Brandon Schwarz

Subjects taught: English II and English III.

Years in education: 11 years.

Prior schools: Chisholm Trail Middle School.

Family members: Wife, parents, and two brothers.

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why: Second year of college. I wanted some flexibility and wanted to teach English.

Best part of my work day: Any part where students are engaged in learning.

Worst part of my work day: Dealing with freshmen.

Hobbies: Going to Chiefs games.

Secret talent: Can speak in all the voices of the world.

Where I grew up: Overland Park, Kan.

When I’m not working, I like to: Hanging out with the family and pets.

What teaching has taught me about myself: That I can be a positive leader.

Some places I have traveled to: Mexico, Captiva Island.

Favorite musical group: Tool.

I like to watch: “Game of Thrones,” “The Walking Dead.”

If I could have any superpower, it would be: The ability to create my own food and to control my own weight.

Mike Spotts

Subjects taught: Intro to Psychology.

Years in education: 34 years.

Prior schools: Lee’s Summit North, Blue Springs High School, William Chrisman High School, Fort Osage High School, Wellington-Napoleon High School.

Family members: Melissa (spouse), Alissa (27 years), Peyton (19 years), Raegan (17 years).

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why: High school. I never thought of doing anything else.

Best part of my work day: Friday nights.

Worst part of my work day: 5 a.m.

Hobbies: Swimming.

Where I grew up: Mid-Missouri.

When I’m not working, I like to: Be outside.

What teaching has taught me about myself: Too serious.

Some places I have traveled to: Mexico, Canada.

Favorite musical group: Kenny Chesney.

I like to watch: Football.

Mike Stoeckle

Subjects taught: Algebra II and Advanced Algebra II.

Years in education: Officially four years (including private tutoring plus three years) equals seven total.

Prior schools: Westview and California Trail (para educator)

Family members: Jim and Sherry (parents), Jon (brother), and Jennifer (sister).

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why:

Best part of my work day: Getting to know my students and going home at the end of the day.

Worst part of my work day: Making hundreds of copies.

Hobbies: Photoshop, building things, and Sudoku.

Secret talent: Theatre and singing.

Where I grew up: Leawood, Kan.

When I’m not working, I like to: Watch TV, go to sporting events, and spend time with family.

What teaching has taught me about myself: Some people don’t like math as much as I do.

Some places I have traveled to: Florida, Montana, New York, and Washington, DC.

Favorite musical group: Bruno Mars.

I like to watch: Sci-Fi, action/adventure, sports (KU, Chiefs, Sporting K.C., Royals), “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “Indiana Jones,” James Bond, etc.

Karen Supica

Subjects taught: SPED

Years in education: Seven.

Prior schools: Olathe North and Blue Valley North.

Family members: A husband, two children, and four granddaughters (baby, a 2-year-old, 4-year-old and 6-year-old).

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher: Not until I was almost 50 years old.

Best part of my work day: Working with students and seeing them learn.

Hobbies: Cooking and travelling.

Secret talent: Guitar Hero.

Where I grew up: Wichita.

When I’m not working, I like to: Go out to eat and travel.

What teaching has taught me about myself: I am more patient then I thought (on most days).

Some places I have traveled to: Colorado, the Panhandle of Florida, and Key West, Fla.

Favorite musical group: Queen.

I like to watch: “HGTV.”

Joe Toigo

Subjects taught: Economics and Personal Finance.

Years in education: 24 teaching, 28 coaching.

Prior schools: Duchesne, Park Hill, Park Hill South.

Family members: Wife, Kim (29 again!) and daughter Mia (14)

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher: When I began coaching in 1989.

Best part of my work day: The “Aha” moments when kids get it.

Worst part of my work day: Meetings.

Hobbies: Golf, cooking, reading.

Secret talent: 30-minute chef.

Where I grew up: St. Louis/St. Charles, Mo.

When I’m not working, I like to: Be with my family.

What teaching has taught me about myself: To be a better listener.

Some places I have traveled to: Aruba, Canada, Vail, Co.

Favorite musical group: U-2, Billy Joel.

I like to watch: Sit-coms, “The Office,” “Seinfeld,” “Blackish.”

If there was a different subject, you would teach what would it be: Accounting.

What is the biggest challenge about being a teacher: Unplanned events.

If you could meet a celebrity, who would it be: Jack Nicholson.

Jennifer Vellenga

Subjects taught: CP English 4

Years in education: Seven.

Prior schools: Harrisonville High School and Eastgate Middle School.

Family members: Matt Vellenga (husband).

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why: In high school, because I had a really great English teacher in ninth grade and 12th grade.

Best part of my work day: Working with students.

Worst part of my work day: Meetings and when students aren’t here.

Hobbies: Quilting, crochet, writing, playing with my dogs.

Secret talent: Playing the flute, violin and piano.

Where I grew up: Belton, Mo.

When I’m not working, I like to: Hang out with my husband and best friend, go to the movies, walk my dog.

What teaching has taught me about myself: I am more patient than I ever realized.

Some places I have traveled to: France, Ireland, England, Belize, Mexico, most of the United States.

Favorite musical group: Volbeat, Queen, Bon Jovi.

I like to watch: Horror movies, disaster movies

If there was a different subject, you would want to teach what would it be: Home Economics.

What is the biggest challenge about being a teacher: Letting kids struggle. For example, teaching them it is okay to make mistakes.

If you could meet a celebrity, who would it be: Steven King.

Julie Weatherford

Subjects taught: Ceramics and AP Studio Art.

Years in education: 14 years.

Prior schools: Chisholm Trail and Indian Trail middle school.

Family members: Husband, a son, a brother, and parents.

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why: My aunt was a music teacher, and I thought that was cool. I also liked kids so I decided to be a teacher after art school.

Best part of my work day: Helping kids work with clay.

Worst part of my work day: Cleaning the kiln shelves.

Hobbies: Running, printmaking and clay.

Secret talent: None

Where I grew up: Lincoln, Neb.

When I’m not working, I like to: Go home, relax, and hang out with family.

What teaching has taught me about myself: I’m more of a stronger person.

Some places I have traveled to: Italy, Mexico and all around the United states.

Favorite musical group: Keane.

I like to watch: Cheesy Hallmark movies.

Favorite visual artist: Mary Cassatt.

Chris Thompson

Subjects taught: Marketing 1, Marketing 2, Business Law 1, Computer Essentials.

Years in education: 17.

Prior schools: Olathe South, Turner, Blue Valley, Southwest, Shawnee Mission South.

Family members: Wife and two college students

When did you know you wanted to be a teacher & why: Always. Why: Love the tater tots. Really enjoy giving back to students.

Best part of my work day: During class time.

Worst part of my work day: None.

Hobbies: Wood work, drawing, outdoor activities, mechanical problem solving.

Secret talent: Rapper: stage name “Krispy T” or maybe coding as in “computer code.”

Where I grew up: Nebraska and Olathe.

When I’m not working, I like to: Work.

What teaching has taught me about myself: Nothing.

Some places I have traveled to: Several locations in the United States. Recently returned from L.A. this summer to visit my brother.

I like to watch: Netflix shows.