Kathy Maher is the Principal of Darien Elementary School. She is also a graduate of Delavan-Darien High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education, and her Master's as a Reading Specialist from UW-Whitewater. She was awarded an administrator’s license from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. 

Julie Accola is the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Darien Elementary School.

Nick Babecky started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2001. Babecky works as a night custodian at Darien Elementary School.

Jackie Belken-Pecor is the district nurse, serving all five schools in the district. She started here in 2004. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring students for illnesses and injuries, establishing that students are compliant with immunization requirements, implementing the employee wellness program, administering vaccines to new district employees, and ensuring that students’ health needs are met in the school setting. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1984 and has worked as a nurse for 25 years. Her career has taken her to jobs in Texas, Tennessee, Maryland and Wisconsin. Belken-Pecor has always enjoyed school nursing and is proud to be the school nurse for the Delavan-Darien School District.

Donna Berg came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2002. She has taught music at Turtle Creek, Darien, Wileman and Phoenix. Before coming to the Delavan-Darien School District, she worked with professional singers and dancers on many stages in schools, theaters and theme parks. She spent 10 years at Disneyland in California where she sang, danced and directed many of the talented entertainers there. Her 30-plus years of educational and show business experiences make her a lively and enthusiastic part of the staff and make her classes fun.

An Illinois native, Berg received her Bachelor’s in Music Education from Indiana University. Berg has a passion for music and the performing arts and hopes to provide a safe place for the children of Delavan and Darien to discover their talents and learn how to let their lights shine.

Betty Blanke was hired by the school district in 1980 and has always worked at Darien Elementary School. Blanke attended Darien School and graduated from Delavan-Darien High School. She received her degree as an L/MTA in Library Science from Gateway Technical College in Kenosha. Along with her library duties, Blanke has many other job responsibilities, including media and computers. Blanke also enjoys reading library books to young students at the school.

Nancy Boss started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1994. Boss works as a kitchen server at Darien Elementary School.

Sadie Boss is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders. She earned an Autism Specialist Certification as well as her Master’s degree in Cross-Categorical Special Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked for several years as an in-home therapist for the Wisconsin Early Autism Project and the Milwaukee Center for Independence. She started as a special education teacher in 2009 and is proud to be part of the Darien Elementary team.

Sandy Cameron came to Darien Elementary School in 2001 as the R.E.A.D.S. coordinator. She is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee, earning an Early Childhood Education degree. Cameron has earned graduate credits from UW-Whitewater, Virterbo, and Cardinal Stritch. Previously, she taught second grade and kindergarten in Lake Geneva for 15 years. One of Cameron’s passions is reading, so R.E.A.D.S. is a natural fit, as she helps students find an interest in reading. She considers herself fortunate to work with so many dedicated mentors who volunteer their time helping our students improve their reading skills.

Connie Cashin came to Delavan-Darien as a 4-year-old kindergarten teacher in 2007. Her first year was split between Turtle Creek in the morning and at Darien in the afternoon. Now, she is at Darien full time.  

Sherry Chelminiak began working with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2008 as a 4K ESP at Darien Elementary. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Merchandising and Management and an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She also holds a substitute teaching certification. Chelminiak has been working directly with young children since 1997 and enjoys this aspect of her job the most. She is married with two boys who are both attending Delavan schools and keep her very busy. When not working, Chelminiak can often be seen volunteering her time in district schools.

Jennifer Diehns started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2009. Diehns works as a special education program aide at Darien Elementary School.

Jim Fairbairn began teaching at Darien Elementary School in 1988. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University in 1982. At Lawrence, he majored in Sociology with an emphasis in Psychology and Education. He went on earn his elementary certification from UW-Oshkosh in 1988. Through the years, Fairbairn has taken many courses for graduate credits. The most rewarding part of teaching is watching the students learn, grow and catching that special moment when it all begins to make sense for the student.

Mary Fay joined Darien Elementary School in 2009 in the part-time position of Special Education Program Aide for the newly created Early Childhood department. 

Doreen Grams began teaching Physical Education in the Delavan-Darien School District in 1985. She received her undergraduate degree in Physical Education/Health from UW-La Crosse. In 2000, Grams received her Master's degree in Teaching from Aurora University. She enjoys attending conferences and workshops to keep current in the profession. She has coached volleyball, basketball and softball in the district. Grams believes that physical activity is an important component of every person’s life.

Martha Haynes is a kindergarten teacher at Darien Elementary School. She graduated from the UW-Oshkosh in 2004, and she started working for the Delavan-Darien School District in 2005. Haynes holds teaching licenses in Elementary Education, Special Education, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education.

Stephanie Hicks came to Delavan-Darien in 2009 as an Early Childhood teacher. Before coming to here, she was an Early Childhood teacher for Walworth County Lakeland School. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Special Education/Early Childhood from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and her Master’s in Educational Leadership from the National Louis University. Teaching the school’s youngest learners has always been a passion of hers. Her goal is to provide all of her students with the skills necessary to reach their highest potential.

Laurel Hill began teaching at Darien Elementary in 2001. She taught first grade from 2001-2007. In 2007, she began teaching third grade. Her teaching experience prior to working in the Delavan-Darien School District includes four years of teaching in Milwaukee Public Schools. 

Barb Huber started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1987. Huber works as a clerical aide in the main office at Darien Elementary School.

Cindy Jacobs came to Darien Elementary School in 1993 as an ESP, working in the school office and in the cafeteria. Before starting at Darien, she was at home with her children. Prior to moving to Delavan in 1991, she worked as a Customer Service Representative for Buick Motor Division in Flint, Mich. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Office/Secretarial Administration from Ferris State University. She enjoys working with the staff and students at Darien Elementary School.

Anne Landis is School Counselor for both Darien and Turtle Creek elementary schools. She came to the district in August 1994. She received her bachelor’s degree in 1984 from Minot State University in North Dakota and her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1994.

Barbara Lange was hired at Darien Elementary School in 1998. She is a graduate of Cleveland Academy and attended Youngstown University. In her years of employment at Darien, she has had numerous and varied job assignments. Lange appreciates the positive comments she receives from staff and students.

Vikee Loudon, Ph.D, came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1977 for one year as an Intern School Psychologist. She was then hired in 1978 as the district’s second School Psychologist, to work under James Santy. Loudon has worked with children and families for 37 years, and 33 of those have been with the Delavan-Darien School District. 

Tom May began his teaching career at the middle school level and came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2001. He currently teaches all orchestra and band students at Darien, Turtle Creek and Wileman elementary schools. His goal is to nurture and develop the musical abilities of each participating student through the use of challenging, meaningful, and enjoyable experiences in music. May feels fortunate to teach in a district that highly values the arts and finds his work of helping students through the beginning stages of playing an instrument to be a very rewarding experience.  

Melinda O’Brien, M.S. CCC-SLP, came to Delavan-Darien in 1998 as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Her primary responsibilities are to assess children for possible speech and/or language delays and provide intervention in order to improve their communication skills. O’Brien attended UW-Whitewater and received her Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1994 and a Master’s degree in Communicative Disorders in 1996. Before coming to the Delavan-Darien School District, she worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist in the medical field. She feels her position at Darien Elementary is extremely rewarding and truly enjoys working with her students and the staff.

Jo Ann Orlikowski has been with the district since 1992. She is a graduate of UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. Orlikowski also holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning. Prior to teaching fourth grade at Darien Elementary, Orlikowski was the At-Risk teacher at Phoenix Middle School.

Kristina Paschke has been working for the Delavan-Darien School District since 1991. She began her career at Darien Elementary School as a fifth grade teacher. When Turtle Creek Elementary School opened, she transferred there and continued teaching fifth grade. After 12 years as a fifth grade teacher, she began teaching first and second grades. She worked at Turtle Creek Elementary, teaching first and second grades until the spring of 2009. In the fall of 2009, she returned to Darien as the school’s Reading Specialist. Paschke loves working with children and especially enjoys helping students to discover the joy that reading brings. 

Erin Rae came to the Delavan-Darien School District as a third grade teacher in 2002. Rae holds two degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She was awarded an undergraduate degree in Education in 2002 and a Master’s in Reading in 2005. Rae has organized and participated in many school functions including book fairs, food drives, movie nights, walking club and field day. She has served as a member of Darien’s Teacher Parent Organization (TPO) since 2004. 

Bill Reuss started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1996. Reuss is the head custodian at Darien Elementary School.

Rosalba Ruiz started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2001. Ruiz works as a bilingual clerical aide at Darien Elementary School.

Christine Schleden, came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1999 as a second grade teacher at Darien Elementary School. Prior to that she was a reading specialist and a first grade teacher in a suburb of Chicago. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Reading. Her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction was awarded by Concordia University. 

Andrea Schmaling came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1999 as a second grade teacher at Darien Elementary School. Prior to that, she was both a classroom and reading teacher in the Madison area in grades K-4. Schmaling also had the opportunity to experience the educational system in another country when she taught in Peterborough, England, for four months as part of a student-teacher exchange program.  

Amy Slowiak started with the school district as a long-term substitute for first and second grades in 2006-07 at Darien Elementary. In September 2007 she became a first grade teacher at Darien Elementary. Slowiak graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in March 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and will receive her Master’s degree in Professional Development in August 2011 from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Lisa Taylor is a first grade teacher at Darien Elementary School. Taylor began her career in the Delavan-Darien School District in 2005. Prior to her start in Delavan, she was a teacher for Milwaukee Public Schools. Taylor earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2002. In 2008, Taylor completed her Master’s degree in Administration and Leadership from National Louis University. 

Lori Thorson, a fifth grade teacher at Darien Elementary School, began her teaching career when she came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1998. She received a Bachelor’s degree in both Elementary Education and Special Education from UW-Whitewater and received a Master’s degree in Teaching from Aurora University.  

Terri Timmerman is the art teacher at both Wileman and Darien elementary schools. She began teaching at the Delavan-Darien School District in 2003. Prior to that, Timmerman taught eight years at Lakewood School in Twin Lakes, Wis. She also spent two years teaching in Lake Geneva. Timmerman received her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Viterbo College in 1993. She is also certified in Adaptive Education. She received her Master’s of Education degree from Aurora University in 2001. Timmerman continues taking classes to learn new techniques in both art and teaching. 

Jeanette Urban has taught special education students at all levels, ranging from high school down to kindergarten, for more than three decades. More than 25 of those years have been at Darien Elementary School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, obtained her license to teach Special Learning Disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and earned her Master’s in Education from Aurora University. She has always been dedicated to helping all her students reach their potential in school and life.

Sue Wermund attended both UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater. She taught kindergarten for a semester in Brodhead, Wis. When her family moved to Darien in 1984, she taught a combination class of kindergarten, first, and second grades for two years in a local private school. After two years of home-schooling, Wermund took a full-time position as the only teachers' aide for kindergarten through sixth grades at Faith Christian School, where her four children attended. She worked there for nearly 13 years. In 2003, she became a substitute aide for the Delavan-Darien School District, and accepted a part-time position in April of 2004. 

Mary Wescott began teaching pre-kindergarten in the Delavan-Darien School District in the fall of 1988. After teaching at this level for six years, she moved up to teach kindergarten. She feels that Darien Elementary School is her home-away-from-home and she is very proud of the school and her students. 

Jean Willhite started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2009. Willhite works as a special education program aide at Darien Elementary School.