Bradford schools introduce new faculty members

New Bradford faculty members include Tosca Krider (front row, from left) Crystal Joos and Jennifer Williams; and (back row) Diane Pearson, Stephanie Davidson, Heidi Kazubowski, Jennie Steenwyk and Amy Herink. (Photo contributed)

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BRADFORD — Bradford Grade and Junior High schools have eight new teachers to start the 2008-09 school year.

Stephanie Davidson will be one of the district’s two kindergarten teachers this year. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and has previously been a substitute teacher in the Bradford School District. She lives in Princeville with her husband and three children.

Jennifer Williams will be one of the district’s two second-grade teachers for the upcoming school year. She is a graduate of Bradley University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary eduction. She also has endorsements in middle school language arts, science and social science. She is currently working on her Master of Arts teaching courses from Aurora University through the Henry Cohort program. Originally from Pekin, she now lives in Henry with her husband and two sons.

Heidi Kazubowski will be one of the two third-grade teachers this year. She received her bachelor’s degree in education from Bradley University and has taught for nine years before taking this teaching position at Bradford Grade School. She was the pre-school parent coordinator for the Bradford School District during the 2005-06 school year. She has lived in Bradford for 16 years with her husband and two children.

Amy Herink is the new district art teacher for kindergarten through eighth grade. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in teaching at Illinois State University. She and her husband, Adam, were married two months ago. They live in Henry with their dog, Marley.

Tosca Krider is the district’s new librarian. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in education from Bradley University and worked five years in as the children’s librarian in the Chillicothe library system. She lives in Bradford with her husband and two daughters.

Crystal Joos was a substitute teacher in the district last year. She is the new Title I teacher and RTI coordinator for the grade school. RTI (Response To Intervention) is a new program in the Bradford district designed to help students succeed. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Illinois State University. She lives in Buda with her husband.

Diane Pearson is the new Bradford Junior High special education resource teacher. She is a graduate of Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in speech/language pathology and a graduate of Grand Canyon University with a master’s in special education. For several years, she was a speech pathologist paraprofessional. This is her first year teaching special education. She lives in Toulon with her husband and two younger children. They also have two older married children, their spouses and four grandchildren.

Jennie Steenwyk is the district physical education/health teacher for kindergarten through eighth grade. She is also the new district athletic director, head volleyball coach, head boys’ basketball coach and assistant girls’ basketball coach. She received her physical education and health degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich. She is originally from Holland, Mich. where she lived with her parents and two brothers.