Wendy Zieleskiewicz stands behind them. Zielesckiewicz, who has been teaching for 25 years, didn’t know what she wanted to pursue until she remembered her love for children. She now sees her students benefiting from Special Olympics. “Its really fun to see [athletes] grow. [Special Olympics is] incredible — Its high energy, its a lot of fun. Its cool to see the kids all working together and having a good time. They make connections with other students, [and] its amazing to see how much fun they have. I hope that they can make and maintain relationships with people that are not in this classroom. I always encourage [my students] to participate [in Special Olympics] because it is a lot of fun and even if they dont make a best friend, you still have an opportunity to grow,” Zieleskiewicz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/unnamed-5-1200x798.jpg)
![Smiling widely, Principal John McCabe congratulates English teacher and English Department head Shannan Cremeens on winning the 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year title. Sophomore Cooper Oswald was a witness to the celebration. “We were all pretty excited. We were all clapping and standing up. We even [got to] take a picture with her,” Oswald said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/TOYvertical-1200x954.png)
![English teacher Leslie Lindsey smiles for a photo behind her desk. Growing up, Lindsey participated in many things outdoors, learning life skills that she still uses today. “I loved fishing and was never grossed out by it. I could get my hands dirty and spend time outside; even when it was cold, I didnt care. Fishing takes a lot of patience, and that is [now] a virtue of mine because I have great patience that translates into my classroom,” Lindsey said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_6632-1-e1712758336310-1200x983.jpeg)
![Each year, as temperatures start to rise, students await the coveted spring break, a week-long vacation taking place from March 16-24. Students and staff appreciated the respite from school and the sunny weather that came along with it. “I enjoyed traveling as a way to spend spring break [and] have a last trip with my family before college. I wish spring break was a little longer so I could have spent more time and not have a quick turnaround coming back to school,” senior Norah Rutkowski said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Spring-break-Shenanigans-1-1200x800.png)
![Senior Dana Zafarani poses in paint reading “Women, Life, Freedom” and “#BarayeAzadi” as a protest against the Iranian government. The experiences of Iranian women inspired Zafarani to assist in any effort to protect women’s rights. “The world should live in peace. Every woman deserves to be equal. Every woman deserves love [and] kindness,” Zafarani said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Screenshot-2023-10-31-12.54.47-PM.png)
![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. Im sure it was really hard for him, but looking back on it, he did a really good job . I didnt appreciate everything that he did at the time because I was so young. Now, Im 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. “Im not going to lie, Im glad I have another night of my life back when Im 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]. Im 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 wouldnt 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 wasnt 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. Theres no advantage to lying, [and] thats 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] Ive 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 dont 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)
![The celebration of Women’s History Month, originating in 1987, marks an annual acknowledgement of women’s contributions to various fields of work. However, many female revolutionaries remain underrepresented in our history books, oftentimes overshadowed by male counterparts who could reach a greater audience because of their status. “Back then, women didnt have the voice that we do now, [but] their actions gave us the voice we have today to be able to speak up. Now, we share information to show how far we came from,” Black Student Union member and sophomore Jariyah McCalister said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/feature-photo-unsung-4.png)
![Celebrities are inescapable in our day-to-day lives, constantly reminding us of whatever is newest in their lives. And for us on the receiving end, we find ourselves devoting time and effort to vie for just the tiniest sliver of their attention. “[Taylor Swift] is my favorite celebrity, and to me she means someone who is kind, smart and caring,” junior Swati Kumar said. “I feel connected to her and her music; I listen to her everyday and I find [her] very relatable.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Parasocial-1.jpg)
![January 2024 marks over seven decades since the publishing of “The Bell Jar.” In those seven decades, the novel has opened the eyes of countless women to the unfair treatment they’ve faced, particularly being percieved as nothing more than mothers and the consequences that arise from that. “To my knowledge, [“The Bell Jar” was] one of the earliest novels that explores a womans mental health and inner journey and allows her to go through struggles and make mistakes without vilifying [her]. Shes ambitious yet flawed and unsure how to proceed, like [many] women at the beginning of the 1960s. My mom was born in 1950 and grew up hearing that if she wanted to work, she had three choices: nurse, secretary and teacher. It was a brave new world when she found out there were more options. But that also comes with fear and anxiety and the judgment of others. Sylvia represents that journey,” French teacher Blair Hopkins said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Mother-26.png)
![For the past three years, Parkway has administered high school finals after winter break, a practice that proves to be detrimental to the success as well as the mental health of students. With finals after break appearing to do more harm than good, the question of what changes can be made arises time and time again. “The pressure for finals is difficult, and to have that [pressure for] a few weeks because youre on [a] break can make you generally sad. Its a bummer in general. I wish [finals] were before break, so we [could] have a break to sleep, celebrate and not study. Everyone Ive talked to about it is like yeah, finals sucks, and I wish that wasnt a thing,” junior Meadow Kostial said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/decembereditorial-1200x963.jpg)
![Since its introduction and subsequent explosion on the world stage, social media has proven to be a detriment to the fight against misinformation and fake news in the media because of its targeted marketed tactics and abuse of unified communities. This being said, taking responsibility over what you consume online and deciding whether or not it’s true is crucial. “It’s important to notice that [the spread of misinformation through social media] is happening, and as a teacher, media literacy is so important to teach,” journalism teacher Lindsey Katz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/nov-editorial-feature-1200x800.jpeg)
![2023 was defined by female vocalists such as Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift and Paramore’s Hayley Williams as their diversity and talent amongst their respective genres topped the musical charts. Williams took to Instagram to show her gratitude for having owned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top 100 chart. “We know enough by now to know success doesn’t equal value. That being said, to experience the [No. 1] on this album, as this version of Paramore, is such a sweet and surreal moment to celebrate together,” Williams wrote.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-A-Musical-Recap-2.0-1.png)
![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, its confidence. If youre going into that shot and not thinking that youre gonna make it, its obviously not going in. And if you believe, [it will]. Thats the only way you can succeed,” Kuehl said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/unnamed-32-1-1200x1200.png)
![“Im passionate about volleyball. Ive been playing for six years. I play it because I like the way that, [even though,] its a team sport, its also focused on [a person] individually; especially in my position since Im the back row defense where the ball can hit me. Its [up to] me, I can’t blame anybody else. I like how its very focused on [the] performance and how well [I] react to how the other team plays. The way I play really matters to me because it’s a team sport and I dont want to let my teammates down.” Emma Barton, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![“Im very passionate about debating, [which is why] I am [a member of the] speech and debate team. I like how it offers opportunities to speak [from] viewpoints on different opinions with people outside of our group from other schools around our communities. I usually participate in public forum debates [and] the topic [we speak about] changes every month. One debate that I was most invested in [took place in] February; which was [about whether or not] the US federal government should ban all single use plastics. I feel like I spent the most time working on this case [than any other discussion], and I was determined to make it into finals. I hold competition very dear to me. I have only gone to two tournaments so far, but Ive already made it into the finals. [Finals are important because], I think it really shows how much growth and [effort you’ve put in through the battle].” - Bethany Liao, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Bethany-L-1200x800.jpg)
![“My goal for soccer this season is not only to improve in skill, but also to improve my way of communication. [To] not always put the blame on myself since a team [improves together]. So my goal [coming into the team] was to not be so harsh on myself and to know that not the whole team depends on [me]. We all work as a team, and everyone [plays] a different [role]. The most exciting game this season was the first game, even though we lost it was like an exciting experience because it was the first game and it was nice seeing all my friends playing on the field together. I really improved my communication [skills]. My goal is to continue to strengthen my [ability of] communication [with the team] and to also improve my skill [at playing soccer].” - Ali Abdulsattar, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pasted-image-0-1200x800.png)
![“I’ve been playing baseball since I was four. The MLB inspired me to play, [but] my dad is my biggest inspiration. Hes very respectful and very hardworking. He taught me to stick close to your friends who will help you achieve your goals and not get in the way of them. Baseball has made me grow with the way I start friendships. Its helped me grow [more with] athletic performances and how I accomplish things throughout life. Friendships play a big part in baseball, [especially] when you’ve been playing on the same team since you were a kid. It was really nice playing with the same people because I really got an understanding of who they are and how they play the game. You also get to see how they grow athletically and mentally over time. I formed friendships with those people I spent most of my time with and it was hard to leave that team, it’s like I left a family. [My goal for this season] is to lead my team and to have a really good record. I’ve already built relationships with my teammates through classes and just hanging outside of school.” - Isaac Sinak, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_0119-1200x800.jpg)
![“I started [the First Generation Club] because it was really hard to find people who were [a] part of the immigrant community. I didnt share a lot of similar experiences or have a similar background to my non-first-generation peers. Sometimes Id feel distanced or like I didnt belong because of that. I wanted to meet more first-generation students and be with people who connected with my experiences. My parents encouraged me to stay dedicated to my education, and thats one of the main focuses of the club. I wanted to create a space for everyone to come together [at] West, stay dedicated to our studies and have an opportunity to volunteer with friends. One of the challenges we faced in getting this club started was finding opportunities for us to organize school and volunteer[ing] events. Reaching out to people and getting help can really set things up for you. Ive learned a lot about communication through starting this club; the First Generation Club has made me a more vocal person. Having a space to talk to people [with] similar experiences [as] mine is a rewarding aspect [of being a co-founder]. [My main goals] for [the school is to create] a better environment and a space where everyone can come together, study together, advance themselves and enjoy.” - Giuliana Ghiretti, 9](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Giuliana-Ghiretti-9-1200x800.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 didnt 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)
