Comments - Delavan-Darien School District

What Parents Say: Here's what parents have to say about our schools and school district:

"Delavan-Darien is not my home school district. I do open enrollment for my sons to attend Delavan-Darien schools. I do this because I think the education from the Delavan-Darien School District is excellent and wonderfully diverse."

Callie Davis

The strongest part about the district is "the classroom. The teachers are very supportive of the students."

Luz Craig

"The teachers care and do their best to help the students."

Teresa Williams

"After selling our house in Elkhorn, we made the choice to live in Delavan. I had been teaching in the district for 10 years and knew all of the great teachers and programs. We purposely chose Delavan for our family and feel that our children have had a top-notch education in their elementary years. We are looking forward to the years to come."

Kristen Andreoni (parent and teacher)

"Teachers are very well organized and sincerely care about the well-being of every student and parents. Staff is wonderful and more than willing to make the (educational) process easy for the student and the parent."

Shanna Gerhardt

"Good teachers and staff really take an interest in our children. Coming from a private school to the middle school, the teachers actually teach here, which is way cool for our daughter."

Frank Kropacek

"Caring administrators seem to really make an impact on the students."

Kimberly Turigliatto

"When I attended, I was always impressed that we were not racially biased. I had many cousins who went to bigger city schools and there were real divides between classes and races. I remember learning about the importance of acceptance and tolerance... I am impressed with the team work of the teachers that I see in my son's school life."

Wendy Zabel

"I've been impressed every time I've attended a Parent Advisory Committee meeting. Administration and the staff are raising the bar at every turn. Schedules that eliminate down time, new courses, a positive environment, good communications and parent involvement are just a few areas where changes are making a huge difference in the learning environment."

Kay Beers

"I think we have many great and caring teachers. I like the diversity that we have. I would say that my children have done very well. We have wonderful teachers. Delavan-Darien Schools have often been bad-mouthed or run down by people who do not get involved or care to find out what our district is really about. We have more great teachers than we give them credit for."

Lori Hintz

"The teachers are highly qualified for the positions they hold. They are very compassionate about what they do. I feel they do their all for the students who really want to learn and for those who struggle. They encourage students to be their best.

I am originally from (the Milwaukee area) and when I moved out here to Delavan, I heard horror stories about the middle school. I was frightened to send my girls there. However, after going through the school system and seeing first hand how things were ran, I was confident that things would be OK. I have two daughters at Phoenix and we have never had a problem. The principal does a great job there."

Lisa Hardwick

"Our kids have had excellent teachers who care about them and their needs. While our children have only been at DDHS (K-8 at a parochial school), I have worked as a bus driver for all the schools for 25 years and have seen that we have wonderful people working with our kids."

Peggy Nieuwenhuis

"We have really enjoyed our two years in the district. We transferred from (a nearby school district) and we have seen vast differences. Delavan-Darien's staff is more dedicated and friendly. We have seen less of the clicks and socioeconomic status (separations), which has been refreshing. The activities offered are various for all ages."

Adam and Wendi Hembrook

"The district has qualified staff and a variety of programs to fit every students' needs. I am especially proud of the RISE Program at the high school. Class size and diversity are also a strong attribute. It's a great school district with great teachers and staff. I have the pleasure of saying I love every teacher my daughters have had so far. We moved here from Chicago two years ago and the girls showed major academic improvement when they started here. I attribute that to the teachers and the principals."

Mayra Jasso

"I love the district and I feel comfortable knowing my kids are getting a good education. The district offers many activities to keep children busy, which is essential."

Heather Jedlicka (parent and staff member)

"The district is very dedicated to continued learning and is open to new ideas and ways for learning and teaching. I have four children in the district, two who have graduated and two in elementary schools. My experience with all of the teachers and the staff has been positive."

Christine Lopez (parent and staff member)

"There are many excellent teachers in the district."

Kelly Moralez

"I attended schools in the Delavan-Darien School District. The schools are very good at caring about their students and student achievement."

Melissa Bennett

"Delavan-Darien High School has very thoughtful and caring teachers. They go above and beyond their teaching contract to ensure that all students understand what is being taught."

Carol Hansen

"It's a great school district that is focused on learning and the best interests of the students. The schools themselves are clean and well maintained. It's a wonderful district with many opportunities for learning and advancement."

Michelle Welch

"I am always amazed at the amount of educational tools that are in the classrooms, and the diversity. The school population is representative of the country we live in today.

"Two of our daughters attend Turtle Creek Elementary, and they are doing great. The school has wonderful resources and the teachers have been amazing. Our girls are excelling with a public education. We've had nothing but good things to say about our daughters' teachers. They care a lot about their education and the experiences they provide their students."

Renee Yartey

"Under new leadership, the district seems to be going back in a positive direction."

Dave Block

"I am very excited about the changes occurring at the high school. I think there are a lot of opportunities for challenging classes. I think we have very skilled and caring people in our administrative positions, as well as some great teachers. There is a strong push and commitment to improving things, and this benefits everyone. I think the high school has wonderful teachers, very challenging classes and teachers that really motivate and encourage."

Sarah Logterman

"I open enrolled my daughter to the Delavan-Darien School District because I was very impressed with the reading curriculum, and I want my daughter to be in a district with diverse cultures. I know first-hand that the teachers are committed to the students and learning. They take every opportunity to learn new ways to make sure every student is successful."

Barbara Nava (parent and staff member)

"DDHS offers so many options. Whatever your child's interests, there are many options, both for classes and extracurricular activities.

"The way the teachers in different departments work together to enable to students to be involved in so many different things (is impressive). They want students to be able to excel in every area.

"The district meets the many various needs of its students. The students can do as much as they want, and there are a lot of choices in many different areas. When I chat with parents of students in other districts, they are often surprised that there are so many different things to do at DDHS. One of my children was able to be a three-sport athlete while being in the jazz band, orchestra and choir."

Sarah Jones
What Staff Members Say: Here's what staff members have to say about our schools and school district:

"It's a great school district with great kids. I came here so my children would grow up in a multicultural society and not grow up in a community where color and racial negativity was the norm."

Lonnie Wallace, DDHS Technology Teacher

"The people here are passionate about their jobs, and they do them well. The staff is tremendous, and the kids are as well."

Bob Beighton, DDHS English Teacher

"A school is only as good as the people in it, and the best things about DDHS are the students and staff. DDHS has many strengths — our diversity, committed staff and our exceptional students — that make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow. Students feel they have many options here, and there are many different learning opportunities and ways to be involved. Parents are excited about the positive growth that DDHS continues to show."

Carri Deschner, DDHS Special Education Teacher

"I love teaching in a district with students and families from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. It makes my teaching more challenging and more fun. I learn from my students every day. Also, there are a lot of curricular and extracurricular programs in our schools. Our students can make discoveries and study the things that interest them."

Jennifer Bayerl, Orchestra Director

"The best thing about our school district is the diversity. Children of varied backgrounds are able to interact and learn from one another. Our population resembles the real world. Also, our school district strives to be current with technology, standards, differentiation and other areas that affect education. Children are instructed by teachers that are prepared for changes and advancements in education."

Michelle Minton, Grade 5 Teacher

"The faculty and staff genuinely care about their students and it shows every day in the classroom. We work hard to make sure that all of our students are given the best chance at success and don't forget about those students who may otherwise slip through the cracks at other schools."

Amanda Rhyner, DDHS English Teacher

"The diversity in our schools helps educate students and staff about life and tolerance. Our diverse community allows for students to learn more about different cultures. Our staff is comfortable teaching every student and that respect is taught and expected in all classes."

Laura Prado, Bilingual Teacher

"The Delavan-Darien School District believes in its students and is striving to make a difference in each students' learning experience. The rich diversity of our district, both students and staff, make the district a great place to share, explore and learn from each other."

Peggy Fleck, District Library Media Coordinator

"I have spent 30 years of my career in this district as both a teacher and an administrator, serving at all three levels — elementary, middle and high school. My two sons completed the bulk of their primary education in this system, as well. In my roles as both an educator and a mother, this school district has provided many educational, creative and social opportunities for student success. Our students have experiences with cultures and diversity that significantly benefit them in real work and workplace situations. The staff assures that children believe in themselves and believe they can learn. We respect diversity and recognized that all students have strengths and areas in need of growth or support. We are much stronger as a team than any one of us is individually. I am proud to be a staff member in this district."

Donna Sorensen, Wileman Elementary School Principal

"I feel we have a lot to offer everyone. We have music, sports, art, language arts, and more, plus a top-notch learning team to teach whatever the students' needs are."

Betty Blanke, Classroom Aide

"Parents who have student in our multi-age, looping classroom are pleased that the district encourages teachers to set up classrooms that best meet the needs of students. We have been told by parents that this innovative approach is exciting for both them and their child."

Kristen Andreoni, Grades 1 and 2 Looping Classroom Teacher

"I hear parents commenting on the quality of our teachers. Our parents have commented numerous times how they appreciate the compassion our teachers show the children. Parents appreciate that our students feel safe and comfortable in our schools. Parents also love how our staff differentiates instruction to meet the needs of all students."

Kory Garlock, Grade 1 Teacher

"The staff is amazing. We are working on our curriculum to offer a wider variety of classes and to increase the rigor, yet make their education relevant to their lives outside of school. Our students who opt to go to college are well prepared and are successful."

Sara Terrill, DDHS English Teacher

"Our world is a changing and diverse place. Sheltering children from that diversity does not prepare them for the kind of world they will live in. Delavan-Darien schools prepare students for the diversity they will encounter in their lives and helps them become tolerant and empathetic people who can interact with others from all walks of life."

Tina Paschke, Reading Specialist

"I was a substitute teacher in many districts of various sizes for five years before coming here. This is one of the best school districts I have ever been in when it comes to working together for the future of our children. That is why I open enrolled my kids here from Janesville."

Steve Fouts, Grade 5 Teacher

"The best thing about our district is the students. For a small school, we have huge talents, from academics to athletics. Also, the diversity in our schools is reflective of the real world. Students have opportunities to meet and make friends with people of different backgrounds."

Kelly Dennis, DDHS English Teacher

"This district is on a mission to become one of the best districts in the state in the 21st century. The district is student-centered, and focuses on the students' individual strengths. It affords students the opportunity to hone their strengths in academic, athletic and cultural activities that might not be accessible in less culturally diverse communities."

Kim Kirk, Reading Specialist

"I went to school in this district, I teach in this district and I know my children are going to get a great education in this district."

Amber Hooverson, Grade 5 Teacher

"I would say our cultural diversity is our strength, and our students' relationships and interactions are preparing them for an ever-changing and diverse society. I would also add that our school district is about change, we are on the move, and we are preparing kids for life beyond high school."

Joe Overturf, Volunteer Teacher, RISE Program

"Teachers go out of their way to help students. Walking through the halls at night or over the weekend, it is evident how much time teachers are putting in to increase student learning. An example: Students in Advanced Placement Biology were studying for an upcoming AP Biology exam. The students told their teacher of a Sunday night study session and the teacher showed up to work with the students to help them score high on the AP test. It is evident that the teachers here really care about their students and want them to succeed."

Shelly Lalich, DDHS Science Teacher

"The teachers, support staff and administrators are focused on doing the best they can to help students achieve. The staff works collaboratively to make sure the needs of each child are met. Not only do students receive a strong academic background, but they have the opportunity to participate in athletics, music, drama, clubs and more. The students are provided lots of opportunities to learn and grow."

Kelly Pickel, Associate Principal, Turtle Creek Elementary

"When I chose to open enroll my daughter to the Delavan-Darien School District, I did so because I could see a strong commitment from the teachers. I am reminded each day of the right decision I made. My daughter has loved each one of her teachers and has had the support that she has needed in all subject areas."

Barbara Nava, 4-Year-Old Kindergarten Teacher

"In a district this size, we are able to offer a lot to our students, yet be able to know the students and their families well. The teachers and staff have always taken the time to get to know the students and their families. They don't forget a child once he or she isn't in their class any more."

Jen Paepke, Associate Principal, DDHS

"A lot of times, the things you can’t measure are often the things that give people the most success."

Here's what parents have to say about our schools and school district:

Here's what staff members have to say about our schools and school district: