BGM schools welcome five new teachers, high school principal

BROOKLYN — BGM Community Schools welcomed five new teachers and a new high school principal for the 2024—25 school year.

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Shane Ehresman

Shane Ehresman is the new 7-12 principal at BGM.

Ehresman brings 27-years of experience to his new position.

He was assistant professor and director of distance learning at William Penn University in Oskaloosa for three years, superintendent of Lynnville-Sully Community School District for 11 years, high school principal in Washington for five years, high school associate principal and activities director and social studies teacher at Marion Independent School District for 10 years and social studies teacher in Forreston, Illinois for a year.

Ehresman has completed doctoral coursework in education administration at Western Illinois University, earned a specialist degree and master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Iowa, earned a Master of Arts in teaching from Coe College and a Bachelor of Special Studies Degree from Cornell College.

Ehresman has been recognized by the Ray Center at Drake University with an Iowa Character Counts Award. He was named Iowa Administrator of the Year by the Iowa High School Press Association and Iowa Assistant Principal of the Year by School Administrators of Iowa.

Ehresman has also served on advisory committees for the Iowa High School Athletic Association.

“I am excited about returning to public education after working at William Penn University for three years,” said Ehresman.

“The BGM Community School District has an excellent reputation, and I am humbled and honored to have been selected as the next 7-12 principal.”

Jamie McClenathan

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Jamie McClenathan is BGM’s newest Begindergarten teacher.

McClenathan is a graduate of Carlinville High School in Carlinville, Illinois She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Arts Degre in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University.

Asked why she become a teacher, McClenathan said she initially thought of being a teacher to be closer to her own kids.

“Although, after being able to observe so many wonderful teachers, I was inspired to continue on my educational journey so that I could be one of those inspirational teachers that is shaping the future,” she said.

Asked to share something she’s learn from a student, McClenathan said she’s learned how to persevere over the difficult things in life and keep a smile on your face.

“One thing we say in our class is that we just haven’t figured it out yet,” said McClenathan.

“It is a phrase I’ve heard from a lot of other teachers, and it works great for five-year-olds who know some things, but there’s a lot they don’t know yet, just to give them that hope that we will get there eventually,” she said.

McClenathan said her focus is on student engagement and an exchange of student and teacher-led instructions. She said she’s looking forward to just getting into the grove of things and figuring out the best way to give these young children the greatest start they can have in their education experience.

McClenathan enjoys spending time with her family, running and reading. She has been married for 14 years to her husband, Matt. The couple has four children, Gwen, 12; Zeke, 10; Leo, 8; and Ana, 6.

“We also have a Shelter dog, Kinnick, who is 14 years old, and a dog named Lambeau that passed away a few years ago,” she said.

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Emily Daugherty

Emily Daugherty is the new secondary special education teacher at BGM. She graduated from a class of 19 students at Moulton-Udell High School in Moulton.

She attended Indian Hills Community College in Centerville and Graceland University as a non-traditional student where she majored in elementary education with a concentration in special education and reading.

In her new job, Daugherty will teach social-emotional skills, executive functioning skills and will support students in all academic areas.

Daugherty said she became a teacher to help students enjoy learning.

“I still strive to instill in my students that the mistakes we make are not a dead end but simply part of the process that leads to progress,” she said. “We don’t practice to reach perfection, we practice to gain growth.”

When asked what she has learned from a student, Daugherty said she learned to be brave and step out of her comfort zone.

In high school, Daugherty’s favorite class was band. “I played several instruments (clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, piano) in a variety of ensembles,” she said.

Daugherty said she tells her students that life isn’t about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.

“It also doesn’t matter where you came from, only where you are going,” said Daugherty. “These two concepts are what we should focus on, not others’ perceptions or judgments.”

When asked to describe her teaching style, Daugherty said she is a laid back rule follower.

Daugherty said she is looking forward to making new friends and becoming part of a new community.

Daugherty said she wishes she had known when she was student that it’s OK to mess up.

“Mistakes are part of the learning process,” she said. “There is also no such thing as ‘perfect,’ because we continually reflect, learn and grow.”

In her spare time, Daugherty likes to do anything art oriented. “I have started creating commissioned pet portraits in a variety of mediums and have thoroughly enjoyed it,” she said.

Daugherty has a ‘plus-one” of almost three years. She has two children that are grown and on their own.

Her daughter, Beth, 23, lives in Oskaloosa with her family, and her son, Myles, 29, lives in Ottumwa with his wife and furbaby.

Daugherty has two fur babies herself: a 14-year-old muli-pooh named Charlie, and a five-year-old rescued Frenchie named Jolie.

Kelsey Kleine

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Kelsey Kleine is the new Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduate Career Education Specialist at BGM. She is a graduate of Pella Community High School and holds a business management degree from Central College.

Kleine said the iJag course work is geared toward students in eighth through 12th grades. She is currently teaching an exploratory course each quarter to eighth grade students to introduce them to iJAG.

The course will discuss leadership and help students develop communication and durable skills, and lay the foundation for a positive and supportive classroom community to be built.

“Through our curriculum for ninth and 10th graders, students will explore topics including communication, teamwork and leadership,” said Kleine. “They will examine their personal interests, values and goals.

“They will also explore how iJAG and the Career Association can help them to grow their skills and pursue their interests. These topics will be explored in the form of engaging mini-lessons and exploratory, hands-on activities such as interactive investigations, class discussions, team challenges and mini-projects.

“The curriculum for 11th and 12th graders will expand on the curriculum for ninth and 10th graders. Students will be introduced to the ideas of seeing themselves as leaders and their classmates as collaborative teammates.”

Kleine is not a traditional teacher. She holds an accreditation through the Board of Educational Examiner.

“I chose to enter into the school setting because I have a passion for people,” Kleine said. “I want to see students succeed far beyond the four walls of school.”

Kleine said this is her first year teaching, but she is already learning from her students.

“So far, I have learned that students have strong abilities to problem solve utilizing technology,” she said.

“A simple example came when I was talking with my seventh grade students in home room about carrying out an activity that they wanted to do. We needed a game die. I was quick to say that I didn’t have one for the activity.

“Students quickly chimed in and encouraged me to pull up an electronic game die. I did just that, and we were able to complete the activity as a class.”

Kleine said her favorite class in high school was an elective called business class.

“There were multiple classes that fell under that class, and I took all of those classes,” she said.

Kleine said her goal is to provide structure, guidance and boundaries but ultimately let students have voice and choice in her classroom.

“I work to facilitate project-based learning experiences,” she said.

When asked what advice she would give to her students, Kleine said she would encourage them to apply themselves now.

“School might seem like a drag, but so many skills can be learned and sharpened through truly being engaged in classes,” noted Kleine.

Kleine spends her free time with family and friends.

“I love to spend time playing with my two-year-old son. As a family, we enjoy spending time with both extended family and friends.”

In addition to their two-year-old son Ryker, Kleine and her husband Kyle have two dogs, Hope, a mini Aussie doodle, and Indy, a dachshund and Yorkie mix.

Kleine said she feels blessed to be welcomed into the BGM School District, and she hopes to make a positive impact with those she has the privilege to interact with.

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Lydia Fariss

Lydia Fariss is the new high school business teacher at BGM and at neighboring HLV.

Fariss is a graduate of Ankeny Centennial High School and the University of Iowa, where she majored in enterprise leadership.

Fariss said she heard there was a shortage of career and technical education teachers across the United States post-pandemic, so she decided to become a teacher.

“I didn't want the next generation to not have the same opportunities that I had,” she said.

Fariss said her students have taught her how to be a more understanding adult. “I've grown as a person from being around them,” she said.

Asked what advice she would give to her students, Fariss said she’d tell them you don’t have to be good at something, but you do have to be teachable.

As far as her teaching style, Fariss said she enjoys being organized and predictable.

“I love my routines, structure and color coordination,” she said.

Fariss said she’s looking forward to getting to know the students in her classes better and growing the business program at both schools.

Fariss said she wishes that when she was a student she had understood that life changes constantly.

“New opportunities are abundant,” said Fariss. “Make a plan, but be prepared for change and pivot when needed.”

With a two-year-old and an eight-month-old, Fariss doesn’t have much free time, but she enjoys crocheting when she has the time.

Sara McCue

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The new band director for grades 5-12 at BGM is Sara McCue.

A graduate of Twin Cedars High School near Bussey, McCue holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Hope College in Holland, Michigan and a master's degree in music education from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

She’s completed all of the coursework and most of an internship for an equivalency degree in music therapy from the University of Iowa.

“I am dual certified in music education and general elementary education,” said McCue.

McCue said she didn’t initially plan to be a teacher but found herself taking all the music education classes. That led her to enter the teaching field.

“I found that I just love teaching music and wanted to show students the world through music and music experiences,” she said.

McCue said she’s learned many things from her students.

“The most important thing I've learned over the years is that giving students a space to be themselves matters and is something they will take with them as adults,’” she said.

“For example, there was a group of kids who were getting in trouble for break dancing outside of the school. I gave them my classroom as a space, as long as they weren't in trouble in any of their classes.

“I learned a lot about break dancing, and they worked hard to stay out of trouble.

“There was a time when I let a student rock band play for their peers. Members of that band have sent me copies of their recorded albums.”

McCue said that band and choir where her favorite classes in school. “But my senior English class was the one where I learned the most life skills,” said McCue.

“I still use recipes from my advanced foods class. I still have the flower arrangement I made in horticulture class, and I still have the nightstand I made in wood shop.”

When asked what advice would she give to her students, McCue said she’d tell them to build good practicing habits when they are young, and play as often as they can, for as many people as you can.

“Music can take you so many places,” she said.

McCue said she’s had to be very organized over the years, so her classes are structured with set routines.

“I have high expectations, but I like to have fun, too,’ said McCue. “I definitely find ways to engage students in the subject matter.”

McCue is looking forward to getting to know her students and making music with them.

McCue said the world is so much bigger than the confines of a school building or the boundaries of a school district.

“Take advantage of every opportunity offered to you and find your way beyond the boundaries,” she said.

When not at school, McCue is making sure her kids get to all of their activities.

“They are very busy with cheerleading, band, choir, tennis, fencing, hockey, music lessons, 4-H and several other clubs,” she said.

“I also codirect the Grinnell Children's Choir, teach at the Grinnell School of Music and sing in a Sweet Adeline’s choir. I help my dad manage our family farm as well.”

McCue is married to Daniel. The couple has two daughters, Slane, a 10th grader, and Hanna, an eighth grader, and a son, Seeger, a sixth grader. They attend school in Grinnell.