Mark Weerts came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011 having been the principal at Meadowview Elementary School in Oak Creek the previous two years. Prior to that, he was the associate principal at East Middle School in Oak Creek. Before joining the Oak Creek school system, Weerts spent 12 years in a dual role as a school psychologist and special education coordinator for the East Troy School District.

"I have always been passionate about student learning and achievement," said Weerts, a husband, father of three and a Delavan resident since 1995. "I remember the days when I was a middle school student and looking for direction and guidance in my life. I want to be that positive role model for youth in this age group."

Weerts holds two master's degrees in Education and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (1995) and in Educational Leadership from Cardinal Stritch University (2007). He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Concordia University in 1991. Weerts looks forward to working closely with staff at all grade levels to ensure students leave the district well prepared for the real world.

"I really believe in the continuum of services and support in education," he said. "I think that the staff here at Phoenix Middle School, as well as our elementary schools, need to continue to build the foundation for student character development, value clarifications and academic skills. We, as middle school educators, are part of the foundation for a strong high school performance and the performance of our graduates."

Charles Tollefsen is the Associate Principal at Phoenix Middle School. Tollefsen came to the Delavan-Darien School District in August 2009. He has been in education since 2004 as a Mathematics and Technology Education teacher. Tollefsen, a native of Milwaukee, has earned a Bachelor’s degree from Hobart College and Master’s degrees from Alverno College. In his free time he enjoys outdoor sports, including skiing and sailing. Tollefsen enjoys working with struggling students helping them succeed.

Janet Abell started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2009. Abell works as a clerical aide at Phoenix Middle School.

Bob Bauer started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011. Bauer works as a morning custodian at Phoenix Middle School.

Jennifer Bayerl has been teaching Orchestra students in Delavan-Darien since 1997. Before coming to Delavan-Darien, she taught general music in Whitefish Bay and South Milwaukee and Orchestra in Mukwonago. 

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.

Barbara Birk came to Delavan-Darien in 1996 as an ESL teacher. Before coming to Delavan, she worked in Sun Prairie in 1995-96 and in Houston from 1987-95 as an ESL teacher. She is also certified to teach History, Social Studies and Spanish. Birk received her undergraduate degree from UW-Whitewater in 1986. She finished her Master’s of Education from UW-Whitewater in 1999. Birk has always enjoyed the students she has had over the years from many different countries. They have really enriched her life with many cultural experiences and made her job very fulfilling.

Jason Bousman stared at Phoenix Middle School in 2000. He is currently an eighth grade Language Arts teacher. Bousman grew up in nearby Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1992. He went on to graduate from Carroll College in 1996. Bousman was an athlete in both high school and college. He played football and was a member of the track and field teams in high school and college. He also played basketball in high school. His favorite quote as a teacher is “dream, diversify and find an angle.”

Terri Brown has been the Family and Consumer Education Teacher at Phoenix Middle School since 1994. Before coming to the Delavan-Darien School District, she taught Family and Consumer Education at Elkhorn Middle School and Adult Education at Gateway Technical College. Brown graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1978. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master’s degree in Education from Viterbo University. Since coming to Delavan-Darien, Brown has been awarded the Werbel Award, the Fraiser Award and is a Kohl Fellowship nominee. She enjoys coaching track and volleyball. 

Mark Butzow earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the spring of 1996 and completed his Master of Music Education from the VanderCook College of Music in Chicago in the summer of 2004. He began his teaching career as a substitute band director at Phoenix Middle School, where he continues to teach today. Academically, Butzow is responsible for Music Technology, Eighth Grade Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Band. His primary commitment is the success of all students of music in the Delavan-Darien School District. He is extremely proud of the excellent reputation bestowed on the Phoenix Middle School Music Department, which he credits to hardworking students and fellow music teachers.

Jean Caucutt became an eighth grade language arts teacher at Phoenix Middle School in 2011.

She has worked as an office aide and special education aide at Turtle Creek Elementary the previous two years, and has been a substitute teacher and summer school teacher within the district.

"I have always enjoyed teaching and have many years of experience. I live in Delavan and enjoy the community."

Caucutt graduated from UW-River Falls in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a minor in French. Caucutt and her husband enjoy biking, reading and writing. She spends a lot of time with her children and grandchildren.

Jim Christopherson started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1988. Christopherson works as the head custodian at Phoenix Middle School.

Patti Enger began her career as a physical education teacher at Phoenix Middle School in 1984. Enger graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1983 and earned her Master’s in Education from Aurora University in 1999. Enger has been involved in coaching volleyball, basketball and track. She also serves as the Phoenix Middle School Athletics Director and has been the Yearbook Advisor for the past 24 years. 

Jeannie Engerson, MSE, is a school psychologist for Delavan-Darien. She began her work in the district as an intern through the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2008. As a graduate from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, with Bachelors degrees in Child Psychology and Spanish, she pursued a career in school psychology to contribute to childrens everlasting need of a quality education. She is passionate about children learning in a fun and safe environment that meets the educational needs of all students. She is pleased to work with such a talented group of educators in this diverse and supportive school district.

Timothy Foster joined the Phoenix Middle School faculty in 1999. Currently, he teaches sixth grade Math and Science. Before being hired by the Delavan-Darien School District, Foster gained teaching experience in New Mexico, where he taught in a self-contained fifth-grade classroom for four years, and as a seventh and eighth grade math teacher for five years. Foster received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State College in 1990. In 2003, Foster earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Aurora University.  

Tammy Fumall graduated from UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1992, and she began her adventure in teaching with special needs students in Waukesha. To better serve this population, she learned sign language and special behavioral management techniques. Her travels then took her to California to a fourth grade classroom where she worked with a diverse population of students who lived in poverty. Having a desire to return to Wisconsin, Fumall applied to Delavan-Darien in 1997 and began teaching Science and Social Studies at Phoenix Middle School. She currently focuses on teaching seventh grade Science. Fumall earned her Master’s degree in teaching in 2000 from Aurora University. 

Dean Gosse started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1995. Gosse works as an eighth grade Math and Science teacher at Phoenix Middle School.

Kathleen Hanke, M.A., came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1996 as a middle school teacher. Prior to that, she was working with at-risk middle and high school students in Janesville. 

Benjamin Herland joined the Delavan-Darien School District in 2010. He teaches physical education at DDHS and Phoenix Middle School.

Herland graduated from UW-Oshkosh in 2009 with a degree in Education (physical education/health). He has a passion for 21st century physical education and an enthusiasm to work with adolescents in our progressive schools. Herland is excited to implementing the new physical and health curriculum, expanding our technology base and advancing the Delavan-Darien physical education program.

Herland is an avid outdoor enthusiast and enjoys recreational activities such as boating, wakeboarding, skiing, snowboarding, playing competition sports and traveling.

Clara Hibl started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2007. Hibl works as a kitchen server at Phoenix Middle School.

Heidi Jo Hines joined the Phoenix Middle School staff in 2011 as a kitchen server. She came to the district with experience from Central Denison Middle School in Lake Geneva, where she was a server and assistant to the head cook. Her son is a studenet in the district and she enjoys being with kids. Hines has degrees in hotel management and accounting. She enjoys swimming, reading, spending time with her son and her pets.

Susan Hirte started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1991. Hirte works as a secretary in the main office at Phoenix Middle School.

Jill Hummel came to Phoenix Middle School in 2005 as a Special Education Aide. She says it’s a privilege to to work with all three grade levels at the school. Hummel received degrees in Elementary Education 1-8 and Art Education K-12 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1989. She taught third and fourth grades at Brookwood Elementary School in Genoa City, Wis., for two years before moving to Watertown, NY. In Watertown, she taught fourth grade at Wiley Intermediate School, an open-concept school. This school had three wings with 18 classrooms per wing and no inner walls to separate the classes. 

Sarah Jones is the Community Service Worker for the Delavan-Darien School District She earned a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business Administration from UW-Platteville. She has two sons who graduated from DDHS and a daughter who is a student within the district. Jones enjoys being involved in the community and school events.

Patricia Klade started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2006. Klade works as an assistant satellite supervisor at Phoenix Middle School.

Tim Koepnick teaches seventh grade Science at Phoenix Middle School. He attended Phoenix Middle School as a sixth grader when it first opened in February 1967. He graduated from Delavan-Darien High School in 1973. Koepnick had a career as a banker before returning to UW-Whitewater, where he received his teaching degree in 1994. He taught fifth and sixth grade at Sharon Grade School until 1995, then taught second grade at Darien Elementary for the for the 1995-96 school year. In 1996, he was hired as a seventh grade science teacher, where he taught until 2009. In the fall of 2009, Koepnick transferred to sixth grade science at Phoenix Middle School, where he continues to teach today. 

Patricia Kozlowski started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1999. Kozlowski works as a clerical aide and technology aide at Phoenix Middle School.

Suzanne Kuenzi, EEN, came to Delavan-Darien in 2002 as the seventh grade special education teacher at Phoenix Middle School. Before becoming a special education teacher, she was the Kindergarten Club director at the Schaumburg Illinois YMCA and a day care director in Munising, Mich., where she developed and implemented the programming for the center. In addition to earning her Special Education Degree from UW-Whitewater, she holds a Bachelor’s degree Communicative Disorders from UW-Stevens Point. 

Patricia LaPlante, MS, CCC-SLP, came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2008 as the speech-language pathologist at Phoenix Middle School and Delavan-Darien High School. She earned her Master’s degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders in 2008 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development in 2005 from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. LaPlante enjoys working with students to improve their communication skills, as well as preparing them to be successful in the classroom and beyond.

Kay Lee is a Business Educator at Phoenix Middle School. She came to the district in 2001. She is responsible for the sixth grade Computer Literacy, seventh grade Computer Applications and eighth grade Business and Computer Technology classes. She is also the Allied Arts Team Leader and Project SWEETT Building Leader. Prior to teaching in the district, Lee received an Associate’s Degree in Marketing from Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, a Bachelor’s degree in Business/Marketing/Co-operative Education from the University Wisconsin-Whitewater, and her Master’s degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch Universtiy in Milwaukee.

Jeremy Leibfried is the Technology Education instructor at Phoenix Middle School. He came to Delevan-Darien School District in 2001. Leibfried earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. In addition to his teaching, Leibfried has been coaching basketball at Phoenix since 2002.

Ann Lewis started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2004. Lewis works as a clerical aide at Phoenix Middle School.

Sue Mansfield is the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Phoenix Middle School. Mansfield began working for the district in 1998 at Wileman Elementary as the H.O.S.T.S. (now R.E.A.D.S.) Coordinator and then later as an aide in the Library/Computer Lab. In the summer of 2008, she joined the staff at Phoenix Middle School. Mansfield is a 1980 graduate of Delavan-Darien High School. Prior to working in the school district, she worked in the banking industry for a number of years before she decided to take some time off to raise her three children. Mansfield enjoys working with the staff, students and parents at Phoenix Middle School and feels she learns something new everyday.

Officer David Markley is the school resource officer for Phoenix Middle School and gang intelligence officer for the City of Delavan Police Department. A Delavan Police officer since 2002, Markley began working at Phoenix Middle School in 2006. He received an Associate Degree in Police Science from Blackhawk Technical College in 2001. Markley enjoys using a proactive style of policing to communicate with students and parents about gang and drug awareness/prevention along with responding to community related questions and concerns. Most importantly, Markley enjoys establishing a positive relationship between the students and the police.

Sandy McLaughlin is a special education teacher for Phoenix Middle School. She began teaching at Phoenix in 1988 after previously teaching for the Elkhorn Area School District and Lakeland School. She graduated from UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education. Her Master’s degree with an emphasis in Educational Leadership is from Silver Lake College. McLaughlin is an Adjunct Instructor for Aurora University working with their Master’s Degree Program.

Kris Meyer has served as a seventh grade Math teacher at Phoenix Middle School since joining the district in 1991. Meyer earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1990, and her Master of Arts Degree from Nova Southeastern University in 2002. Meyer was honored with the Kohl Educational Foundation Fellowship Award in 2003. She has also served as a middle school coach for volleyball, basketball and track, as student council advisor and is currently the seventh grade Academic Team Leader.

Thea Murphy came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2004 as a special education teacher at Phoenix Middle School. Prior to that, she was a special education teacher at Whitewater Middle School for 11 years. 

Clay Nelson came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1990. He attended undergraduate school at UW-La Crosse and has Master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and in Education. During his 20-plus years in the district, Nelson has taught Science, Math and Algebra at Phoenix Middle School. He has also instructed driver education and has coached soccer, wrestling and football at Delavan-Darien High School. He also coached wrestling, football and track at the middle school. Nelson is currently the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at Phoenix Middle School.

Adam Nielsen is an eighth grade Science and Language Arts teacher at Phoenix Middle School. He came to Delavan-Darien in 2003 with four years of middle school teaching experience. Nielsen received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education K-8 in 1999 from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. He earned his Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction through the University of Southeastern Florida. He also coaches boys and girls basketball as well as track at Phoenix Middle School.

Barb Perez has been employed by the Delavan-Darien School District since 1986. She first came to the district as an aide for the Migrant Program working with the bilingual teachers and their students. She took the position of sixth grade Math teacher in 1987. Perez holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Trinity International University and a Master’s in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University. 

Hugh Petersen is the Art teacher at Phoenix Middle School. He came to Delavan-Darien in August 2005. Petersen started teaching in 1980. He first taught art in western Wisconsin at La Farge School District, then became an art teacher for the New Holstein School District, where he worked for 22 years. 

Laura Prado joined the district in 2008 after receiving undergraduate degrees in Spanish, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education through UW-Whitewater. Prado joined the Phoenix Middle School staff in 2010 as an English Language Learner teacher after gaining valuable experience working with young learners at Turtle Creek Elementary.

Prado was born to undocumented immigrants, whose hard work and perseverance taught her to become a responsible and respectful Mexican American. She grew up in a northeast community of Wisconsin and lived in Mexico for five years prior to her residency in Delavan in 2005.

Prado is excited to be at Phoenix Middle School and looks forward to the success of her students. Prado is not only a teacher, but also a cultural mediator between families, school and the community. She is also currently assisting with the establishment of the first Boys & Girls Club of Walworth County in Delavan.
 

Jess Rima started full time with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011. She was a long-term substitute social studies teacher at DDHS prior to becoming a full-time eighth grade social studies teacher at Phoenix Middle School. Rima also has taught summer school in the district and has been a Sunday school teacher and junior high soccer coach.

Rima says the diverse community and amazing staff and students have given her a great reason to join the Delavan-Darien team.

“Much of my family was born and raised in Delavan and I am excited to work for the school and community. I love working with students of all ages and backgrounds and helping them become informed, responsible and effective citizens.”

Rima likes camping, soccer, Badgers sports, the Green Bay Packers, politics, spending time with her family and friends and fishing. Rima’s mom is also a DDHS grad.

Shelley Robb came to Delavan-Darien in January 2003 as a long-term sub for the high school library. She was hired full-time as the high school librarian the following fall and was at the library until June 2006. In the fall of 2006, Robb moved to Phoenix, where she is currently a seventh grade math teacher. Robb is also the co-advisor of National Junior Honor Society at Phoenix and the advisor for the Delavan-Darien Ski/Snowboard Club at the high school. 

Julie Ropers-Rosendahl joined the Delavan-Darien School District in 2004 after teaching band and choir in Illinois for 10 years. Her undergraduate degree is from UW-Eau Claire, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education. She did additional vocal work at UW-Green Bay. Her Master’s of Curriculum and Instruction from the College of St. Scholastica was earned in 2000. She currently teaches Choir, Piano Lab and General Music at Phoenix Middle School. In addition, she is a co-director of the school musical.

Mary Rowland started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2007. Rowland works as a clerical aide at Phoenix Middle School.

Patricia Ryan came to Delavan-Darien in 2003 as a Special Education Teacher for the sixth grade. Prior to coming here, she was the fifth/sixth grade Special Education Teacher at Sharon Community School in Sharon, Wis. Before moving to Wisconsin, she taught third and fifth grade at Cottonwood High School in Cottonwood, Ala. Ryan graduated from Troy State University in Dothan, Ala., with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1997. In 2003, she received a Master’s in Special Education from Cardinal Stitch University in Milwaukee. Ryan enjoys working with middle school students. Her goal is to see students with learning disabilities be successful.

Thad Schmitt started his teaching career at Phoenix Middle School in 1999. He has taught a variety of subjects in the seventh grade classroom, and currently focuses on Math. Schmitt received his bachelor’s degree from the UW-Stevens Point and has earned a master’s degree during his teaching career at the Delavan-Darien School District.

Carole Schroth returned to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2012 to teach seventh grade language arts as a long-term substitute. She had retired in 2011 after teaching sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies at Phoenix Middle School. She has been with the Delavan-Darien School District since 1988. She holds an undergraduate degree from Carlow College, Pittsburgh, where she majored in Elementary and Special Education. Schroth received her Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Penn. She has also attended Purdue University, taking classes in Gifted Education. Schroth received a license in Curriculum and Instruction from Alverno College in Milwaukee, in 2001.

Schroth has worked as a reading specialist, peer coach and team leader at Phoenix Middle School. She is excited to share her love of literature with her students and encourages her students to do their very best every day. Carole enjoys working with the students and staff of Phoenix Middle School and finds working with middle school students to be very rewarding.

Bonita Sisk started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1996. Sisk works as a clerical aide at Phoenix Middle School.

Katie Sperle says her love of teaching began when she accepted a job as a camp counselor while in college. After one summer of being with kids, she knew she desired to dedicate her life to helping students grow and learn. Sperle graduated from UW-Whitewater in 1995 with a Bachelor’s in Education and a minor in Spanish. To learn the Spanish language, she spent a summer in Cuenca, Ecuador, taking two college classes and living with an Ecuadorian family. This immersion opportunity expanded her horizons greatly and provided Sperle with an appreciation of other cultures. 

Troy Stelzer has been a school counselor at Phoenix Middle School since 2003. Prior to coming to Phoenix, he served as a school counselor at Almond-Bancroft High School. His 15 years of experience in working with youth includes five years working for the Wisconsin Department of Justice as a juvenile detention counselor, and four years as a resident counselor at Chippewa County Youth Home. Stelzer earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from UW-Stout. In 2006, he earned the Mary Frazier Memorial Award, recognizing curriculum innovation. In 2008, the American School Counselors Association recognized him as a finalist for School Counselor of the Year.

Stelzer very much enjoys the diversity within the Delavan-Darien School District, as well as the gifted and dedicated staff. He also feels that it is an honor and privilege to have an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of all students.

Kristin Teska is a sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Phoenix Middle School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (grades 1-9) with a minor in Science from Carroll University in Waukesha in 2002. After graduation, she returned to Illinois and taught pre-kindergarten. After a year of teaching, she returned to Wisconsin in 2003 and has been teaching at Phoenix Middle School since. She also received her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Literacy and Contemporary Curriculum from Carroll University in 2007. 

Keith Vollman started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1993. Vollman works as a night custodian at Phoenix Middle School.

Sandra Wheeler started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2008. Wheeler works as the satellite supervisor at Phoenix Middle School.

Paul Yanko is a Physcal Education instructor at Phoenix Middle School. He came to Delavan-Darien in 1996. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. His Master’s in Education degree was awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. He is certified in K-12 Physical Education and Health Education.

Michelle Ziegler came to Phoenix Middle School in 2003 as a sixth grade teacher, and she currently teaches Language Arts and Social Studies. She graduated from Carroll College in 2002, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with minors in Language Arts and Mathematics. Ziegler continued her education at Carroll College to earn her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, along with her Reading Teacher 316 license, which she obtained in 2007. For the last several years, Ziegler has advised both the school newspaper and the student council. Her goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of her students and to do whatever possible to promote a positive atmosphere in the middle school.