Webster City Community School District’s new teachers are ready for the first day of classes. They are, front row from left: Cait Owens, Madi Hartnett, Kaitlynn Seeley, and Sandy Alne. Back row from left: Kent Wesselink, Jenna Lewis, Erin Brandt, Carson Hartnett, and Alex McCreedy.

Nine new teachers will take their positions at the head of their classes today as school begins in the Webster City Community School District.

Here’s a chance to learn a bit about them

Caitlyn Owen will be teaching general music in the fifth through eighth grades. She will also direct the Webster City Middle School choir. Owen has a bachelor of music education from Wartburg College, Waverly, a school known for its strong music department.

Previously, she taught pre kindergarten through fifth grade general music at Allamakee Community School District for two years.

“I am excited to get to know the students and community,” she said in a questionnaire. “It’s always a sincere joy to watch students grow and I can’t wait to see the musical growth that happens this year.”

Owen says she is a big fan of musical theater and the outdoors.

Madison Hartnett is no stranger to Webster City, having graduated from Webster City High School. She is going to teach eighth-grade math and science at WCMS. Has a degree in elementary education, with endorsements in kindergarten through eighth-grade reading and math from Iowa State University.

Previously, she student taught at Sunset Heights Elementary

“I am most excited to get to know all of my students and have a great first year,” she said.

She also teaches dance classes at The Dance Connection.

Carson Hartnett is another WCHS graduate. He’s going to teach kindergarten through sixth grade physical education at Northeast Hamilton and Stratford. He graduated from ISU in kinesiology with physical education and health options.

“This will be my first year,” he said. “I did secondary student teaching at South Hamilton. I completed elementary at Webster City Schools.”

He added, “I am excited about finally being on my own and creating my own materials.”

During the summer, he married Madison Hartnett. “We both will be in our first year of teaching.”

He also helps with Lynx wrestling.

Sandra Alne will be teaching all business courses at WCHS for grades nine through 12, including intro to business, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, marketing and accounting 1. She will also teach Iowa Central Community College courses in accounting and intro to computers.

Alne has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Methodist College, North Carolina, and an MBA from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, as well as CPA certification.

“I taught college courses for Central Texas College that included accounting 1 and 2, intro. to business and personal finance. My past work experience includes working as a CPA for Cornwell, Frideres & Maher, CPAs in Fort Dodge, and for Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company in Algona.” She completed her teaching experience at St. Edmond High School, Fort Dodge; and Manson Northwest Webster High School.

“I am most excited to bring my real world business experiences and my students’ interest into course content to engage students and get them excited about college or careers in business and accounting.”

“We were a military (U.S. Army) family for 23 years before retiring in Fort Dodge.”

Kent Wesselink is going to teach band at the Webster City Middle School.

“I am about to start my 27th year of teaching instrumental music in north central Iowa. I have previously taught at Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Prairie Valley, St. Edmond, CAL Community-Latimer, and also worked as an adjunct instructor at ICCC. Additionally, I have been serving in the Iowa Army National Guide since 1997, was the Commander of the 34th Army Band in Fairfield, IA, for the past 13 years, and recently transferred to Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge.”

Wesselink has a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Northern Iowa, and a master’s in information management from Webster University, St. Louis.

“I have primarily taught high school students for the past 17 years,” he said. “However, I am excited to take on a new challenge and work with younger students. This opportunity for a change of pace has me thrilled and ready to make a positive impact on their education.”

His wife, Angela, is a parent educator and social worker in Wright County, since 1992. His hobbies revolve around music. “I love performing and attending concerts.”

Kaitlynn Seeley, another Webster City High School graduate, will be at Northeast Hamilton Elementary and Stratford Elementary teaching kindergarten through sixth-grade general music and fifth- and sixth-grade beginning band. She has a bachelor of music degree from ISU with coaching authorization.

“I am most excited about creating music for the first time with all of my students. I can’t wait to meet everyone and share my love and excitement for music with them,” she said.

“I completed my student teaching at Gilbert High School teaching 9-12 band and Gilbert Elementary and Intermediate teaching K-5 general music.

She added, “My hobbies include reading, scoping out cute coffee shops, and all things music, including listening to Taylor Swift. I have a pet fish named Kenneth and I am a soon to be aunt of twin boys.”

Jenna Lewis will be teaching third grade at Sunset Heights Elementary. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and endorsements in English/language arts, social studies, and reading from Simpson College, Indianola.

“I am excited to get to know my new students and colleagues this year,” she said. “I look forward to building positive relationships with my students while seeing their growth and progress along the way.”

Lewis previously taught third grade at West Marshall Elementary and got her start in third grade at Colfax-Mingo Elementary.

“I just bought a house here in Webster City and I have enjoyed getting to know the area.”

Erin Brandt, who also graduated from Webster City High School, will be teaching kindergarten through sixth grade ELL — English language learner — at Pleasant View and Northeast Hamilton. She graduated from ISU with degrees in Spanish, German, Russian, ESL — English as a second language.

She has taught one-on-one ESL for several years, and student taught at Eagle Grove High and Elementary. “I love to read, travel, and learn languages,” she said.

What is she looking forward to this school year?

“Meeting my new students and working with my mentors to give my students the best education possible.”

Alex McCready will teach ninth-grade general science at Webster City High School. He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from ISU, a master’s in secondary education In progress from Morningside University, and is an ACE certified personal trainer. His educational endorsements are in chemistry and physics.

He is looking forward to meeting new students and becoming comfortable in his own classroom.

Previously, he was a para/associate at AGWSR middle and high school, and has technology experiences in high school biology at AGWSR and chemistry at Grundy Center.

He’s a fan of movies and TV. “My preferred genre is science fiction, but I enjoy almost everything from comedy to history.”