Osseo, Maple Grove Alumni Return to Teach

Osseo Area Schools had about 150 new teachers start in the district this year—but for a handful of them, this wasn’t their first experience with the district.

Nearly a dozen of the new teachers were students before they took over classrooms for themselves. Below is a look at some of the returning teachers, courtesy of Osseo Area Schools.

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MELISSA ENGEL

• Schools in the district you attended: North View Jr. High; Maple Grove Jr. High; Osseo High School
• School at which you are now teaching: First grade at Zanewood Community School
• Years of experience as a teacher prior to coming to Osseo Area Schools: 14
• Why do you want to work for Osseo Area Schools? I live in the community. It is nice to take back roads on snowy days.
• What/who inspired you to become a teacher? In college I worked for Brooklyn Park Park and Recreation at Zanewood Community Center. That experience gave me a desire to work with children in this community.
• Briefly share a favorite memory related to your time as a student at Osseo Area Schools: Singing with Mrs. Wobig and Pop Concerts!

KATHRYN QUESADA

• Schools in the district you attended: Edgewood Elementary; Sunny Hollow Elementary (when Dist. 279 leased space from there); Maple Grove Junior High; Osseo Senior High
• School at which you are now teaching: ELL at Zanewood Community School
• Years of experience as a teacher prior to coming to Osseo Area Schools: 1
• Why do you want to work for Osseo Area Schools? Osseo Area Schools has always had a great reputation and I had a great educational experience here.
• What/who inspired you to become a teacher? I always considered being a teacher, however I finally went back to school for my ESL license after I spent a year teaching in Costa Rica in 2007. As a second career, I found that I truly love the energy and excitement of a school. Working with English Learners from many cultures is inspiring and challenging and I love it!
• Briefly share a favorite memory related to your time as a student at Osseo Area Schools: As a student at Osseo Senior High, I was able to travel with the choir to Europe for a week to Germany, Austria and Italy over Spring Break.  It was a great way to spend Spring Break during my senior year with friends.

MOLLY SANDERS

• Schools in the district you attended: Palmer Lake Elementary, Brooklyn Junior, Park Center Senior High
• School at which you are now teaching: ELL at Weaver Lake Elementary
• Years of experience as a teacher prior to coming to Osseo Area Schools: 7
• Why do you want to work for Osseo Area Schools? I am familiar with the area and with some of the schools and I know how hard Osseo is working to ensure achievement for all students.
• What/who inspired you to become a teacher? I have always loved working with kids, with people from backgrounds different from my own and with languages, so becoming an English Learner teacher seemed a natural choice.
• Briefly share a favorite memory related to your time as a student at Osseo Area Schools: I remember how my elementary school principal knew the names of every student at the school.

ALEX WALLNER

• Schools in the district you attended: Weaver Lake Elementary, Osseo Junior High, Maple Grove Senior High
• School at which you are now teaching: 5th grade at Edinbrook Elementary
• Years of experience as a teacher prior to coming to Osseo Area Schools: First year
• Why do you want to work for Osseo Area Schools? I grew up in this district and have fond memories of teachers, friends, and things I have learned in school. My goal is to help other students have a great experience learning in this district as well.
• What/who inspired you to become a teacher? I had so many great teachers growing up and they have all inspired me to do what I love.
• Briefly share a favorite memory related to your time as a student at Osseo Area Schools: I have two. In my 9th grade science class, we made full-sized cardboard boats. We raced them in the pool. What a great way to learn about buoyancy!