Four teachers join Haxtun Schools' staff

By Candie Fix

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Four new teachers joined staff at Haxtun Schools who welcomed students back to school last week. High school and junior high students returned to school on Aug. 13 and elementary students started the 2024-25 school year on Aug. 15 following several days of fall assessments.

Collyn Heinz, Riley Thompson, Jessica Japp and Dylan Huss join the faculty at Haxtun Schools as new staff this year. All take on new and various roles throughout the building teaching students from kindergarten through junior high and taking on an athletic director role. Read below for more on each new Haxtun staff member.

Riley Thompson

Haxtun's newest third grade teacher is certainly no stranger to the Bulldogs community; Riley Thompson joins Dana Davis as a dynamic duo teaching two classes of third grade at Haxtun Schools.

Thompson grew up in Haxtun and graduated from Haxtun High School before attending the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where she obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity. She is currently taking online coursework to earn her Master's Degree in Teacher Leadership from the University of Colorado.

"I have always known that I wanted to be a teacher. My mom has always been my biggest role model and I grew up watching the incredible impact that she made on her students every year," said Thompson, whose mom, Paige, serves as Haxtun's Preschool Director. "I was also inspired by the amazing teachers that I had growing up."

Thompson said her favorite part of being a teacher is forming relationships with her students and watching them learn and grow throughout the year.

"I was so excited to apply for the third grade teaching position in Haxtun this year and get to work in the school and community that has done so much for me throughout my life," she said. "I can't wait to get to know my students and get involved within the school and community. Go Bulldogs!"

Jessica Japp

Jessica Japp takes the lead as Haxtun's fifth grade teacher brining with her two decades of rural classroom experience.

Japp was born and raised in Sterling and received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Colorado Christian University through an extension program with Northeastern Junior College.

"I had many influential teachers along my educational path that made me want to be a teacher!" Japp said. "I live for the 'Ah ha!' moments when students realize that they understand a concept we are learning. Being a teacher gives me the same time off as my boys and there is nothing I love more than spending quality time with my family!"

Japp and her husband, Nate, who teaches in Fleming, live on a farm in Fleming and have three boys, Nolan, Pierson and Easton. Japp said on their "hobby farm" they have three dogs, three barn cats, a goat, five ducks and lots of chickens. In her free time, she enjoys photography, traveling, reading, fishing and spending time with her family.

"In my 20 years of teaching, I have found that small, rural communities are very centered around their schools and that is what drew me to Haxtun," said Japp."

In her new classroom, Japp said he is looking forward to building relationships with students and getting to know a new community.

"I'm very grateful to get this opportunity to be a Haxtun Bulldog! When you see me sporting my Fleming Wildcats gear, please know that I'm in 'Mom Mode,' supporting my kids who attend Fleming."

Collyn Heinz

Haxtun's new physical education teacher and athletic director is the second in the new teacher group who returns as Bulldog alumni. Collyn Heinz will serve as this year's PE teacher in addition to sharing athletic director duties with high school science teacher Don Myers.

Heinz graduated from Haxtun High School and furthered his education at McCook Community College and later at Kansas State University. He received his Bachelor's Degree from Kansas State in k-12 Physical Education and Health. After college he worked at Idalia Schools as the PE and Health teacher and filled the AD role for the Wolves for two years.

"My parents are both teachers, so I was raised in a teacher's household. I always thought I wanted to be a teacher," Heinz said. "When I coached my first year of baseball, that's when I knew I wanted to be a teacher for sure. I loved my PE teacher, Coach Gerk, and I loved going to PE. So, I am inspired to create the love for PE that I had into all of my students. The best thing about being a teacher is when I can help a student accomplish something they thought they would never be able to do."

Heinz, the son of Brad and Becky Heinz, recently married his wife, Emma, who is the Junior High Math Teacher at Haxtun. Emma also is an Assistant High School Volleyball Coach for the Lady Bulldogs.

His hobbies, Heinz said, all involve sports, especially baseball, which keeps him busy enough that there isn't much time for anything else.

"I've always wanted to come back home to Haxtun, so I jumped on the opportunity to come back," he said. "I am very excited to teach Elementary PE and share the AD duties. I am looking forward to being in the Bulldog community and working with a great staff to help teach awesome students."

Watch next week's edition of the Herald for more on Dylan Huss and new teachers at Fleming Schools.