Six new staff members begin time at Haxtun Schools

The 2021-22 school year kicks off in Haxtun this week and six staff members will begin their first year at Haxtun Schools when students arrive to their classrooms.

New staff members include Kindergarten Teachers Christie Toops and Christie Philp, Second Grade Teacher Tamra Ashburn, Fourth Grader Teacher Amy Duvall, Technology Teacher McCall Etl and Special Education Teacher Mollie McGaughey.

Haxtun students took assessments Monday and Tuesday this week and the first official day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 18. The Haxtun School District will feature a four-day school week with Mondays off.

To keep up-to-date with school activities and happenings, visit haxtunk12.org or Haxtun School District on Facebook.

Christie Philp

Christie Philp, one of Haxtun's two kindergarten teachers this year, returns to the classroom in her 15th year in elementary education. Philp and Christie Toops will each teach one of two kindergarten classes this year; total Haxtun has 25 kindergartners.

Philp grew up in northern California in a small community and later obtained her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado.

"For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be a teacher," Philp said. "I feel like teaching is what I was meant to do in life. I am inspired daily by the relationships that I develop with my students. I love getting to know them and building lasting and caring relationships."

Philp and her family live in Sterling; she and her husband, Shawn, have four children including Gabrielle, Ian, Halli and Colin.

Gabrielle is currently attending Northeastern Junior College in Sterling while studying to be a nurse and son Ian is a student at South Dakota School of Mines. Philp's younger two children will attend Haxtun schools this year, daughter Halli, a 10th grader, and son Colin, an eighth grader.

Philp said a close friend, a former Haxtun graduate, encouraged her to apply for the open kindergarten job and she feels blessed to have been offered the position.

"Over the years I had heard wonderful things about the school district here in Haxtun," she said.

Philp said her favorite part about teaching is knowing she has the opportunity to develop life-long learners.

"Students are very willing to work hard and try new concepts when they have a teacher that supports them," Philp said. "The best thing about being a teacher is knowing that I have an opportunity to develop a desire in my students to be lifelong learners. I hope to develop a confidence in my students that allows them to ask questions and seek out the answers. That they believe that they can do anything they set their minds to."

In their free time, Philp and her husband attend their son Ian's track meets. Ian is a part of the throwing team at South Dakota School of Mines and competes in shot put, hammer and discus. They also like to follow Colin and Halli in their activities and as a family, the Philps spend time riding dirt bikes and four-wheelers.

"We also love to go camping and go to the family cabin in Wyoming," she said. "I also love to work in my garden and yard. I find that the hard work usually associated with yard work to be calming."

Philp will have 12 of the 25 kindergarteners in her classroom this year. "I am looking forward to getting to know my students and parents, my co-workers and the Haxtun community," she said.

Christie Toops

Christie Toops begins her first year teaching at Haxtun Schools with 13 kindergartners in her classroom. Toops has a degree in Elementary Education from Colorado Christian University and is looking to build lasting relationships in her new career endeavor.

Toops grew up in Colorado Springs and graduated from Widefield High School. She and her husband Noah moved to Fleming seven years ago while he pursued his career path with the Colorado Department of Corrections.

"I took a less traditional path and we began our family first," she said. After starting their family, Toops finished her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education at Northeastern Junior College and then received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Colorado Christian University.

"I had always been drawn to education and knew working with kids was what I wanted to do," Toops said of becoming a teacher. "I feel relationships are most important in education and I work hard to ensure our classroom is truly a family environment. I feel most inspired when students have the opportunity to succeed because their individual academic needs are being met, as well as their social emotional needs. I love making things fun and engaging!"

The Toops family includes three daughters, Lilly, Emma and Ava, all who will be attending Haxtun Schools; Lilly as an eighth grader, Emma is in seventh and youngest Ava is in third grade. The family also has two dogs, Kobe and Peppa, and a bearded dragon named Puff.

"In my spare time I love to hang out with my family, we spend a lot of time walking and working out," said Toops. "We love to play board games together and I also love to read! Thrillers and paranormal books are my favorite!"

Toops said her decision to teach in Haxtun came while she was searching for a District her family could grow together, meaning her children could attend a quality school and she could put down roots in a community and a District.

"Haxtun has the reputation of being a very close knit, warm and welcoming community and it just seemed like a natural decision to apply for the position, as I loved the grade level and the community seemed just like what I had hoped to find," Toops said. "I am most looking forward to growing within the Haxtun community, building a new classroom family with my 13 amazing kindergartners and watching my own children grow and building relationships as well."

Tamra Ashburn

Growing up Tamra Ashburn spent time in Haxtun, spending her mother's pocket change on a candy necklace at the local grocery store on a Sunday afternoon and now, she begins her first year as a teacher in one of two second grade classrooms at Haxtun Schools.

"Now as an adult I look forward to creating some more great memories with this amazing community," she said in her first week in her classroom.

Ashburn was born and raised on a farm in Peetz and later attended the University of Wyoming where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Business. She spent 10 years in the banking industry and later welcomed her first child and became interested in the education system.

When her children were in school, Ashburn found herself at the school with them participating in various community events and before she knew it, she was taking an active role at the school as a para-professional and as a substitute teacher.

"I started taking classes while helping in the school with the goal of going back to get a teaching degree," she said. "I had great mentors and administrators that encouraged me to go and participate in the alternative licensure program through BOCES. After some years of thought and consideration, I pushed forward and found myself back in the community of Haxtun, with the amazing opportunity to teach second graders."

Ashburn and her husband live in Sterling and have two children, Beau, age 14, and Anna, age 8. "We love time spent as a family and love spending time outdoors," Ashburn said. "Our newest favorite is river tubing in Nebraska. When I am not helping my kids participate in extra-curricular activities, I love to decorate the home or go out on a girls' outing with my daughter."

In her first year as a homeroom teacher, Ashburn decorated to the theme, "Twinkle, Twinkle, You're a Star." "I am excited to help build my stars' skills," she said. "I love to teach reading, and my goal is to strive to find ways to build excitement in every reader out there!"

While Ashburn said it has taken an immense amount of energy to plan and prepare for the year, she is thrilled to have a classroom of her own and she looks forward to meeting her Haxtun students.

"I believe that learning can be fun and engaging if done right and it is so rewarding to see every child use what they have learned in the real world," Ashburn said. "I am very impressed with the welcome I have received here at Haxtun and look forward to being a part of the school and community!"

Amy Duvall

Haxtun Schools just feels like home for new fourth grade teacher Amy Duvall. While this is her first year as a homeroom teacher, Duvall previously spent nine years with the District as a para-professional before continuing her education to earn a degree in elementary education. For the past three years, she served as the fifth/sixth grade math teacher in Holyoke.

Duvall grew up in Colorado Springs and moved to the Fort Collins/Loveland area for college after graduating high school. She later married Randy Duvall and the couple expanded their family to include two children, Nick and Emma. The Duvalls raised both of their children in the Haxtun School system; Nick a 2015 graduate of Haxtun High School and Emma, a 2020 graduate of HHS.

Duvall said after having her own children, she chose to have an in-home daycare so she could be more involved with them.

"I was hooked and wanted to keep caring for children and helping them grow," she said. "The kids are my inspiration."

After in-home daycare, Duvall worked at BOCES for a short time and then joined the staff at Haxtun Schools. Later, she went back to school to earn a degree from Western Governors University with a Bachelors in Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, Elementary education. After receiving her degree, she taught in Holyoke before accepting a position with Haxtun this summer.

"Haxtun feels like home," Duvall said. "I aim to create a relationship with each child and take it as a challenge to create a learning environment that gives the inspiration and excitement back to the child. The best thing about teaching is watching kids grow."

Duvall's son Nick and his wife Kaylee (Michael) and first granddaughter Evie recently moved back to the area. Emma is now in her second year of college at the University of Wyoming. Now that her children are older, Duvall said she likes to spend time in her garden, crafting and going to garage sales.

She recently also got a new dog, Ferb, who she said steals vegetables from her basket while she is in the garden.

Duvall said she is a hands-on teacher and is excited to kick off the 2021-22 school year. "I am hands on, go research something if you don't know or understand it type of learner. I can't wait to share a love of lifelong learning."

McCall Etl

McCall Etl, a Fleming native, takes the reigns of Haxtun's Technology classroom this fall and while she originally pursued a degree in agriculture education, she is excited to be in a small, rural school and feels like Haxtun is the perfect fit.

McCall grew up in Fleming and had every intention of becoming an ag teacher when she attended Northeastern Junior College and later Colorado State University where she obtained her teaching degree.

"I student taught in Walden and then totally changed my mind once I graduated, Etl said. "I started my teaching career as a fourth grade teacher at Campbell Elementary in Sterling. I spent two years getting to know the elementary side of things and now I'm in Haxtun!"

Etl said it was her mother, Trish, who inspired her to be a teacher. Trish Etl is the fifth grade teacher at Fleming Schools.

"I chose to be a teacher because I was able to watch my mom inspire kids and enjoy decorating her room every year," Etl added. "I love being able to see kids grow and change even in the course of a year. This and seeing kids light up when they see me outside of school makes teaching an awesome career."

Etl recently purchased her first home in Sterling and while she has yet to have a husband, kids or pets, she said she does have beautiful plants she enjoys tending to.

"I like to spend a lot of my free time working at Parts and Labor in Sterling, where I meet a ton of people from all over the United States," said Etl. "I also love going to Nebraska and I spend a ton of time working with and hanging out with my best friend, Mollie, who is also coming to Haxtun this year."

In addition to teaching technology at Haxtun this year, Etl also plans to help Katlin Bishop with the junior high volleyball team.

"I decided to pursue a career in Haxtun this year and I am very excited about the change," said Etl. "I have wanted to be in a small school since my student teaching experience, and I felt like Haxtun would be a good fit for me. I'm really looking forward to the chance to get to know all of the kids. Everyone has been so welcoming so far, which makes the change and new environment so much less overwhelming."

Mollie McGaughey

While Mollie McGaughey grew up her family moved around a lot and before she graduated high school, she attended 10 different schools but one thing that was consistent for her was knowing she wanted to be a teacher.

"I've always had a passion for kids and knew I wanted to be a teacher since the first grade," McGaughey said.

McGaughey graduated from Platte Valley High School in Kersey after attending a number of schools throughout Wyoming, Tennessee and Colorado. She later attended the University of Northern Colorado where she obtained her Bachelor's degree in Special Education.

"The thing that inspires me the most in my classroom is watching students make progress toward their goals and seeing a light bulb flick on when they've learned something that they've put so much hard work and effort towards," McGaughey said. "The best part of being a teacher will always be the students, however communities and colleagues are an additional bonus!"

McGaughey lives in Sterling with her dog, TeKa, and as a part-time job, she works at Parts & Labor Brewing. Her parents, Casey an Eileen, live in North Carolina and she has an identical twin sister, Paige, who is one minute younger than she is. Paige lives in Nebraska with her fiancé and their two dogs.

In her free time, she likes to play volleyball and softball, working out and being with friends and family. She also likes playing cards, games, reading and going for runs or walks.

"Going through teacher cadet in high school, wanting to be an advocate for children with special needs and being an individual with her own adversities and challenges throughout school due to wearing hearing aids, I knew I wanted to be a special education teacher, "McGaughey said of her career choice. "I pursued a career in Haxtun because I have always wanted to teach at a smaller, more rural school and I heard nothing but wonderful things about the District and the community! I am looking forward to building relationships with colleagues, students, and the community and helping students succeed!"