BGM welcomes five new teachers

BGM Community Schools welcomed five new teachers including a shared teacher with HLV for the 2025—26 school year.

Andrew J. Foster

Andrew J. Foster is new industrial technology shop teacher at BGM and neighboring HLV.

Foster is a 2010 graduate of HLV and holds a liberal arts degree from Kirkwood Community College.

When asked about becoming a teacher, Foster said he was ready for a change of pace and had always wanted to work with kids.

He previously worked as a framer and carpenter most of his life.

“My parents both own a family construction business where I have worked alongside my father, mother, brother and sister doing home repairs, roofing, drywall, trim work, cabinets, additions, literally build a home from start to finish,” he said.

“We’ve also done pole buildings and barns start to finish.”

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As for the school year, Foster said students will learn to build deer blinds, wooden go-cars, some play sets for community members and a catapult, if allowed.

When asked what is something he has learned from a student, Foster said, “That sometimes in order to herd cats, you need to bring tuna and dynamite.”

Foster said his favorite classes in high school were band and choir.

When asked what he wished he had known when he was the age of his students, Foster said, “How to file taxes, that driving 20 above the speed limit actually doesn’t save you any time, and that sometimes a door can make a great table.”

Foster and his wife, Shelby, met at Walt Disney World in Orlando in 2013 and married in 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky They have three children.

“I wanted zero cats. She wanted three cats … So we met in the middle, and now we have four cats,” Foster said.

“I’ll get my hogs eventually,” he added with a chuckle.

When asked if he had anything else to add, Foster said, “That cinnamon rolls do not go with chili soup.”

Lisa Kirby

Lisa Kirby is the new high school special education teacher at BGM

She is a graduate of Grinnell High School and holds a Secondary Special Education degree from the University of Iowa.

When asked what led her to become a teacher, Kirby said she had a job in college working at Systems Unlimited, a company that provides support services for people with disabilities and mental health needs.

“That is when I first knew I wanted to work with students who needed support with learning,” she said.

Kirby said her favorite class in high school was English.

When asked what is something she has learned from a student, Kirby said, “There is no question you can’t ask.”

“During my first year of teaching, a student asked a question that I will never forget … and it was one I didn’t really even know how to answer … I can’t put it here.”

If asked what advice she would give to her students? Kirby said, “That it’s OK to ask for help. Do the work. We can get through it. Having a high school diploma is very important.”

When asked what she wished she had known when she was the age of her students, Kirby said, “There are adults in the building that are there to help with anything that you need. Anything.”

In her free time, Kirby enjoys reading, binge-watching shows on Netflix and spending time with her daughters and grandchildren.

Kirby is married to Ben, and the couple has two daughters, Ashley and Emily, two grandchildren, Noah and Lucy, and one on the way. The family has one dog, Murphy, and one cat, Stella.

Katie Kaplan

Katie Kaplan is the new BGM secondary math teacher. She is teaching accelerated seventh grade math, pre-algebra, applied math, consumer math and personal finance.

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Kaplan is a graduate of HLV High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Northern Iowa.

Kaplan said she became a teacher because she loved math as a student and wanted to help others do the same.

Kaplan said her favorite class in school was math.

When asked if there was something she’s learned from a student, Kaplan said, “It’s OK to have fun in class, as long as learning is still happening.”

When asked what she wishes she had known when she was her students’ age, Kaplan said, “You have the rest of your life to work. Enjoy high school while it lasts: hanging out with your friends, going to the extracurricular activities, and all the other stuff.”

If there is any advice she would give to her students, Kaplan said it’s that effort and working hard goes a long way.

When asked to describe her teaching style, Kaplan said she is structured.

As for the new school year, Kaplan said getting to know her students is her goal.

“I’m excited for this new opportunity,” she said.

Jawny Massengale

Jawny Massengale is the new talented and gifted teacher at BGM. She is a graduate of BGM and holds a degree in elementary education with a minor in literacy from the University of Northern Iowa.

“I am currently working toward a TAG endorsement,” said Massengale.

When asked what led her to become a teacher, Massengale she wanted to make an impact on our future and to be sure every students feels like they can learn.

“Not only do I want to teach academics, but I want to be a teacher of kindness, empathy, confidence and other important qualities our world needs,” she said.

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When asked what is something she has learned from a student, Massengale said she has learned so many things from her students.

“Anything from history lessons to dinosaur names to how to be patient with different personalities and learners, to funny facts,” she said. “You never stop learning from the kids.”

When asked what she wished she had known when she was her students’ age, Massengale said she wished she had known in that moment that it was OK if she didn’t understand something, because later on it would “click.”

“I shouldn’t have let what I didn’t know define my worth or intelligence,” she said.

When asked about giving advice to students, Massengale said, “To not stop until they are proud of the outcome.”

“Everyone’s outcome is different,” she said. “So don’t let yourself become discouraged if someone else’s outcome looks different than yours or don’t judge someone because your outcome is exceptional and theirs isn't there yet. Clap for everyone.”

In school, Massengale said she didn’t have any one favorite class, but always loved and appreciated a class where the teacher built relationships with their students.

“It made learning so much more enjoyable,” said Massengale.

When asked to describe her teaching style, Massengale said she is a relationship builder.

“I believe that if you build good relationships with your students and guide your teaching based on their interests, they can learn anything no matter a disability or behavior.”

When asked what she was looking forward to the most in the new school year, Massengale said stepping into a new role and learning from it and getting to know the students at BGM.

“I also get to teach along side of my sister and some teachers I had growing up, so that’s cool.”

In her free time, Massengale loves to adventure with her husband, Colton, and two boys, Josey and Jones. She also enjoys spending time with her family, coaching volleyball and sitting down with some coffee and read a good book.

The couple also has three dogs, Cassius, Cain and Creed and two farm cats, Lucy and LeRoy.

“I am so excited to be back to my old stomping grounds and so happy to serve and give back to our community any way I can,” said Massengale.

Katie Walters

Katie Walters is the new BGM junior high special education teacher.

She is a graduate of North Mahaska and holds a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in strategist 1 from William Penn University.

When asked what led her to become a teacher, Walters said she loves working with kids and helping them be successful.

“I was a paraeducator, and I had a colleague talk me into it (becoming a teacher) because she knew I had always wanted to be a teacher,” noted Walters.

When asked what she has learned from a student, Walters said, “It’s not appropriate to call your ‘Hey Dude’ shoes ‘Dudes.’”

When asked what she wished she had known when she was her students’ age, Walters said she would have cherished her childhood more.

“When you are a kid, you just want to grow up and be an adult,” Walters said. “I liked the kid more than the adult one. Bills aren’t fun.”

When asked what advice she gives to her student, Walters said, “Don’t let anyone define your success.”

Walters said her favorite class in high school was family and consumer science.

When asked how she would describe her teaching style, Walters said she is a hand-on teacher and demonstrator.

“I understand something better by examples and repetition,” she said.

When asked what she is looking forward to the most this school year, Walters said, “Learning a new school system and learning about junior high and high school and how this side of the building works.”

In her free time, Walters enjoys reading, being outside and camping with her family.

Walters and her husband, Kevin, have four children and three dogs.