MCC READY TO START THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR

THESE FRESH NEW FACES ARE READY TO GREET STUDENTS

Wolske recently moved back to the Slayton area with her four boys, ages 17, 16, 13 and 12, in order to be closer to family. While preparing her classroom, she said she received a lot of help from her niece, Danielle Kuball, and that her boys assisted with all the heavy lifting.

The biggest challenge for Wolske is getting to know the student culture and overall expectations for the district. She realizes it’ll take some time for that to happen. “I am excited and nervous to start teaching in a new district,” Wolske said. “Even though I grew up in Slayton, I have not met most of the students. Knowing a student body well really helps with the planning of group activities and daily routines.”

Wolske said she’s grateful that staff has been “incredibly supportive and encouraging” as she learns the district’s technology. One of the best parts of her job is having the opportunity to teach her seventh and eighth grade sons this year. ‘Believe it or not, they are just as excited to be in my classroom,” she said.

Wolske truly values learning and has passed that virtue on to her children. “I have been a lifetime student,” she said. “Learning is a great passion of mine and I have loved showing my boys that learning new things should never end.”

Wolske has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from South Dakota State University. She worked in labor and delivery for several years before starting her own family. She then stayed home with her boys. “Once they were all in school, I found a love for teaching while subbing within the Tracy Area district,” Wolske said. “I now have a master’s in education from Walden University.”

As a family, Wolske said they enjoy the outdoors, including fishing, camping, golfing, hunting and any opportunity for a new adventure. She also enjoys reading, doing puzzles and playing board games when trapped inside. The family also shares a home with a golden retriever named Scout, a cat named Cloud and a bearded dragon named Spike.

In addition to being thrilled about the upcoming school year, Wolske is also excited for the fall football season. “My boys are all in football this fall and are loving their football teammates and coaches,” Wolske said. “The biggest reasons for our move was to be closer to family and my oldest really wanted to spend his senior year with his cousin, Lucas Kuball.”

Oslund will be starting her first year teaching and is thrilled to be doing so in the same district that her three children attend. “I am overjoyed to be at MCC, working with some of the best teachers, staff, students and families,” Oslund said. “This is my first year teaching, so although I am so excited and eager to begin, my biggest challenge is the fact that I am new. This is all new — for me and the students. I am just hoping they show me some grace if things are slightly different than they are used to learning math.”

Oslund believes the best part of her job is that she gets to teach the students math. “It is such a fun subject and I love that there are so many different ways to arrive at the same answer, and I love trying to help students find which way they can understand it,” Oslund said. “It’s very exciting to me because most students have no clue what they want to be when they get out into the real world, or maybe they have all the answers already (they are teenagers), but math is something they will use in just about every job they will ever do, and I get to be a part of them learning that.”

Oslund grew up and went to high school in Markesan, Wisconsin. Her father grew up in Slayton and her family owned the Country Host and Royal Loon, so she grew up in this area as well. She then attended Minnesota West in Worthington to get her generals. From there, Oslund transferred to Southwest Minnesota State University for elementary education. “During my schooling I did a lot of field experience and student teaching in a variety of grade levels,” she said. “I sure loved the first graders that hugged me 40 times a day, but I really loved fifth grade in Edgerton and especially loved teaching math. I graduated from SMSU with my bachelor’s in educational studies and am pursuing my master’s in mathematics education for the middle grades.”

Oslund, her husband, Gordon, and three children, Weston 15, Payton 13, and Madyson 8, live in Slayton. “In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my kids, going to their sporting events, spending time at the lake, and cooking/baking at home. I have coached 10u and 12u fastpitch softball for three years and love it. I enjoy all sports and am eager to help where the needs arise within our district.”

As a junior high math teacher, Oslund will also coach a math counts team, where students can compete in live math contests against and alongside their peers. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach at MCC and excited to see all of my students!” she said.

Scandrett will be teaching fourth grade at West Elementary. “I am very excited for the upcoming year and I look forward to learning, growing and working with both the students and staff at MCC!,” Scandrett said. “Preparations have been going well. I have been working in my classroom the past few weeks, getting the room ready and preparing things for the upcoming year.”

While there are always challenges with any job, there are also extra bonuses that go along with a job as well. “One of the best parts is getting to know the students and watching them learn and grow throughout the year,” Scandrett said. “Another great aspect is running into students out in the community and marking connections with them outside of school as well.”

Scandrett grew up in Cottonwood and graduated from Lakeview High School. She attended Eastern College in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, graduating with a B.A. in elementary education.

Scandrett is married to Jake, who serves as the high school principal, and they have four daughters — Lila, Annie, Cassie and Cora. The family enjoys playing games, hiking, fishing and just hanging out together. “I enjoy gardening, cooking, reading and spending time with my family,” Erin said. “I also enjoy spending time with friends and our church family.”

Scandrett added that she is looking forward to a great year at MCC!

Braun, who will be an early childhood special education teacher this year, has been working throughout the summer for extended school year (ESY). She said it has been a good transition to get a feel for the position, meet students and families, and get her materials ready. “I am very excited for the upcoming school year!” Braun said. “I have already learned so much and am excited to continue learning how to best support children and their families.”

The biggest challenge Braun has found so far is keeping up with deadlines. “For early childhood special education, there are various due dates and timelines for anything you could think of!” she said. “I’m quickly learning how to best organize my planner!”

On the flip side, Braun said the best part of the job is working with the kids and connecting with their families. “It is fun to be involved in their education from an early age and see the milestones they reach,” she said. “Every day is a celebration of a kiddo learning something new, whether that be crawling, how to hold a pencil or zipping up a coat. There’s little victories every day.”

Braun graduated from Murray County Central in 2018. She continued her education at Southwest Minnesota State University, where I graduated with majors in early childhood education and special education. “I worked at ISD 518 in Worthington for two years,” Braun said. “I had great mentors and learned so much! I am excited to take that prior knowledge with me and use it to support kids at MCC.”

Braun is engaged to Bobby Bleyenberg. Her hobbies include playing games with her family — Qwirkle is a favorite — along with reading, painting and petting dogs.

WOLSKE Junior High Science

MEGAN

OSLUND Junior High Math