Fleming students greeted by four new teachers with familiar faces as 2022-23 school year begins

Four new teachers join the staff at Fleming School for the 2022-23 school year. The year kicked off last week for students in grades four through 12 and younger students return this week. New teachers Jaxon King, Tamara Ashburn, Lynette Harms and Megan Chintala recently took over their respective classrooms and are welcoming students back this fall.

Jaxon King

Jaxon King is one of two new staff members to return to their alma mater this year. King grew up in Fleming on his family's farm. He graduated from Fleming High School in 2017 and later earned a degree in elementary education from Chadron State College where he also played football.

King takes over the physical education department this year and also coaches football and baseball.

"Just about everyone in my extended family has either been a teacher and/or coach at some point in their life, so I think that I was destined to become a teacher and coach," King said of his chosen profession. "I love getting to help teach and inspire the youth to become the best overall citizens that they can possibly become when they are finished with school and start their life journey."

King know lives south of Fleming with his fiancé, Megan Chintala and the couple's three lab dogs. Chintala, also a Fleming native, joins Fleming Schools this year as an elementary special education interventionist.

"My favorite part about being a teacher is seeing the pure joy on a student's face when they succeed in whatever task we are doing. To me there is nothing better than seeing a student realize that hard work pays off in the end," said King.

In his free time, King said he enjoys being active and spending time outside and playing sports. "I am very active and enjoy spending my time playing sports in any way possible whether it be basketball, softball, golf or really any outdoor activity. I also help my dad farm and ranch in the summers and on the weekends whenever I am able to."

In his first year as a teacher, King said he is most excited about getting to meet and build relationships with students. While he knows many of the high school kids from his time coaching, he said he is excited to build new relationships with the elementary students throughout the school year.

"I attended Fleming when I went to school and I had an amazing experience with all of my teachers and the community. I knew that I wanted to come back to the area and teach in this school district as soon as I started my education degree in college. I am teaching elementary physical education as well as high school weights and health, so I will see most of the students in the school on a daily basis which is extremely exciting for me."

Megan Chintala

Megan Chintala is set to serve as Fleming's elementary special education interventionist this school year. Chintala is also a Fleming High School graduate returning to her community.

Chintala graduated from Fleming High School in 2015 and attended North Platte Community College where she earned her associates degree in applied science while also playing volleyball. She later continued her education at Chadron State College where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education with an inclusive SPED degree. She returned to the area in 2020 working for the Northeast Board of Cooperative Education Services as an early childhood para-professional. For the past two years, she served as an early childhood coordinator.

"I graduated high school and didn't really know what I was going to do the rest of my life as far as a career choice. I spent a semester of college just trying to figure that out and realized I really missed being around little kids and watching them interact and grow together," Chintala said. "That's when I decided to go into Early Childhood Education. The kids are my why and the reason I chose the career path that I did. I enjoy being around kids and learning from them every day."

Chintala recently became engaged to Jaxon King; the couple live south of Fleming with their dogs.

In her free time, Chintala said she enjoys coaching volleyball, watching football and making memories. "I like to be outside working in the yard and playing with our three dogs."

Chintala said she returned to the area to give back to the community that has given so much to her.

"I love this area and didn't picture myself going anywhere too far from it. I am teaching special education in the elementary levels," she said. "I am looking forward to getting the students in the building and seeing them in the hallways every day. I am also looking forward to working with this great staff at Fleming and the relationships built throughout the year."

Lynette Harms

Lynette Harms begins her teaching career in Fleming this year and brings with her years of experience in the classroom. Harms began teaching second grade in California in 1988. She later moved to Las Vegas, where she met her husband, Fleming native Harry Harms.

The Harms lived in Las Vegas until 2011 when they relocated their family to Greeley. The couple have three children, Hailey, Maddy and Harry Tyler. In 2013 the couple moved to Fleming to their forever home.

"Fleming is home," Harms said. "My husband and daughter Hailey are Fleming alums and this year Maddy and Harry Tyler will graduate from Fleming. Where else would I return to the classroom?"

Harms serves as the resource teacher for students in grades seventh through 12 in Fleming this year.

"I look forward to building relationships with the staff and students and continuing to meet the needs of the students in my classes," said Harms.

Tamra Ashburn

Tamra Ashburn welcomes a classroom of first graders to school this fall in Fleming. She takes the reins of first grade teacher after spending last year in a second grade classroom in Haxtun.

Ashburn was born and raised in Peetz on a wheat farm and still considers Northeast Colorado to be home and the best place to raise a family and build relationships with honest, hard-working people. She graduated from Northeast Junior College with an associate's degree and finished her agriculture business degree at the University of Wyoming. When she started her own family, she made the decision to begin a career in education.

"It wasn't until I had my own family that I realized the unending rewards of teaching little hearts and had the opportunity to finish my Elementary Education License through Northeastern Colorado BOCES," Ashburn said.

Ashburn and her husband, along with the couple's two children, live in Sterling. The Ashburn family including a son, age 9, and a daughter, age 15. "We love our evenings outside enjoying the yard, swimming, water tubing and enjoying friends and family."

"As an educator, it is rewarding to see each child with their own unique set up skills and to give them different opportunities to grow socially and academically. As a teacher I love to build relationships and learn what each child loves and what makes them smile," Ashburn said. "My goal every day is to inspire children to look for what they love and teach them to love learning."

Ashburn joins her children in the classroom in Fleming this year as she embarks her new journey with the school district. "My children have been attending Fleming School for the last seven years and love the school environment and the people that they are surrounded by. I am so excited to be back in the same school with them and getting the opportunity to teach first grade in this community. Life and living is about the relationships we build with one another and I look forward to shaping the lives of our future generation!" she said.