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Buena Vista welcomed 19 new teachers and staff for the start of the 2023-2024 school year on Aug. 16.
At Kling Elementary, Hannah Marcum is teaching kindergarten, after working as an aide at Kling for 2022-2023 school year. Jessica Chittum brings 19 years of teaching experience, both in Buena Vista and Rockbridge County, to her position as an early childhood special education teacher at Kling.
Gabbi Clark is working as a first-grade teacher at Kling. Clark graduated from James Madison University earlier this year, and has previously worked as a paraprofessional in Buena Vista. Hannah Bouchelle is teaching first grade at Kling this year, after working last year as a long-term substitute at Enderly.
Jenni Osrio, Tiffany Jordan, Christina Blackmon, and Victoria Spence also joined Buena Vista schools as paraprofessionals.
At Enderly Heights Elementary School, Grace Biegler, a 2022 University of Wisconsin graduate, is teaching fourth grade math and Jennifer Schmidt will teach second grade reading. Schmidt has 30 years of teaching experience, most recently in Campbell County. Fifth grade reading is being taught by Susan Lawrence, who has over 20 years of teaching experience in Henrico County, Rockbridge County and Augusta County.
Madison Mahana, who graduated from Southern Virginia University earlier this year, is teaching elementary music at both Enderly and Kling schools, while Gabriel Wise has stepped in as Buena Vista’s band director. Wise graduated from Liberty University in 2023, and formerly worked as an assistant at Altavista High School.
Ericka Pyle is another recent graduate, earning her degree from the University of Virginia in 2023. Pyle has joined Buena Vista schools as a special education teacher.
At Parry McCluer Middle School, the new physical education teacher is Zach Fowler, who graduated from Parry Mc-Cluer High School before attending Radford University. Maggie Patterson also joined the middle school, where she is teaching physical education and health. Patterson graduated from Virginia Christian University in 2023.
Mark Landis, a Liberty University graduate, is working at both Parry McCluer Middle and High schools as an alternative education teacher. Dawn Lampman, who worked as a long term-substitute at the high school last year, is now teaching English, and Ben Manning is teaching history.
