Diller-Odell Welcomes Four New Teachers for the 2015-2016 School Year

March 23, 2015

 

John Denner

Title I

 

My name is John Denner.  I live in Diller with my wife, Cheryl and our three children Hayley, Mallory and Peyton.  When not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching sports and playing golf. 

I have been an elementary teacher for 20 years.  I began my teaching career at Diller where I taught 6^th grade and coached High School Girls basketball and volleyball.  Upon leaving Diller, I taught one year at North Central Elementary in Haddam, Kansas.  At that time, I taught 6^th through 8^th grade Math and Social Studies.  I also taught 8^th grade Spelling and was the 6^th through 8^th grade P.E. teacher, athletic director, 8^th grade class sponsor and coach of junior high football, boys and girls basketball and track.

After leaving North Central, I began teaching at Southern Elementary.  While at Southern I taught 2^nd grade for eleven years and have been the Title I/Reading Coach for the past four years.  I have also coached junior high and high school sports while at Southern.  The sports I have coached have been high school volleyball as head coach, high school golf as assistant coach, junior high football and junior high boys basketball as assistant coach. 

I am very excited for the opportunity to return to Diller-Odell Schools.  I am anxious to get to work with the administration, staff, and students in both buildings.  I feel very lucky to be a part of this district and can’t wait to get started.  Go Griffins!

 

Abigail Kostal

Sixth Grade

I am Abigail Kostal.  I live on a farm south of Odell, with my husband Brent.  We have twin boys, Preston and Austin, and another baby on the way.   

I am a graduate of Diller-Odell High School, a graduate from Southeast Community College with an Associate of Arts degree, and a graduate of Peru State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education with high academic honors.

 

I enjoy spending time with my family.  Some of my hobbies include baking, spending time outdoors, and watching Husker sports.   

 

I enjoy living in the school district and now being able to give back to the kids and community that supported me.   It is very rewarding to lead each child in the right direction and help them relate school subjects to life experiences.

 

I am excited to start my teaching career in the 6th grade classroom at Diller-Odell Schools!

 

Jacki Smith

Jr/Sr High School Special Education

Hello Diller/Odell!  I am super excited to join this school system beginning Fall of the 2015 school year.  

I grew up in DeWitt, Nebraska and attended Tri-County Schools.  From there I attended University of Nebraska-Kearney for three years.  I then graduated from University of Nebraska-Lincoln with my 7-12 Special Education degree.

 

I started my career at Fairbury Public Schools in the CHANCE Alternative classroom setting.  After six years, I then took over as the district's Transition Coordinator as well as Special Education classroom teacher.  This next year will start my 16th year in education.

 

I have two children that are in the district.  Tybor will be a sophomore and Tori will start her seventh grade year.  I enjoy watching them in their school activities.  We enjoy spending time with family and friends, going to the lake, and other outdoor activities.  

 

I am looking forward to working with students and staff.  Diller/Odell is a great school system and I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be a part of it.  

 

 

 

Helen Swanson

Fourth Grade

 

My teaching career began in 1998 at Wiley Post Elementary in Oklahoma City.  While I was there, I taught fifth and third grade for three years each.  I served as team leader, social studies and math chair leader.  I was also their co-camp director for fifth grade. 

I then moved to Skyview Elementary in Yukon, Oklahoma teaching first grade.  In 2006 our family moved to Odell, Nebraska.   During this time I taught first grade at Southern Elementary in Blue Springs.

I have had the opportunity to teach at several different school districts.  I have been blessed to have met some wonderful staff members, students and parents along the way.  I am looking forward to being a part of the Diller-Odell staff.

My education consists of an Associate of Arts Degree from Butler County Community College and BS in Elementary Education from Kansas State University. 

My husband John Swanson and I have 3 daughters, Emily, Madeline, and Lilly.  We live outside of Odell on an acreage.  We enjoy spending time outdoors, playing basketball, softball, golf, and nature walks.  We also enjoy watching our favorite teams sporting events.  Which include the Wildcats, Royals, Chiefs, Steelers, Packers, and Broncos!