Samuel Momcilovic is joining the Hanover family to teach health and physical education at Hanover Central High School. Samuel is a new teacher and did his student teaching at Merrillville High School. He and his 3 siblings graduated from Hanover Central High School and he is a triplet. He received his degree in education from Purdue University Northwest. Mr. Momcilovic has many hobbies including: exercising, coaching baseball, playing tennis, and reading books. His favorite books are The Alchemist, American Sherlock, and Public Enemies. He also enjoys the show Yellowstone. He stated, “ I am so thrilled to start my teaching career in the community that I grew up in and have coached in for several years. Hanover Central is an amazing corporation that I am truly blessed to be a part of.”

 

Samantha Graves will be teaching 8th-grade math at Hanover Central Middle School. She graduated from Hanover Central High School and later got her degree in elementary education from Purdue University West Lafayette. This is her second year teaching, she previously taught 3rd grade at Miller Elementary in Merrillville. She also has experience with K-8 children from college field experiences and summer camp roles at the YMCA for the past three summers. Samantha has two wonderful parents, two sisters, and two dogs. She loves traveling, spending time at the beach, attending concerts, reading, painting, drawing, gardening, staying active, and watching movies. She expressed her excitement about her new role, “I am eager to return to my roots at Hanover Central and give back to the community that set me up for success in my life. I have a love for math, which I am finally able to share with students in my 8th-grade classroom!”

 

Lloyd Elliot will be joining the Jane Ball team as the school security officer. After graduating high school in 1990, Lloyd began his four years of active service in the United States Marine Corps. In those four years, he specialized in infantry, security forces, instructor in military operations in urban terrain, and numerous other duties including two years on an aircraft carrier and time in a boat raid unit. 
After receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Elliot spent four years working for an armored car service in Chicago. He then worked at the Village of Park Forest Police Department for 23 years, until his recent retirement. For 16 years, he worked part-time as a school liaison officer for the middle school and high school in Park Forest. In 2016, Mr. Elliot graduated from Northwestern Unviersity School of Police Staff and Command. For the last five years, he was in command of The Investigations Division where he worked with juvenile-related investigations. He also received training at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Virginia and from the FBI in Child Abduction Response. 
Lloyd has been married to his wife, Nicole, for 17 years. Together, they have two kids; Kaylee is 17 and will be graduating from Hanover Central High School in 2024 and Destiny is going into 6th grade at Hanover Central Middle School this fall. R. Ellio enjoys NASCAR, movies, kayaking, going to the beach, listening to country music, and anything related to the outdoors. He expressed his excitement to join the Hanover family, “ The safety and security of the staff and students is an extreme responsibility that must be taken seriously and cannot be taken lightly. I have spent my entire adult life in dedication to service to the highest standards, both in the military and law enforcement. It is a great feeling to continue to use my training and experience to serve and protect the Hanover community.”

 

Abby Bood is joining the Lincoln Elementary family where she will be teaching 2nd grade. She graduated from Crown Point High School and later went to Purdue and earned her degree in early childhood development and elementary education. She has been working in a form of education for about twenty years. She taught preschool through 5th grade, spent several years teaching third grade at Homan Elementary in Lake Central Schools, worked as a reading specialist in Pennsylvania, and spent time coaching swimming and soccer. Mrs. Bood has been married to her husband, Ken, for 21 years. They have three children: Collin is 14, Aubrie is 11, and Nola is 5. They also have an Irish Goldendoodle named Gus. She enjoys hiking, reading, swimming, and spending time with her kids, and watching them play sports. “I am so excited to become a part of the Lincoln Elementary community. I look forward to getting to know all the kiddos and families. I can’t wait to teach at such a cheery, welcoming school.”

 

Holly Pasko is returning to Lincoln Elementary to teach 2nd grade after a year of student teaching and being a classroom aide in 2nd grade. She fell in love with the age group and cannot wait to have her own classroom this fall. She graduated from Lake Central High School and later got her degree at Indiana University Northwest. Her family includes her parents, her brother, her sister, and her siblings’ pets. She also has a boyfriend that has introduced her to a lot of new things like indoor skydiving, whitewater rafting, and ziplining. She loves coffee and making her own coffee at home with her new Nespresso machine. She enjoys walking, working out, playing tennis and pickleball, and spending way too much money at Target. She is very excited to teach 2nd grade by saying, “I have been dreaming of this moment for as long as I can remember and now it is here! I could not be more thrilled to finally be the classroom teacher and make so many relationships with students, parents, staff, and other teachers throughout my years to come!”

 

Janice Wilschke is joining the Hanover Learning Academy crew as a new preschool teacher. She went to Thornton Fractional South and then Purdue University where she got her degree in child development. She has twenty years of education experience from working as a preschool teacher, an aide in middle schools, a student teacher in first grade, and teaching kindergarten through 3rd grade. Mrs. Wilschke has been married to her husband, Bob, for 38 years. They have two daughters; Corinne and Jillian. They also have a four-year-old German shepherd mix named Johnny. She enjoys walking and playing with her dog, listening to music, and being outdoors. She said, “I am really looking forward to working with pre-K students again and to also be working alongside the high school students in our pre-K setting. I am excited, too, to work with my awesome, new Pre-K team. Lisa and Marcy have already been so very welcoming to me, as well as all of the Hanover staff I have met thus far!”

 

Laila Verduin will be teaching 1st grade at Jane Ball Elementary. She is a graduate of Hanover Central High School and went to Purdue West Lafayette and Northwest for her degree. This is her first year teaching but she did aide at Jane Ball for one semester back in 2020 and worked as a substitute teacher for Hanover in 2021. She has three younger siblings; Sophia is 14, Isaiah is 12, and Joshua is 9. They have been a big influence on her love for children and teaching. She loves spending time with family, reading, dancing, and painting. She has been dancing since she was 5 and has taught dance for the past few years. She owns a business where she paints special portraits, cards, and murals. She said, “I am overjoyed to begin teaching 1st grade at Jane Ball! I can’t wait to give back to my community and the district
that I grew up in, and to be included in this group of amazing students and staff.”

 

Aggie Grabowski is going to be teaching art at Hanover Central Middle School. She graduated from Munster High School and went to college at Indiana University Northwest for her bachelor's degree in fine arts and also got her educator's license in visual arts. Abbie has experience teaching art at Lake Central High School for a semester in 2021. She also student-taught for 16 weeks at Elliott Elementary and Kahler Middle School. She has four sisters and one brother, two nieces, two nephews, and two more on the way. Ms. Grabowski loves to play volleyball and golf, and kickbox. She is also in a Polish folk dancing group that performs at events. “I am so excited to teach at HCSC and be a part of such a great community. I look forward to inspiring my students to explore all creative avenues! Everyone always says, ‘it takes a village to teach a child,’ and I’m so excited to finally be a part of this journey!”

 

Annie Shireman is going to join the Lincoln RTI team for the 2023-2024 school year. She graduated from TF South High School and went to Loras College for her bachelor's. She later got her master's degree in educational administration at Governor’s State University. She has 9 years of teaching experience at Irving Elementary in Dubuque, IA, and at Nathan Hale Elementary and Oak Glen Elementary in Lansing, IL. Mrs. Shireman has been married to her husband Tyler for 9 years. Together they have three kids; Eli is 7, Piper is 5, and Harris is 3. They also have a dog, Comiskey, who is 14 years old and deaf. In the past few years, she has taken up woodworking, growing vegetables, baking, crocheting, crafting with her Cricut, and sewing with her new sewing machine. She loves being outdoors and fishing with her family. Annie said, “  I am so excited to jump back into the classroom in a new role and in a new state! It is a bonus that I’ll be in the same district as my children and be able to add to the amazing education they are already receiving.”

 

Kimberly Hurysz is going to be the new athletic trainer for Hanover and she is teaching health at Hanover Central Middle School. She went to Merrillville High School and later graduated from Purdue University with a degree in athletic training and health education. She has been in education for 22 years at Merrillville Schools. Mrs. Hurysz has been married to her husband, Frank, for 21 years. Together they have two kids; Trent is 19 and Taryn is 17. They also have 3 dogs. She enjoys spending time with her dogs and family, watching any sport, and listening to music. She is excited about both of her new roles at Hanover!

 

Emma Meekma will be teaching 4th grade at Red Cedars Elementary School. She graduated from Lake Central High School. She got her bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from Indiana University Northwest and later got her master's degree from Oregon State University in teaching. She has two years of experience in substitute teaching and three years of regular teaching experience. Mrs. Meekma has been married to her husband for three years. Together they have an Australian shepherd named Leo. She loves hiking, paddle boarding, and spending time with family. She said “I am very excited to be back in Indiana and teaching 4th grade at Red Cedars Elementary! I am extremely passionate about being a teacher!”

 

Ashley Siegfried is teaching 7th-grade science at Hanover Central Middle School this fall. She graduated from Morton High School and went to Indiana University Northwest for her degree. She worked for the School City of Hammond for 13 years and worked for Merrillville Community Schools for two years. Mrs. Siegfried has been married to her husband, Matt, for 11 years. Together they have two daughters; Jami is 8 and Grace is 6. She enjoys camping, swimming, and reading. She is very excited to join the Hanover Central Middle School team!

 

Katie Camus will be joining the Red Cedars crew as the new school social worker. She is a graduate of Hanover Central High School. She went to Saint Mary of the Woods for her bachelor’s degree in psychology and later got her master’s at Indiana University. She did an internship at HCSC for a year and a half. Katie has four kids including; Gyanna who is 16, Jacob is 10, Gracyn is 8, and Mila is 4. She loves hiking, reading thrillers, going to concerts, and listening to all kinds of music. “I am excited to be back at Hanover, working in the same place that poured into me.”

 

Chandler Spring will be teaching 8th-grade American studies at Hanover Central Middle School this year. He graduated from Covington Community High School and later got his bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from Purdue University Northwest. He has worked at Mishawaka High School for a year, North Judson-San Pierre High School for a year, and North Newton Junior/Senior High School for a year. Mr. Spring has been married to his wife, Claire, for a few months now. They are expecting twins any day now. He enjoys coaching basketball and hanging out with his dog. He said, “I am very excited to get started in the classroom and on the basketball court.”

 

Kevin McBride is going to be the new assistant principal of Red Cedars Elementary. He graduated from Crown Point Schools, where he worked for the past 14 years teaching kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade. He went to Ball State University where he received his bachelor’s in elementary education. He later got a master’s degree in educational leadership and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the American College of Education. Mr. McBride and his wife have twins, Matthew and Nora, who are almost 4 years old. He enjoys playing music, theater design, mountain biking, and tennis. “I am thrilled to be joining Red Cedars and I look forwards to getting to know our teachers, students, families, and community. 

 

Megan Smith is joining the Hanover Central High School team as a guidance counselor. She is a graduate of Hanover Central High School. She went to Purdue University for her bachelor’s and got her master’s in education and counseling. She worked at Morgan Townships Middle-High School for three years. Mrs. Smith has been married to her husband, John, for 4 years. They have a 3-month-old son, named Remy. She enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She said, “ Hanover has always been a special place to me I am thrilled to be back. Go Wildcats!”

 

Brian Dorian is joining the Red Cedars team as the new full-time school resource officer. He went to TF South High School in Lansing, IL. He went to college at Southwestern CC in Creston, IA, and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, MO. He also is a 1998 graduate of the Chicago Police Academy. Mr. Dorian has been married to his wife, Alexandra, for 10 years. Together they have a child named Camden, who is 9, and they also have a 200-pound English Mastiff named Samson. He enjoys hunting and fishing.
Mr. Dorian retired after a 25-year career in law enforcement, 2 years with Lansing Police Department and 23 years with Lynwood Police Department. He said, “This opportunity to join Hanover allows me to continue to protect and serve but in a different capacity. I want all parents to know that I take the safety of their precious children extremely seriously. I look forward to not only engaging with the kids but also their parents at any chance that I may get.”

 

Joshua Suttle is joining the Hanover Central Middle School team to teach computer science. He is from Duncan, OK where he graduate from Duncan High School and later got his degree from Oklahoma State University. This is his first year of teaching. Mr. Suttle has been married to his wife, Fiona, for 16 years. Together they have three kids; Brody is 11, Imogen is 10, and Brooklyn is 8. He enjoys helping coach his kids' sports, riding bikes with his family, and doing home improvement projects. He said, “I am excited to start a new position as the computer science teacher at Hanover Central Middle School and become an active member in the community.”

 

Debbie Kamplain will be teaching band at Hanover Central Middle School this fall. She was born in Westmont, IL, but currently resides in Crown Point, IN She graduated from Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, IL, and got her degree from Concordia University, Chicago. She also has credits for her master’s in Kodaly Music. She has taught in Kemmerer, WY for one year, in Delavan, IL for two years, and substitute taught last year in Munster, IN. Mrs. Kamplain just celebrated 20 years of marriage. Together they have a 19-year-old son, Daniel. She plays clarinet and loves going for walks with her family. She listens to all kinds of music and recently rekindled her love for reading. “I’m excited to share my love of music with the students of Hanover Middle School!”

 

Alexandra Majchrowicz is joining the Red Cedars Elementary crew to teach high-ability math for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade. She graduated from Andrean High School and later got her degree at Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame. She is currently working on her master’s degree at Grand Canyon University. Ms. Majchrowicz is one of three girls to her wonderful parents. She is going into her 4th year as a teacher. She taught 3rd and 5th grade at her previous school. She enjoys running and trying new restaurants. She said, “I am extremely excited and grateful to be a teacher a Red Cedars Elementary this year. I have always loved math as a subject, so I am excited to share that love and excitement with the community.”

 

Allison Tinich is going to be teaching math at Hanover Central High School. She graduated from Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, IN, and later got her bachelor’s degree in science in math education from Purdue University West Lafayette. She is going into her tenth year of teaching. She taught at Twin Lakes for 6 years, at Indiana Connections Academy for two years, and back to Twin Lakes for another year. She has also been involved in coaching girls gold, sponsoring a dance marathon, and coaching the math academic team. Mrs. Tinich has been married to her husband, Michael, for 7 years. They met at Purdue and together they have two kids; 3-year-old Dallas and 2-year-old Vera. She enjoys crocheting and reading in her spare time. Her favorite shows include The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Say Yes to the Dress. She listens to The Beatles, country music, and some later 90s/ early 2000s music. She said, “I’m so happy to get to be a part of Hanover Community Schools! I’m excited to get to know students at the high school and see all the wonderful things the community is involved with. My kids and I are looking forward to cheering the Wildcats on from the stands at lots of sporting events this year.”

 

Meghan Venturelli is joining Lincoln Elementary as a 1st-grade teacher. She graduated from Highland High School and later from Purdue University Northwest. She has 4 years of experience in education at Coolidge Elementary in Lansing, IL and she covered maternity leaves at Porter Lakes Elementary and Lincoln Elementary. Mrs. Venturelli just got married in June and together they have a German Shepherd named Dakota. She enjoys reading, crafting, trying new restaurants, and shopping. She said, “After covering a maternity position at Lincoln, I was so excited to be able to return full-time. It is my favorite school I have worked in!”

 

Samantha Murzyn is going to be teaching 6th-grade science at Hanover Central Middle School. She graduated from Lake Central High School and got her degree from Indiana University Bloomington. She has been in education for 12 years; 9 years in Indiana and 3 years in Wisconsin. Mrs. Murzyn has been married to her husband, Dale, for 6 years. Together they have 2 kids; Mack is 4 years old and Camryn is 17 months old. They enjoy going out to eat, watching Chicago sports, going to concerts, and making memories with their kids. “I am excited to make the transition to middle school after teaching in an elementary school for 12 years.”

 

Lisa Brady is teaching reading at Hanover Central Middle School for 6th-8th grade. She graduated from Merrillville High School and resides in Lowell now. She got her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University Calumet and got her master’s degree in reading and literacy from Walden University. She has taught 5th and 6th grade at Merrillville for the last 21 years. She also taught English/ language arts, social studies, and math. For the last 14 years, she has been the Title 1 Reading Specialist, working with struggling readers to close the gaps and helping students reach their grade level in reading.
Mrs. Brady has been married to her husband, Chris, for almost 29 years. Together, they have 3 boys; Joey, Ryan, and Josh. They also have two grandchildren; Charleigh is 5 and Jordan is 3. Reading is her favorite thing, she wishes that she could just get paid to sit and read all day. She reads a lot of fiction, including fantasy, dystopian, historical fiction,n and sci-fi. She has developed a solemn fascination with nonfiction books about the Holocaust, the Titanic, Chernobyl, and Pompeii. Mr. and Mrs. Brady love to travel and have made many memorable trips to places in the US and outside the country. She said, “ I am so excited to be joining the Hanover Central family! I am grateful for the opportunity to share my love of reading with my students and help them develop a love for it, as well!”

 

Cassandra Pershing is returning to Red Cedars to teach PLTW. She taught 4th grade, temporarily, at Red Cedars this past school year. She is going into her 12th year of education. She has taught in four other districts in the state of Indiana; one year in special education at Mooresville Schools, 7 years in 5th and 6th grade at Danville Community Schools, one year in 6th-grade social studies at Goshen Community Schools, and one year in 5th grade at MSD of Lawrence Township. She graduated from Speedway High School and received her bachelor’s degree and master's degree from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
Mrs. Pershing has been married to her husband, Chase, for 14 years and together they have a 10-year-old son named Easton. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, photography, and reading. She said, “I am thrilled to be returning to Red Cedars this year as the new PLTW teacher. I have a lot of fun and exciting ideas to get our students motivated about STEM!”

 

Michael Tinich is going to be teaching integrated chemistry and physics to freshmen at Hanover Central High School this year. He graduated from Griffith High School and later got his degree from Purdue University Calumet. He is going into his 8th year of teaching. He was at Rensselaer Central High School for one year, at Klondike Middle School for one year, and at Twin Lakes High School for five years. Mr. Tinich has been married to his wife, Ali, for 6 years. Together they have two children; Dallas is 4 years old and Vera is 2. He enjoys golfing, freshwater aquariums, and coaching football. He said, “I’m really excited to join the Wildcat family and I can’t wait to work with this great community. It’s been a great summer working with the football team already and can’t wait to continue that throughout the school year.”

 

Maggie Whelan is joining the Hanover Central High School team in the media center. She graduated from Wheeler High School and later got her degree in secondary education English from St. Francis University. She has 7 years of experience in education including 4 years at Wheeler High School, 2 years at Lake Central High School, and 1 year at Dirken Junior High School. Mrs. Wheelan has been married to her husband, Tommy, for 6 years. Together, they have four kids; Thomas is five, Lucy is four, Cecilia is three, and Teddy is one. She enjoys baseball, softball, running, bike riding, and time with her family. She said, “ I am so excited to join the community at Hanover High School. As the new media center teacher, I look forward to welcoming students and staff into the library and instilling a love of learning through reading and various forms of media. 

 

Heather Dessauer will be teaching kindergarten at Jane Ball. She graduated from Crown Point High School, got her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, and got her master’s degree in arts of teaching from the University of Saint Francis. She has worked as a substitute teacher and instructional assistant at Jane Ball since 2021. Mrs. Dessauer has been married to her husband for 13 years. They have two beautiful bonus daughters and their son is in 3rd grade at Red Cedars. They also have two grandchildren, ages 4 and 5, and they have two Rottweilers. She loves to cook and enjoy time at home. She loves to play soccer and basketball with her son and take little adventures with their golf cart. When time allows, they enjoy time at their “home away from home” in Key West, FL. She said, “I am so excited to be teaching at Jane Ball. I felt like I was at home from the first time that I walked into the building. I have enjoyed building relationships with the staff and students and look forward to continuing to grow with the school in the future!”

 

Paul Wirtz is joining the Hanover Central High School team where he will be teaching world history and U.S. history. He graduated from Crown Point High School and later got his degree from Purdue University Calumet. Mr. Wirtz is going into his 20th year of teaching. He was at Bishop Noll Institute for 11 years and at Merrillville High School for 8 years. He loves coaching baseball. He said, “I am looking forward to teaching and being a part of a great community.”

 

Violet Ploszaj is going to be the new Red Cedars Elementary School guidance counselor. She graduated from Highland High School, got her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors is sociology and philosophy, and received her master’s degree in clinical counseling. Right after graduating with her master’s, she worked in a K-5 elementary school doing clinical work with clients, as well as acting as the guidance counselor for all the students. She has been dating her boyfriend, Tommy, for almost 4 years. She has three amazing sisters, three beautiful nieces, and expecting a niece or nephew in March. Ms. Ploszaj enjoys taking walks, riding bikes, reading, listening to all types of music, cleaning/organizing, cooking, going to new places, and spending time with friends and family. She said, “I am looking forward to be the Guidance Counselor at Red Cedars Elementary to build relationships with staff and students, while helping them through difficult situations, and uplifting them to be the best versions of themselves.”

 

Ryan Manley is going to be teaching 8th-grade science at Hanover Central Middle School. He graduated from Crown Point High School and later went to Indiana State University for his degree. He has been in education for 13 years, 12 years at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville, and 1 year at Seeger Junior High School. Mr. Manley has been married to his wife, Laura, for 9 years. Together, they have 2 children; Zach is 7 and Madison is 5. He loves to play basketball and golf. The Manley family enjoys going to the Dunes in Chesterton, as well. He said, “ I am so very excited to start this new chapter of my life at the middle school. Thanks for the warm welcome!”