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 earned 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.

Heather Baldwn Heather Baldwin became a special education teacher at Darien Elementary in 2012.

She brings seven years of experience from working with special education students at Lakeland School in Elkhorn, a school that serves students with special needs.

She has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University and a bachelor’s degree in Special Education (K-9, LD/CD) from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Outside of school, Baldwin enjoys spending time traveling and seeing the world with her friends and family. She enjoys the outdoors and staying active. 

Jackie Belken-Pecor is a registered nurse serving all five schools in the district. She started here in 2004. She is responsible for ensuring that students' health needs are met during the school day.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 1984 with the honor of Outstanding Senior. While in college, she served on the Academic Standing Committee for the College of Nursing and was a cheerleader. 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.

Shirley Bigelow is a part of the kitchen staff at Darien Elementary School.

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.

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.

Emily Cherone is a National Board Certified Early Childhood Generalist teacher who came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011. She teaches 5-year-old kindergarten at Darien Elementary School. Cherone graduated from Alverno College in 2003 with a degree in Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education. She worked for Milwaukee Public Schools for seven years.

"I enjoy teaching and seeing the educational gains each student makes from the beginning to the end of each school year."

Cherone is a sports fanatic. She played basketball and ran cross-country in college. Today, she enjoys outdoor activities, such as camping and fishing, particularly with her family and her two sons.

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

Diehn graduated from Blackhawk Technical College in May of 2011 with her associates degree in Early Childhood. She is currently enrolled at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Early Childhood/Special Education online cohert program.

Mary Dilla is a special education teacher at both Darien Elementary and Turtle Creek Elementary. She started with the district full time in 2012 after being a substitute teacher in the 2011-12 school year.

Dilla had more than 20 years of experience before joining the Delavan-Darien staff. She worked for 21 years as an early childhood special education for the Chicago Public Schools. She has a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Special Education.

Outside of the classroom, Dilla enjoys photography, being outdoors, fishing and bird watching.
She became a teacher because she enjoys children and finds them all to be “delightful!”

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.

Abigail Koldeway started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011. She is the school psychologist at Darien Elementary School. Koldeway earned both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from nearby UW-Whitewater. Her undergraduate work resulted in a psychology degree with a human services minor. Her master's work was in education with an emphasis on school psychology. She performed her practicum with the Oconomowoc Area School District in 2010-11. Koldeway looks forward to working with a supportive group of educators who strive to meet the diverse needs of students and families.

"I love working cooperatively with parents, teachers and administrators to enhance the lives and general overall well-being of all children, psychologically, socially and behaviorally."

Koldeway's hobbies are reading, watching and going to movies, cooking, going to Brewer games and spending time with her family and friends.

Stephaine Krueger came to Darien Elementary School in 2010 as a 4-year-old kindergarten teacher. She graduated from UW-Whitewater in 2009. Prior to her employment, she was a student teacher and long-term sub within the district. As a local, Krueger especially enjoys working with young children and families in the community where she is from. She also enjoys scrapbooking and stamping.

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.

May received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from UW-Whitewater in 2000. In 2004, he also received a Master’s degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. In addition to teaching, May also remains active as an accompanist for solo and ensemble events and as an adjudicator for area piano festivals.

Kim Meersman is an aide/clerical aide at Darien Elementary School. She started with the district in 2012. She has previous experience as a faculty service clerk at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Ill.

Meersman enjoys doing crafts with her children and spending time with her family. 

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.

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. 

Judy Peterson came to the Delavan-Darien School District as as a classroom aide in 2012. She has a degree from Western Illinois and previously worked at George Williams College and Naiperville Central High School.

"I want to work with children, be active and give back to the community."

Peterson enjoys gardening, crafts and spending time with family. 

Erin Rae came to the Delavan-Darien School District as a third grade teacher in 2002. She became a fourth grade teacher at Darien Elementary in 2010. 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) from 2004-2012. 

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

Kathleen Roberts came to the Delavan-Darien School District as a bilingual teacher in 2004. She taught 4K and is now a Bilingual English Language Learner teacher at Darien Elementary School. Roberts has been an educator for more than a dozen years and brings with her a variety of teaching experiences. She began her career in Waukesha, teaching fourth grade at a bilingual school. From there she held the position of Instructor of Technology for grades K-8 at a private institution. She also has taught music, language arts and literature, and the gifted and talented programs at the middle school level. 

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

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.  

Chris Schmidt is a food service staffer in the Darien Elementary School kitchen. She started there in 2012-13. She is a certified medical assistant and attended college at UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison and Gateway Technical College. All three of her children are alumni of Delavan-Darien Schools. Outside of work. Schmidt loves doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles and hosting family gatherings at her home.

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.

Holli Stoflet started as a special education program aide at Darien Elementary in 2012. She has a bachelor's degree in Middle to Early Adolescence Education from UW-Milwaukee with minors in Science and Language Arts.

Stoflet has experience substituting in the Delavan-Darien School District, as well as at Kids Connection Daycare, East Troy Summer School and Sylvan Learning Center.

Outside of school, Stoflet enjoys reading, movies, cooking and baking, spending time outdoors, fishing and spending time with family and friends.

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. 

Andrea Turner started her teaching career in the Delavan-Darien School District in 2000 as a fourth grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary. She taught fourth grade for three years and then became a second grade teacher. She spent some time as a first-second grade looping teacher, and currently focuses only on second grade. Turner currently teaches at Darien Elementary School.

Turner earned her bachelor’s degree from Carthage College and her Master’s degree in Education from Olivet Nazarene University. She enjoys working with the staff and students in the Delavan-Darien School District.

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. 

Heidi Young is a third grade teacher at Darien Elementary School. She came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1995 and spent the first three years of her career here teaching sixth grade at Phoenix Middle School. Young then transferred to Wileman Elementary School and taught third grade for 13 years. Young joined the Darien Elementary School team the fall of 2011 and is currently teaching third grade. A Wisconsin native, Young received her undergraduate degree in Education from UW-La Crosse. Her Master’s degree in Education was awarded by Viterbo University with additional licensure obtained in reading. Young is very appreciative of the collaborative efforts of our district to provide a quality education for each of its diverse learners.