New teachers at CCHS

Editor's note: Mr. Jordan O'Donnell is another new face at CCHS this year. His information will be shared in a future article.

School is in session once again at Carter County High and with the new year there are bound to be some new faces among the old. In this case, there have been some sparkling new additions to the high school staff and they have graciously agreed to let the community get to know them:

What is your full name? Marvin Vanderpool

What do you teach here in Ekalaka? History and Social Studies

Where are you originally from? I'm originally from Laurel, MT, but I have lived the past 15 years in Billings, MT.

How long have you been teaching? I graduated from MSU-Billings in the fall of 2008 and have been a licensed teacher since 2009. In 2010 I started teaching at Northern Cheyenne, until last May.

Who or what made you want to become a teacher? I have had a few good teachers in my life. I have had a few bad ones, too. I try to model myself after two teachers in particular. The first is Jack Bain, my 8th grade History teacher who opened the world of history to me and showed me that it is more than just facts, but the story of lives. The other was Bernt Edgmon, my high school biology teacher, who just made learning fun and was always upbeat and cheerful. He was the one that gave me the nickname MVP.

Who or what made you decide to teach in Ekalaka? I no longer felt like I was a good fit for Northern Cheyenne and resigned at the end of the school year. I didn't know what I was going to do. Then I saw the Ekalaka opening on the OPI (Office of Public Instruction) website and I jumped at the opportunity to apply. I knew what kind of staff was here through Cathy Frye with student council and Chioko Hammel with Track and Field.

What is your goal for this year? My goal is to get the students as excited about History as I am about it, and to just have a fun year of learning. I also want my students to be willing to take some risks and try something new, and to teach them not to let the risk of failure hold them back.

What was your first impression of our town and the people in it? What a friendly little town. Everyone has been so welcoming.

Any odd hobbies, interesting facts about yourself, or anything you'd like to let people know about you? I'm kind of a goofball and a big 'ol nerd. My ultimate goal would be to rule the world, and I'm going to do it one mind at a time!

What is your full name? Andrew Del Raso

What do you teach here in Ekalaka? K-12 Music and high school choir

Where are you originally from? Grand Rapids, Michigan

How long have you been teaching? This is my first year as a teacher.

What or who made you decide to teach in Ekalaka? A former teacher of mine moved near Ekalaka and told me of the position. He said it was a great area for a new teacher with a strong program, good kids, and a supportive community. He told me I would be well supported and valued as I start to teach.

What was your first impression of our town and the people in it? I come from a city of about a half million people, so coming to Ekalaka of about 350 was a culture shock. In a big city I'm just a face in the crowd-people don't care that there is a new face-but in Ekalaka I receive "hellos" and "how are ya's" every day and I enjoy that.

What is your goal for this year? Like any first year teacher, my goal is to keep my head above the water. There are many things, such as grading and attendance policies, that are not taught in college that I will have to learn. On top of that, I want all my students to grow and enjoy music.

Any odd hobbies, interesting facts about yourself, or anything you'd like to let people know about you? I've lived in Grand Rapids for most of my life and I would love to find someone to teach me the country life of riding, shooting, and branding. Other than that, I enjoy movies, Game of Thrones, video games, and a good beer.