Coal City welcomes new teachers

Student attendance at Coal City schools began this morning and with the start the new academic year comes 14 new educators.
Staff orientation for new teachers started on Tuesday, Aug. 6 with three days of training overseen by Jennifer Kenney, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction. She was assisted by district administrators and staff members.
Joining the faculty for the 2024-2025 school year are individuals who will work across the district’s academic buildings.
Justin Kinder, a special education teacher, joins the staff at Coal City’s Early Childhood Center where he will work with kindergarten and first grade students. It was learning the alphabet in kindergarten by singing songs from the “Letter People,” that remains his first memory of school.
His path to teaching is based on his enjoyment of working with students and helping them succeed in life and his interest in working in the district is simply his love for the Coal City School District.
“It is where I have raised my own children. There are so many amazing opportunities here,” he said, noting his daily commute has been reduced from 60 minutes to 5 minutes.
Kinder previously served as a special education teacher therapist at the Baby Fold [Hammitt Jr./Sr. High School] in Normal. He has also served as a teacher assistant and vocational coach.
“Success is not just in academics, but also in breakthroughs in social and emotional skills. There is always room for student growth no matter who they are, what their background happens to be or what trauma they have experienced.”
Kinder said he loves the Muppets and enjoys collecting and performing with his own Muppet puppet, “What-Not.” Outside of work he is involved in his church, enjoys spending time with his family, eating his wife’s “delicious food,” watching sports and Coal City High School theater productions and attending Broadway performances.
Lauren Schoonover said she loves the environment at Coal City’s Early Childhood Center, a school where she served eight years as a preschool classroom aide. This year she moves into a new role as the school’s newest kindergarten teacher.
“I knew from a young age I wanted to be a teacher. I loved coming home from school and teaching my younger sister everything I learned that day. When I got older I decided to apply for an aide position at the ECC to make sure teaching was right for me. I fell in love with everything about the profession quickly,” she said.
Shoonover believes in creating “a positive learning environment where students feel comfortable being themselves which will help them succeed and reach their full potential.”
Her students can expect a safe, respectful classroom full of fun experiences.
Schoonover’s first memory from her school days is how her kindergarten teacher helped her start coming out of her shell and pushed her to be great. “Still appreciate her caring heart,” she said.
Outside of the classroom, Shoonover enjoys walking her two year old Golden Retriever—Oakley, and watching sports, especially the Chicago Bears.
Jennifer Martino earned her bachelor's degree in finance and business, then she discovered she wanted to make a career change that allowed her to have more impact on people’s lives and she is doing that as a teacher in the Coal City School District.
Martino completed her student teaching in Coal City and served the district as a substitute teacher, so when an opening became available to teach third grade at the Elementary School she applied and was selected to lead her own classroom.
Students in her classroom can expect a fun, but structured environment, and having a teacher who will always be understanding even when they are having a bad day.
For her, student success is measured by progression. “As long as they are progressing, even minimally, that is a plus,” she said.
When arriving to class in the morning, Martino’s third graders will find that their teacher has checked her emails, updated the daily schedule, has calming music going in the classroom and is ready to chat with them as they arrive and get ready for class.
Outside of school, Martino enjoys traveling, reading, amusement parks and football—especially the Kansas City Chiefs. And, her students might be interested to know that she is the owner of a dirt bike track.
Kathryn Drey was a freshman in high school when she made the decision to enter the field of education. Inspired by her English teacher’s passion for the subject, she wanted to do the same for other students.
This year she will be working with eighth graders at Coal City Middle School as the school’s newest English/language arts teacher.
Drey is no stranger to the school district as she served as a long term substitute in the areas of English and physical education. “ I started subbing in the district, and I fell in love with the community and support I experienced,” Drey said.
As she begins this new venture, her focus will be to create an environment that is engaging, challenging, and invites students to want to learn.
For her, a good day at school is one when students are engaged, productive and leave class with a smile.
Drey enjoys reading, writing and going on walks, and her cat, Perry, resembles one of the most well known felines—Garfield.
Rebecca Himes has 22 years of experience, having taught sixth to eighth grade English/language arts. This year she will be working with seventh grade students at Coal City Middle School.
Himes entered the field of education to help others and inspire them to achieve their educational goals. She in turn is inspired by former students who return and express a love of reading having had that experience in her classroom.
She seeks to teach the whole person and not just the academic subjects. There are multiple measures to determine student success, she said, and it comes not just from academic achievement but an overall love of learning.
Himes has a variety of interests including travel, crafting, walking and reading. She notes that she has a varied collection of music and books in her library.
Brenna Noffsinger said it was the high level of expectations that drew her to seek a position with the Coal City School District. This year she will be teaching seventh grade English/language arts at CCMS.
Students in her class can expect structure, clear expectations and compassion. They will also find a teacher who supports and encourages her students, provides positivity and knows everyone has the ability to thrive.
Noffsinger comes to Coal City with 18 years of teaching experience. She will also serve as an assistant track and field coach at the high school and yearbook sponsor for the middle school.
She describes a good day in class as one with achieved goals, laughter and unity.
A few of Noffsinger’s favorite things are spending time with family and friends, running, reading and a good cup of coffee.
McKenna Wankowski loves math and kids. Her interest in numbers drew her into the field of economics and finance, but her passion for children led her into education where she can pursue both levels of interest and expertise.
This year she will be teaching seventh and eighth grade math and also serve as a sponsor of the math and speech teams.
Wankowski attended Coal City Schools and is excited to be returning to her hometown where she can assist future Coalers develop academically and as individuals while building relationships. She previously taught math in Morris at Saratoga School.
Wankowski enjoys family time and musical theater. Something her students might find interesting about their new teacher is that she has traveled to 16 countries.
Christopher Cook said working in a tight-knit community is what drew him to accept a position in the science department at Coal City High School.
Cook will be teaching physical science, chemistry, forensics and honors physics. He comes to Coal City from Crete Monee High School where he taught science for seven years. His interest in the field of education came from all the teachers that made a difference in his life.
He shared his belief that all students can learn content with the right method.
Outside of the school day, Cook enjoys all types of sports, gaming and computers.
Luke Hittle describes his teaching philosophy as, “preparing students for future challenges using practical applications.”
Hittle will be putting these applications to work as a geometry and financial algebra teacher at Coal City High School.
A graduate of Illinois State University, Hittle completed his student teaching at Urbana High School and when seeking a position in education he found the Coal City School District to be one with a great sense of community.
“I love witnessing the ‘ah-ha’ moments after a student questions an idea,” he said.
A great day at school is one that when it’s over you can say you genuinely learned something.
Hittle’s outside interests include hiking, escape rooms and puzzles.
He said students will likely find it interesting that, “I can put my foot behind my head while standing up.”
Brittany LeFevre begins her teaching career at Coal City High School where she will serve as a physical education and health teacher. It was the tight-knit community and the district’s mission and values that drew her to seek a position with the district.
A recent graduate of Illinois State University, LeFevre’s interest in education is based on a love of kids and a passion for helping students grow. As a teacher she wants to help shape future generations of the work to be lifelong learners.
Students who step into her classroom can expect a welcoming and positive learning environment where they’re encouraged to participate, ask questions and explore content.
Her students can also anticipate a bit of Taylor Swift and country music playing during PE class, as she describes herself as a “big Swiftie and country music fan,” and uses that to help motivate students.
As a teacher her philosophy is to create a supportive and engaging learning environment that challenges students, fosters critical thinking and a love for learning and growth.
Along with Taylor Swift , some of her other interests are WNBA, Marvel, Disney, baking cookies, playing video games and watching movies and of course sports and working out.
Along with her teaching duties, LeFere will coach freshmen girls basketball.
Alicia Matusiak returns to her alma mater this school year as a business teacher instructing courses in personal finance, college and career, personal living, business law and intro to business.
Teaching has been her passion in life and working in her home district a dream.
Matusiak’s teaching philosophy is simple, “get to know your students first, teach them second.”
Students in her classroom can expect a fun learning environment with real world application. She encourages students to be involved in their education and measures their success by the follow up questions they ask and initiating great conversations.
A good classroom discussion and seeing “ah-ha” moments is what she calls a good day at school.
Along with her teaching assignments, Matusiak will be coaching freshman volleyball this fall.
Outside of school she enjoys traveling, being outdoors, fitness and her English Mastiff, Lucky.
Annie Ternes is joining the district’s fine arts department and will split her time between the high school and intermediate school. Along with directing the high school bands, she will teach guitar, pop rock and Bach and fourth and fifth grade general music.
Ternes said she entered education to, “teach students the love of music,” and to inspire children like the teachers she had growing up.
Students can expect to find her classroom one where they are cared for and a place to have fun making music.
In general, her goal is to teach students life lessons through music and to love music.
Ternes enjoys musical theater and being with her dog, Charlie. Something her students might like to know is that she has been a Type 1 diabetic for 18 years.
Emily Vandergrift recalls one of her first memories of school was her first grade teacher singing to the class. She chose a career in education, “because all the best people I know have been teachers,” and that includes her mom.
“Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher and forced my siblings to play school,” she said.
Vandergrift is joining the high school social studies department this fall and will be teaching a variety of classes including US History, World History, Civics and Government. Students in those courses can anticipate a lot of class discussions.
Vandergift understands that students are kids first and her philosophy is to focus on building relationships with them.
Outside of school, Vandergrift enjoys traveling, reading and art.
Megan Mutz is no stranger to the Coal CIty School District as she has been working with students in the district for several years and this school year she moves into a new position as an occupational therapist.
Mutz will be based at the Early Childhood Center and travel to the district’s other school buildings as needed.
Dedicated to helping children be successful in their daily activities is what directed Mutz into education and she’s been working with students for the past 16 years.
A highlight for her is to see kids enjoy therapy and making progress through their work.
Mutz enjoys vacations, kinking, swimming and being outside.
In addition to her classroom duties, Mutz serves as an assistant cheer coach for the Coalers.