Fifteen new teachers have joined the staff at Webster City Community Schools.

The group is spending this week in orientation sessions, getting ready for the start of the school year in just a couple of weeks.

The new staff members are:

• Danyell Artley, Webster City, is the new lead teacher at Hamilton High School. Originally from Hampton, Artley has an AA degree in social work, a BA in social sciences and an all social studies endorsement. She worked 3 ½ years at Mason City Alternative High School. She and husband George, middle school guidance counselor at Webster City Middle School, have four children. Two daughters are attending Iowa State University and their youngest son attends Webster City High School.

• Travis Balt, Webster City, is the new middle school vocal music instructor. He’s originally from Hospers and has a bachelor’s degree in music education and vocal music performance from the University of Sioux Falls. He worked two years at Bishop O’Gorman Catholic Schools in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he was and elementary general music and orchestra instructor.

• Marsha Halbach, Webster city will be teaching 5th grade math and science at Webster City Middle School. Halbach is originally from Stratford and has a degree in elementary education from Buena Vista University. She taught 4 years at Community Christian Schools, 2 years at Fort Dodge Community Schools and worked 4 years with Big Brothers, Big Sisters. She and husband Chad have 5 children, Andrea, Broch, Elizabeth, Aaron, Rachel and Sam.

• Anna Hug lives in Webster City but is originally from Roseville, Minnesota. She’s starting her first year of teaching as a middle school instrumental music instructor. She has a degree in Music Education (Band) K-12. Her fiance, Matthew, teaches choral music at South Hamilton High School. Her parents and four younger siblings still live in Roseville.

• Katie Jacobson, Ames, is the new high school general science and biology teacher. Originally from St. Charles, she has a BS in environmental science and animal ecology, as well as a MA in teaching science education. This is her first year of teaching, but she began her journey in education as a paraeducator at Colo-NESCO Elementary School. She has two siblings and a nephew.

• Heidi Kayser is the new middle school art instructor. Originally from Clarksville, she has a BA in teaching art and TAG. She previously taught at Webster City Schools, as well as at Jesup Community Schools, Liberal, Kansas Middle School, Gallitin Elementary School in Missouri, Lake Mills Community School and Keokuk Elementary School. She and husband Jeff live in Webster City. They have four grown children — Candy, Nicholas, Amber and Luke, and four grandchildren.

• Rafferty Naughton is the new 6th grade social studies and ELA instructor at Webster City Middle School. Originally from Fort Dodge, he has a BA degree in history education from the University of Northern Iowa. He student taught in Clarion and at Webster City High School, and has served as a long term substitute at WCMS. His family includes his parents, a brother and sister, Cade and Milena.

• Marta Paukert of Duncombe, is the new Webster City High School 9-12 professional school counselor. She has a BS degree in elementary education from Iowa State University and an MS degree in school guidance and counseling from Buena Vista University. She and husband Steve have three daughters Brenna (Austin) Strawhacker, Sarah Paukert and Emersen Paukert.

• Melissa Plagge is from Webster City and is the new 9-12 PE teacher at Webster City High School. She attended Morningside College, Iowa Central Community College and the University of Northern Iowa. She has degrees in exercise science and 5-12 physical education. Her daughter, Brooklyn, 4, will be in pre-kindergarten this year.

• Emily Pruismann, Webster City, will be teaching kindergarten at the Northeast Hamilton learning center. The WCHS graduate has a degree in elementary and early education and a minor in reading and language arts. She also has and ESL endorsement. Pruismann and husband Greg have a daughter, Quynn, 8, and two sons, Briggs, 5 and Hank, 8 months.

• Kalleen Simmons, Johnston, is the 6th grade literacy and social studies instructor at the middle school. Originally from Gilbert, Simmons has a BA in history/sociology from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. She taught for 3 years in Forrest City, Arkansas as part of the Arkansas Teacher Corps, a program that places highly qualified teachers in hard-to-staff districts. Her parents live in Ankeny and she has two brothers, Devin of Des Moines and Cole of Kansas City.

• Kaitlyn Stroup of Webster City will teach second grade at Sunset Heights Elementary School. Originally from Clear Lake, Stroup is has a degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Iowa. She did her student teaching at Roosevelt Elementary in Mason City and Garner Elementary in Garner. Her family lives in Clear Lake.

• Kala Thury, originally from Eagle Grove, will teach 5th grade band at the Webster City Middle School. She attended Iowa Central Community College and William Penn University where she earned a degree in K-12 music education. She taught pre-kindergarten through 12th grade music at Moulton-Udell. She also had one year of experience substitute teaching at Eagle Grove and Clarion-Goldfield. She and her husband live in Fort Dodge.

• Madison Walker of Eagle Grove is the new Webster City High School family and consumer sciences. Originally from Waverly, she has a BS degree from Iowa State University in family and consumer sciences education and studies with an endorsement in health coaching. She taught two years at Cedar Falls High School.

• Ann Wenck will be teaching preschool at Riverview and Pleasant View. She’s originally from Minnesota and has a degree in early childhood education from Iowa State University with a minor in technology. She did her student teaching in Jewell and Webster City. She and husband Kyle live in Gilbert.