School underway at New York Mills School District

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As the New York Mills School District starts another year of instruction, it also welcomes five new teachers into the fold. With a variety of backgrounds and experiences, these teachers will share their knowledge with students this school year.

The Special Education team will be gaining three new members this year with Terry Ohlgren, Melissa Wattenhofer and Tyann Robertson. 

Ohlgren, aka “Mr. O,” is a seasoned teacher of 26 years and is originally from Menahga, where he attended high school before getting his degree in Elementary Education and Special Education at Bemidji State University.

“I was a teacher’s aide in high school,” said Ohlgren. “This got me interested in teaching.”

While Ohlgren enjoys spending time with his two daughters, granddaughter, and two black labs, he also likes to spend his free time fishing and farming. He is looking forward to this school year.

“I’m looking forward to getting back with students after a year off,” he said. “The staff here has been phenomenal so far!”

Another member of the Special Education team this year is Missy Wattenhofer, who comes from the same neck of the woods as Ohlgren, the local community of Sebeka. After graduation she attended St. Cloud State University and received her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education.

“I became a Special Education teacher to make a difference in students’ lives and give them the tools to become successful adults,” said Wattenhofer, “I find that watching the students’ successes, no matter how big or small, is very rewarding.”

Wattenhofer is beginning her first year of teaching with a background of 10 years of special education paraprofessional work. She is looking forward to connecting with students, staff, and the NY Mills community. She spends her free time with her husband, Chad, and daughters Kendra and Keegan, and horse named Sequoia.

“In my free time, I like to ride a motorcycle or horse, read books, scrapbook and spend time with family and friends.”

A third new member of the Special Education team is Tyann Robertson who comes from Blackduck/Bemidji and Ruidoso, Minn. areas. After high school, she attended Kenyon College for a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Elementary Education at BSU, and a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction at Western Governors University.

“My mom was a Head Start teacher and she raised me with early childhood education and child development as a common topic of conversation and had me volunteer,” said Robertson, “I became a teacher because of my love of kids and strength in working with them.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing what is so special about NY Mills school after hearing such high praise—seeing it in action and helping be a part of it,” she continued, “and developing relationships with the kids.”

Robertson spends her time with her sons Sawyer, Briar, Waylon and her daughter Poet along with her two dogs and cat. She spends her spare time swimming, visiting waterparks, kayaking, learning and seeing new things, checking out coffee shops and bookstores as well as playing Magic the Gathering and Pokemon.

The school’s music program will also be getting two new teachers this year with Dana Peterson and Cary Armagost.

Peterson will be teaching K-12 music and grew up both in Milwaukee, Wis. as well as Malawi, Africa. She graduated high school at Martin Luther Prep in Prairie du Chien, Wis. before getting her degree at Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. She also attended Western Governor’s University. She majored in music and holds a Master’s in Science of Curriculum and Instruction.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” she said, “I’ve been a teacher for five years officially, but have been a teacher throughout my life in other ways: church, piano, aerobics, personal trainer and mother of six children.”

Peterson said that she is most looking forward to building new relationships with her students, coworkers, and the community. She likes to spend her time with her dog Galu, gardening, walking, camping, playing organ, artwork and doing things with her family.

Joining as the 5-12 band director, Armagost hails from Little Falls, Minn. where he gradated from high school. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education (Instrumental) and a minor in Psychology from Concordia College in 2022.

“I became a teacher because the world is saturated with people who are just musicians,” he said. “I want to instill my passion for music in the students like the educators who I worked under as a student instilled in me.”

This will be Armagost’s first band directing job, but he has worked for the last several years teaching private lessons, as well as substitute teaching throughout last school year.

“I have loved my time in New York Mills thus far, but I am excited to really get to know the community through these young musicians. I am very excited to play some pep band at Friday Night Lights,” he said.

Armagost lives in town with his girlfriend and his cat Lenny. He spends his free time following the National Football League and said that he nearly took up a career in sports journalism before deciding on teaching.