By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Four new teachers will greet centre students when they return to school Thursday.

Sherri Hudson

Sherri Hudson will teach fourth grade. She has four years of experience teaching reading and social studies to fifth and sixth graders.

She is a University of Houston - Clear Lake gradiate.

She and her husband, Chad, have three children in eighth, 10th, and 12th grades.

Like her fourth grade teacher, she has a passion for reading and loves to teach through novels. However, unlike her teacher, she plans to have her students work in groups, collaborate on projects, and move around the room more.

Brenna Pavluk

Seventh and eighth grade science, biology, anatomy, physiology, and health science will be taught by Brenna Pavluk.

She acquired a bachelor of science degree in nursing from University of Akron at Akron, Ohio, in 2014. She received a graduate teaching certificate from Kansas State University this spring and expects to receive her master’s in curriculum and instruction this fall.

This is her first teaching position. She also will be cross-country coach, middle school track assistant coach, and junior class co-sponsor.

Her husband, Aj, is a soldier at Fort Riley. They live in Ogden. They count their pets — two dogs and two cats — as family.

“My high school biology teacher did not use a variety of materials and classroom activities, which I felt was boring,” she said. “My teaching style utilizes a wide variety of resources, technologies, instructional strategies, and group work.

“As an Ohio native, I have truly come to love Kansas and all it has to offer. My husband and I usually take our dogs hiking and swimming in nearby areas. It is one of our favorite things to do.”

Sheldon Patton

Sheldon Patton will teach world history, American history, government, and sociology.

He came to Centre from Chaparral High School, where he taught the same subjects and cultural studies.

He received a bachelor of science education degree from Emporia State University and is a certified personal trainer.

Patton will take Greg Wyatt’s place as athletic director. His wife, Heather Patton, is a teacher aide at Centre. They live in Marion.

“I enjoy the discussions that stem from the higher level questions I ask students compared to my high school teacher,” he said. “I teach history as something that can be applied in their daily lives.”

Patton grew up at Emporia. He traveled to Honduras on a mission trip. He believes strongly in continuing education.

John Seibel

John Seibel is returning to Centre as a regular teacher after serving as a paraprofessional in special education last year. He will teach seventh, eighth, and ninth grade language arts and sponsor student council.

He has degrees from Tabor College and Emporia State University and has been a teacher all his life.

He and his wife, Connie, have seven children, ages 24-35, and seven grandchildren. They live in Hillsboro.

“My English and language arts teachers were varied, but all were passionate about literature,” he said. “Times were different in the early 70s. We didn’t do nearly as much writing then as we do now.”

Seibel likes to play and listen to music. He hopes to integrate lyrical interpretation into his writing projects.