Seven new teachers have joined the New Prairie staff this year and they all enjoy it here so far.
Mike Bauer is the United States History, government, and current events teacher and also coaches basketball. Before teaching at New Prairie, he taught at Saint Joe High School in South Bend. He has been married for 10 years and has two daughters.
“I like spending time with my family and watching all kinds of sports.”
His favorite part of New Prairie so far is “how friendly everybody’s been.”
His classroom is in the west hall if students would like to visit him.
Meredith Igaz’s favorite part about New Prairie so far is “that it’s homey and like a family.”
Igaz is working as the Attendance Secretary in the Main Office. She likes spending time with her family, working out in the yard and going to Healthy Vibes to get shakes. She is married and has two daughters. Igaz worked at Rolling Prairie Elementary before coming to the high school.
Having four kids keeps new teacher, Jim Matz, busy, but doesn’t stop him from being a special education teacher and wrestling coach.
Matz said that his favorite part about New Prairie so far is the students.
“[There are] really good kids here,” he said.
He is usually standing in the halls during passing periods, but students can also visit him in room 127 right before the math hallway.
David McGhee is a 3D Art, Ceramics, and Painting teacher in rooms E366 and E58. Even though he has been an art teacher for many years, he has more hobbies than just making art.
“I fix all kinds of things. I do some side work where I repair [and] do maintenance work on buildings and different things like that for people.”
He also likes to do some traditional hobbies.
“I love barbecuing and cooking out. I have a nice garden at home that I tend to.” McGhee said.
McGhee’s favorite part about New Prairie is “the relaxed environment.”
“Everybody seems to just get along. I always have somebody interested in what I’m doing and it’s always in a good way. Everybody’s always staying engaged and having fun.” He said.
Some jobs Jeanne Romstadt had before working as a Special Ed teacher at New Prairie were an Instructional Assistant and a Principal. She is married and has six children.
Romstadt said that her favorite part of working at New Prairie is being familiar with a lot of the staff and the feel of the school because five of her children graduated from here
She likes to read and garden. Students can visit her classroom in W103.
Brent VanHook is one of our math teachers. The classes he teaches are Algebra II and geometry in room W104. He has been married for 12 years and used to be a stay at home dad.
“Playing with my kids is my most favorite thing to do.” VanHook said. VanHook also likes to lift weights and watch comic book movies.
“The atmosphere” is his favorite part of working here.
Erica White likes working here because she is a graduate from New Prairie High School.
“I graduated in 2005 and if you look in the old yearbooks, you can probably find my picture.” White said.
She is a world history and world geography teacher in room N174. She used to be a teacher for 10 years at LaPorte High School. She is married and has a six month old baby at home.
“I like to hang out with my baby and my dogs. I love to run and exercise and I love to coach basketball,” said White.
