Kelly Pickel became the principal at Turtle Creek Elementary School at the start of the 2011-12 school year. Prior to that, she was the first person to hold the Associate Principal position at the school. Also, Pickel was previously the Physical Education instructor for Turtle Creek Elementary as well as the Dean of Students. She grew up in the southwestern part of Wisconsin and earned a Bachelor’s degree from UW-Platteville in Physical Education and Health in 1991. She earned both her Master’s degree in Teaching and her Administration Licensure from Aurora University in 2002 and 2007, respectively.

Ramon A. Reyes started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2009. Reyes was first the associate principal at DDHS. He became the associate principal at Turtle Creek Elementary School in the summer of 2011. Prior to his arrival in the district, Reyes taught Spanish at Badger High School in Lake Geneva. In addition to teaching there, he coached the boys and girls varsity soccer teams. His first job as a Spanish teacher was in 2000 with Big Foot High School, where he assisted the head varsity soccer coach for five years. Reyes graduated from Marian University in Fond Du Lac.

Susan Abbott joined the Delavan-Darien School District in 1991. After substituting for several years, she was hired to work at Darien Elementary School. She transferred to Turtle Creek Elementary when it first opened in 1993. Her job is to accept and record money she receives for lunches, milk, and school fees. She also checks students through the breakfast and lunch lines. 

"I want children to know anything is possible! I am the first to graduate from college in my family and I want to encourage children to dream big and to believe in themselves!"

Akey enjoys the outdoors, cycling and spending time with her husband. She loves experiencing new things and has a passion for traveling.

Susan Alness joined the Delavan-Darien School District in 2010. She is an aide at Turtle Creek Elementary.

Francisco (Joel) Baca started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2004. Baca works as a bilingual aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Jennifer Baltmanis started at Turtle Creek Elementary School as a special education aide in 2012. She has a bachelor's degree in Youth Programing and Camp Managmenet from UW-Stevens Point. Her minors are in Child and Family Studies and Theater.

Baltmanis brings experience to her position from work at daycare centers, summer camps and schools and in-home thearpy for children with autism. 

Baltmanis loves the outdoors, including camping, hiking, kayaking and fishing.

"I enjoy working with children of all ages and look forward to working at Turtle Creek."

Peggy Jo Behrens is a third grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary. She first came to the district as a teacher aide at Wileman Elementary in late fall of 1980. A year later, she was hired as a Title I teacher for kindergarten and first grade at both Park Elementary (a former elementary school in the district) and Wileman Elementary. She started teaching third grade at Park Elementary in the fall of 1982. When Turtle Creek Elementary opened in 1993, she moved into her current position. 

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.

Ken Blanke has worked for the Delavan-Darien School District for more than 30 years as a head custodian. He started at Darien Elementary School in 1977 and moved to Turtle Creek when the school opened in 1993. Blanke is a life-long resident of Darien, and attended Darien School and Delavan-Darien High School. He graduated from Blackhawk Tech Law Enforcement Academy in 1982. He also works part-time as Chief of Police for Lauderdale Lake Law Enforcement and is an honorary member of the Darien Fire Department and Rescue Squad. He is married with three daughters and three grandchildren. Blanke enjoys working with staff and all the children and strives to make Turtle Creek School clean, maintained, and comfortable for everyone.

Elizabeth N. Calhoun has been the Turtle Creek Bilingual Kindergarten teacher since 2006. Prior to that she was a Bilingual Aide at Darien Elementary.

Her primary responsibility is her 5-Year-Old Kindergarten class. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from UW-Whitewater and a Master’s of Education through UW-La Crosse. Her licenses include Elementary Education, English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education. Calhoun has found education to be a very satisfying career and she is happy to be able to work with the school district community. She also enjoys family time with her husband, daughter and son.

Madonna Carr joined Turtle Creek as a Speech and Language Pathologist in 2012-2013.  

She earned her master's degree in Speech and Language Pathology from Marquette University in 2011 with a focus on bilingual (Spanish-English) services. She also holds an master's degree in Linguistics and taught English as a Second Language at the adult level. She is originally from the Burlington area. 

Julio Castillo joined Turtle Creek as an English Language Learner Teacher in the 2012-2013 school year. He graduated from UW-Whiteater in 2012 with a degree in Elementary Bilingual Education, and has experience in a dual-language immersion program from his days as a student teacher with the Nuestro Mundo Community School. 

"I love teaching. The joy of seeing a student succeed is why I love what I do. I've heard great things about Delavan, and I look forward to being a part of this great community."

Castillo is a sports fan (soccer, football, basketball and baseball), and loves music. Family and friends are also very important in his life.   

Lisa Christianson began her teaching career in Tohatchi, NM, on the Navajo Indian Reservation. When she returned to Wisconsin, she taught in Milwaukee and also in northern Wisconsin before taking time off to raise her two children. Christianson obtained her MEPD at UW-Whitewater during this time. She became certified as a reading teacher, as well. When she returned to teaching, she was a Reading Recovery teacher in Spring Grove, Ill., and in Lake Geneva. 

Shelly Depka started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2010. Depka works as a special education aide at Delavan-Darien High School.

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!”

Abby Drobot started as a 5-year-old kindergarten teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary in 2011.

She was a 4-year-old kindergarten teacher for the Muskego-Norway School District prior to coming to Delavan-Darien. Drobot graduated from UW-Madison in 201o with a degree in elementary education.

"I love kindergarten and making a positive impression on children at such a young age. I want to provide and inspire a love of learning right away."

Drobot has experience coaching cheerleading and has adopted to pets — a dog named Lexi and a cat named Riley. She also enjoys snorkeling.

Diane Doerr is a classroom aide at Turtle Creek Elementary. She started in the 2012-13 school year. Doerr was a Fine Arts major and Art History minor at Northern Illinois University. She graduated from there in 1986.

Julie DuVal is one of the Reading Specialists for the Delavan-Darien School District. She came to the district in 1993 as a Reading Teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She is highly involved in the reading instruction in the district. DuVal teaches Reading Recovery and small groups of students to provide them extra reading support. She is responsible for collaborating with teachers on reading and writing instruction. DuVal helped organized the R.E.A.D.S. Mentoring Program, Book Swap program, and the Summer Book Borrowing Program. She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Whitewater and is received her Administrative Certificate through Aurora University. 

Sandy Edmunds has been with the district since 1992 and at Turtle Creek since it opened in 1993. She helps prepare and serve school lunches. She have two daughters and three grandchildren. Edmunds hopes her love of her job shows through to each child.

Jamie Elmore joined the Turtle Creek teaching staff in 2012 as a 4-year-old kindergarten teacher. She brought with her 12 years of teaching experience in Milwaukee, and a year teaching English Language Learner students in Kenosha. She holds a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from UW-Oshkosh with a minor in Spanish, and a master's degree in English as a Second Language and Reading from Cardinal Stritch.

"I enjoy working with young students. They have a lot of enthusiam when learning new things and I like providing those experiences."

Elmore is married and has two children. 

Rebecca Fleck has been with the district since 2012. She helps prepare and serve school lunches.

"I love working in a kitchen and caring for people in a nutritional way. I also love children and plan on adopting soon."

Fleck is an avid reader and enjoys walking her dogs, hiking, swimming, traveling, painting, crafts, movies, experiencing new things and taking care of people in need.

Elizabeth Fossler came to the Delavan-Darien School District as a student teacher in August of 1998. Fossler received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1998 and completed her Master’s in Education through Olivet Nazarene University in 2003. She started teaching fifth grade at Turtle Creek in 1999. From 2003 to 2010, she taught kindergarten. In 2011, Fossler started teaching third grade.

Steve Fouts came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2004 as a fifth grade teacher. Prior to that, he taught fourth grade in Rio, Wis., and as a substitute in various districts in central Wisconsin. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics from UW-Platteville.  

Sandra Getka started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2009. Getka works as a clerical aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Maria Gomez started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2008. Gomez works as a clerical aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Lisa Gosse has been with the Delavan-Darien School District since 2008 as a kindergarten teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. Gosse has been an elementary education teacher since 1994, beginning her career in Wauconda District #118 at Cotton Creek Elementary School in Island Lake, Ill. She has over a decade of experience in both kindergarten and second grade. She received her bachelor's degree in 1994 from Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. She continued her education in gaining her Master's degree in Teacher Leadership from North Park University in Chicago, in 2002.

Katherine (Katie) Grady earned her Master’s degree in School Psychology at UW-Whitewater in June of 2002. She started working with the Delavan-Darien School District in the fall of 2002 as a School Psychologist for Turtle Creek Elementary. As a School Psychologist, Grady’s primary roles are to provide assessment, consultation and intervention to help meet student behavioral, social and academic needs. Grady believes great potential lies in all students and is passionate about discovering that with them. 

Timothy Graham started at Turtle Creek in 2012-13 as a kitchen satellite supervisor. He has vast experience in the restaurant business, loves to cook and enjoys kids. He also enjoys gardening and vacationing with his family.

Jennifer Grossen has worked for the Delavan-Darien School District since 1998. She has worked as a bilingual first grade teacher, bilingual second grade teacher, and an ELL teacher. Before coming to Delavan-Darien, she worked in Lake Geneva as an ESL teacher for two years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Bilingual/Bicultural Education from UW-Whitewater in 1996 and her Master’s degree in Reading from UW-Whitewater in 2001. Her favorite part of her job is working with her students and their families. She enjoys watching her students progress throughout the years.

Rachel Hill came to Delavan in 1999 as an elementary Art teacher. She started her career at both Turtle Creek and Wileman elementary schools, and now spends all her time at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UW Whitewater and, in 2005, obtained a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Aurora University in Illinois.  

Michelle Hinrichs became a special education aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School in 2012.

She holds a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and was previously a certified nurses assistant at Waukesha Memorial Hospital.

Outside of school, Hinrichs enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and going for walks. 

Eric Huebner received his Bachelor of Science in Education Degree in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. In 2000, Huebner was hired as a Physical Education teacher at Phoenix Middle School and as an Adaptive Physical Education teacher for the Delavan-Darien School District. Following teaching assignments at Darien Elementary and Delavan-Darien High School, he has settled in as the Physical Education teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. He completed his master's degree through an online experience at Nova Southeastern University in 2006. Huebner has been very active in extra curricular programs at Phoenix Middle School. He has been the adviser for the student newspaper, as well as a coach for volleyball, wrestling, track and basketball teams.

Jose Huerta started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1999. Huerta works as a night custodian at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Stacy Jacobs joined the Turtle Creek Staff in 2012 as a third grade teacher.

Stacy has an Early Childhood Education Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Mrs. Jacobs began her teaching career in 1997 as a first grade teacher at Brookwood Elementary School in Genoa City. In 2005 she left teaching (a very difficult decision to be made) to stay at home and raise her four children. During that time, she also substitute taught for the Elkhorn Area School District.
In 2012, when her youngest started Kindergarten, Mrs. Jacobs knew she wanted to be back in the classroom and was thrilled to become a teacher in the Delavan-Darien School District.

"My decision to become a teacher was made in elementary school! It's ironic to me that my most influential teacher, Mrs. Bykowski, was my third grade teacher and now I am teaching third grade! I have made committment to each one of my students to help them reach their full potential in my classroom.  Each day brings so many new learning experiences for both of us!"

Mrs. Jacobs lives with her family in Elkhorn. All four of her children attend Elkhorn Area Schools and are active in soccer, basketball, Girl Scouts and the Spring Prairie 4H. The Jacobs family spends many weekends at their cabin in northern Wisconsin where they enjoy boating, hunting, snowmobiling and 4-wheeling.

Madalyn Jacobson once roamed the halls of Delavan-Darien School District schools, graduating from DDHS in 2006. She returned to the school district in 2011 as a first grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

"I had a wonderful elementary school experience in the Delavan-Darien School District, and I would like my students to look back and remember how fun and memorable first grade was for them," said Jacobson, who has also taught summer school for the district.

Jacobson holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Carroll University. She had a double minor in science and social studies. Jacobson enjoys spending time with her family, camping, swimming and traveling when she can. She has had the opportunity to visit Australia and New Zealand.

Jacqueline Janaky has been teaching in the Delavan-Darien School district since 2001. Janaky is a 1990 graduate of UW-Parkside. She has certification in elementary education, grades K-8, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Before coming to the district, Janaky had teaching experiences in kindergarten, second, fourth and sixth grades. Janaky taught preschool for nine years. Janaky is thrilled to be teaching first and second grades in a multiage classroom at Turtle Creek.

Kim Jedlicka is the Administrative Assistant to the Principal at Turtle Creek Elementary. She has been at Turtle Creek since 2003. Prior to that she was an Administrative Assistant to the Director of Education at the Delavan-Darien School District Administration Office. Jedlicka is a 1979 graduate of Delavan-Darien High School and is a life-long resident of Delavan. She received her Associate’s degree in Medical Technology from Madison Area Technical College in 1984 and a Computer Information Specialist Certificate from Gateway Technical College in 2002. She has always enjoyed learning and plans to pursue further educational opportunities.

Michael John grew up in Chicago. He came to Wisconsin quite often because his grandmother lived in Delavan. He graduated from grade school and high school and also attended DeVry Institute while living in Chicago. 

Michele Joslyn is a fourth grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary. She was a substitute teacher for two years in the district before accepting her current position for the 2003-2004 school year. Joslyn grew up in Houston, and attended The University of Texas at Austin, where she was a member of the 1979 National Champion Swim Team at UT. 

Kim Kirk has been a Reading Specialist at Turtle Creek Elementary School since 2002. Her job involves working with students that need extra help in reading. She does this through Title I Reading and RTI Groups. She has been at Turtle Creek since the building opened and was a first grade classroom teacher there for nine years. Her teaching career began in the Delavan-Darien School District in 1988, when she taught both first and third grades at Darien Elementary School. She obtained a master’s degree from UW-Whitewater and her undergraduate degree from UW-LaCrosse. Kirk finds working with struggling readers very rewarding. She wants all of the students she works with to leave Turtle Creek reading at or above their grade level.

Katie Kopp started working as a School Counselor in the district in August of 2004. The primary role of the School Counselor is to help meet the academic, personal, social and emotional needs of all students and their families. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Psychology in May of 2004 from UW-Whitewater. Prior to earning her master’s, Kopp worked as a therapist, providing in home intervention to children on the Autism Spectrum. 

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.

Susan Lehmkuhl started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2003. Lehmkuhl works as a health aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Natalie Lippens started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2007. Lippens works as a special education teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

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.

Elizabeth Meinen came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 2008 as a kindergarten teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. Previously, she had been a first grade teacher in Beloit, starting in 2005. Meinen grew up in the Delavan-Darien area and attended the Delavan-Darien School District throughout her childhood. After graduating from DDHS in 2000, Meinen went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She also earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University in 2007. Meinen is thrilled to be back in her home district and to be working with students in her home community.

Michelle Minton began teaching fourth grade at Turtle Creek Elementary in 1994. Prior to that she taught sixth grade in the inner city of Milwaukee for three years. A switch to teaching fifth grade at Turtle Creek was made in 2000. Minton received a Master’s in Reading from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1996. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in December 1990. 

Mae Mohr became the READS (Reading Enrichment And Developmental Success) Coordinator for Turtle Creek Elementary in September 2006. READS is a volunteer-staffed program that promotes one-on-one mentoring with students that need practice reading. In 1994, Mohr married her husband Rob. They have two daughters who attend schools within the district. 

Kelly Mullis joined the Turtle Creek staff in 2012. She is a kitchen server. Mullis had been a stay-at-home mom for 18 years. She has three boys, enjoys reading, gardening, cooking and baking.

Barbara Nava has been teaching in the Delavan-Darien School District since 1990. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from UW-Whitewater in 1989 and began teaching half-day kindergarten at Darien Elementary. She also has experience teaching first graders in the district at Park School. Nava has been at Turtle Creek Elementary since its opening in 1993, where she started teaching 5-year-old kindergarten. She became the 4-K teacher in 2006.  

Nava lives in Beloit with her daughter, Gianna, who is a student in the Delavan-Darien School District through open enrollment. She enjoys reading, spending time with her daughter and creating new projects for her students.

Leah Nickolai started at Turtle Creek in 2011 as an ESP. She attended Carroll University and received a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 2008. In 2011 she received her Masters in Teaching Degree from Aurora University.

She has previous teaching experience at the Burlington School District, Rock-Walworth County Head Start, and at St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Geneva.

Christine Niles has been a special education teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School since 2005. The elementary special education program is cross-categorical and serves students identified as having a disability in grades PreK – fifth. Niles has been a special education teacher since 1995. Before coming to Turtle Creek School, she taught in Janesville, East Troy and at Lakeland School in Elkhorn. 

Ray Paez started at Turtle Creek Elementary School in 2012. He is a bilingual clerical and health aide at the school.

Paez graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in 2006 with a BA and MA in Biblical Studies.

He has been an assistant pastor and Spanish pastor at East Delavan Baptist Church since 2008.

“I love Delavan and want to serve the families and children of this town in as many ways as possible, especially within the Hispanic community,” Paez said.

Originally from New Jersey, Paez is a passionate New York Giants fan. He enjoys running, spending time with his family and serving his church. Paez and his wife Amy have two children, Charis and Kalee.

Janet Palmer is an Elementary General Music Specialist at Turtle Creek Elementary School, and she also serves as the Fall Play Director and Assistant Musical Director at Delavan-Darien High School. 

She has been teaching music since 1981, when she graduated from Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. Prior to coming to Delavan, she taught vocal music at all levels in districts in Illinois and Wyoming. She spends her free time traveling to watch her children’s music, theatre, and dance performances. Palmer also works as a rehearsal accompanist, music director, and director of  community and professional theatre groups, and as a church musician. 

Betsy Perkins is an American Sign Language Interpreter for the district. She is working this year at both Turtle Creek Elementary School and Delavan-Darien High School. She has been an educational interpreter for many years at schools throughout Walworth County.

Pam Polster started as a substitute teacher with the district for three years before being hired in 2003. Prior to that, she was a registered nurse in various specialties. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Winona State University, where graduated from in 1985. 

Megan Riviere has lived in the Delavan community for more than 10 years and has two children attending school in this district. She received her Master’s in Teaching in 2008 from the Lake Geneva Campus of Aurora University, and her ESL certification in 2010. She has worked in both the Delavan-Darien and Beloit school districts. Prior to obtaining her teaching certification, Riviere was the executive director of the Child Care Resource and Referral of South Central Wisconsin, working with early care providers. Prior to that, she was the executive director of Holiday Home Camp, a nonprofit organization that works with children from at risk communities. In her free time, Riviere enjoys reading, horseback riding and spending time with her family.

Riviere said she loves the diversity and potential that the Delavan-Darien School District offers its students. Her experience here has demonstrated an amazingly talented and committed staff, she says. She wants her teaching to be a very positive experience for the students and families that she works with.

Brenda Scheff teaches first grade at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She joined the district in 1996. Scheff received her bachelor’s degree from Northern Illinois University and her Master’s degree in Reading from Aurora University/George Williams College. She also holds a Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist license. She enjoys collaborating with her colleagues in order to improve student achievement. Sharing the love of reading and helping her students achieve success is her highest priority.

Christine Schleden, came to the Delavan-Darien School District in 1999 as a second grade teacher at Darien Elementary School. She now teaches at Turtle Creek Elementary School. Prior to joining the district 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. 

Pat Schlicher started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1988. Schlicher works as a special education aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She is a certified paraprofessional and has completed her Crisis Prevention Intervention training. Schlicher is a familiar face in our district. She has work experience in all of our schools, working currently out of Turtle Creek Elementary. She loves working with all students and tries to make learning fun by using humor while teaching. She has been married for more than 35 years and has two sons and two grandsons.

Jodean Schuk started at Turtle Creek elementary as a third grade teacher in 2011. She has prior experience as a first grade teacher at Blakewood Elementary in South Milwaukee, as a kindergarten teacher in West Allis and West Milwaukee, as a third grade teacher at Blessed Savior School, and as a reading interventionist for the Elmbrook School District.

“I love being creative and teaching students how to think creatively, as well,” Schuk said.

Schuk has a bachelor’s degree in journalism/communications from UW-Milwaukee and earned her teacher certification from Cardinal Stritch University in 2005. Her husband has been a lawyer in Delavan for more than a decade. Schuk is an avid athlete, playing softball, volleyball, and tennis and working out. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two daughters.

Jeri Schultz started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1997. Schultz works as a clerical aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Lisa Seitz has been a part of the Delavan community for years, spending a decade working at Delavan Christian School. She joined the Delavan-Darien School District in 2011 as a second grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. Prior to coming to Delavan, Seitz worked in Milwaukee Public Schools for seven years. She has a degree in Elementary Education from UW-Whitewater and earned a Master's Debree in elementary education through Cardinal Stritch University.

“I look forward to serving the community. Teaching is a privilege and being a part of a child’s future is exciting.”

Kathleen M. Sibilski is an aide in the morning 4-year-old kindergarten. She also works as a room aide and all-around art resource. Sibilski has been working at Turtle Creek since 2004. She has an associate degree in television production, and two years of graphic design classes from Milwaukee Area Technical College. She loves sharing her love of reading and art with the students at Turtle Creek. In addition to being a teacher’s aide, she is a freelance artist, an avid reader and a mom.

Christine Smyczek is a 5-year-old kindergarten teacher at Turtle Creek. She started with the district in the 2012-13 school year. She majored in Early Childhood Education and minored in English as a Second Language at UW-Milwaukee, graduating from there in 2012. In addition to educating children, Smyczek is also serious about her health and fitness. She was a dance instructor and group exercise instructor prior to coming to Delavan. 

"I like to keep an active lifestyle and be with my family and friends."

Cindy Turner is a fifth grade teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary. She began her teaching career in 1998 at Darien Elementary School as a third grade teacher for a year before coming to Turtle Creek to teach fifth grade.  

Maria Vidal started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 2006. Vidal works as a bilingual aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Mary Ann Wagner started with the Delavan-Darien School District in 1994. Wagner works as a clerical aide at Turtle Creek Elementary School.

Diane Woodbury is a first/second grade looping teacher at Turtle Creek Elementary School. She came to the district in 1995 as a Library Media Specialist for all three elementary schools. She was the Media Specialist at Turtle Creek for 11 years before moving to a second grade position. Woodbury received her undergraduate degree from UW-Whitewater. In her free time she enjoys playing with her grandchildren, working in her gardens and baking cookies.

Patrick Wrubbel came to Delavan-Darien in 2003 as a fifth grade teacher. Wrubbel has been in education since 1994. He served as a sixth grade teacher for nine years prior to coming to Delavan. 

Sarah Yakes has been with the Delavan-Darien School District since 2005. She started out as a substitute in the elementary schools. Since 2006, she has worked as a kindergarten aide and also as a library aide at Turtle Creek Elementary. Yakes is a 1988 graduate of Badger High School in Lake Geneva and attended Gateway Technical College in Elkhorn and Alverno College in Milwaukee, studying Music Therapy. Prior to coming to the district she worked at the Dance Factory and Community Shoppers Inc. in Delavan.