CPS welcomes five new teachers in 2023-24

For the 2023-24 school year, Carrington Public School District #49 will will be welcoming several new teachers to serve the educational needs of area children.

The elementary staff will largely remain unchanged, but there are five new instructors who will be teaching at the junior high to high school levels.

Shania Gilliss

The bond of family took precedence over all else in the previous school year, as Shania Gilliss stepped in admirably as a substitute for her sister, Jessica Skadberg, in the Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom.

This year, Gilliss will be the full-time FACS instructor, as Mrs. Skadberg resigned from the district to care for her daughter, Emerson, currently going through cancer treatments.

She graduated from CHS in 2015, and received her bachelor's degree in FACS Education from NDSU in 2019.

"Being a teacher can be very rewarding. We have the opportunity to be powerful role models in a child's life," Mrs. Gilliss said. "It is up to us to help guide, inform, and care for every student that comes through the door."

"It is because of the spectacular teachers that I had at Carrington Public, that I strive to be the best teacher I can be."

She is married to her husband, Seth, a New Rockford native. They have a nine-month old son, Russell, named for his great-grandpa, the late Russell Gilliss.

Mrs. Gilliss has extensive family in the area. She is the daughter of John and Tina Murphy of rural Carrington, and, along with Jessica and her family, has two brothers, James and Jonathan.

Molly Rzaszutak

Molly Rzaszutak steps in to fill Josey Skytland's past role as the Business and Marketing Education teacher. Skytland is now the Carrington School District's technology coordinator following the retirement of Wayne Shipman.

Rzaszutak will also serve as the school's Sources of Strength advisor.

Along with Gilliss, she also returns to the school district that she has called home, as she graduated from CHS in 2011. Rzaszutak received her bachelor of science degree in biology, and a Character in Leadership minor from the University of Jamestown. Following her schooling at the U of J, she attended Mayville State, where she received her master of arts degree in teaching.

"My philosophy of teaching is to provide students with a safe and welcoming classroom environment, in which students can learn the interpersonal and academic skills necessary for their success both now, and in the future," she said.

She is married to her husband, Andrew, also a CHS graduate. Together, they have two children, Marshall and Hazel, and are expecting a third child next month.

Molly is the daughter of Mark and Mary Struxness, also of Carrington.

Courtney Wiesz

Wiesz has taught at several area school districts, having served as the English teacher at both Fessenden-Bowdon and NR-S before coming to the Carrington school district.

She will step into the position vacated by Tim Ranum, who moved to Jamestown with his family. Her classes will include English 8 and 9 and Basic English.

A native of the Cathay area, Mrs. Wiesz was homeschooled growing up, and attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., where she earned a degree in advertising.

In 2014, she went back to college, and earned an online English education degree through Valley City State University.

"I believe that making connections with students is the best way to help them learn," said Wiesz. "They need to know a teacher truly cares about them and their learning."

Wiesz and her husband, Brenton, have two children. Tucker (8) is in third grade, and Kennedy (6) is in first grade. She also has a part-time photography business, CW Photography, on the side.

Annette Hovey

The Carrington Public School district will now be enjoying the services of one of the area's most seasoned musical directors.

Annette Hovey comes to Carrington from NR-S, where she helped build the Rocket band and choir musicians into a "fine-tuned" ensemble during 10 years teaching at the junior high and high school levels in New Rockford.

She will be teaching secondary music, including band grades 5-12, choir grades 7-12, and musicology.

Mrs. Hovey, originally from Grand Forks and a graduate of Red River High School, will be replacing Kristina Schuh, who moved out of the district.

She received her bachelor's degree in music education from UND.

"Building relationships is key to success in any classroom," she said. "In music, we are a team, and that attitude has to be present throughout rehearsals," said Hovey. "I also believe that focusing on small details each day creates a stunning end to each performance."

Hovey also believes that in order for students to perform well, they must understand everything about each piece of music they perform, including its history, theory, and meaning.

She is married to District Judge Jim Hovey, and they have one daughter, Ashley (married to John Holten), and three sons, Jon, Alex (Erica), and Nick.

Mitchell Becker

A need for the district's vocational agriculture program to expand allowed CPS to add another teaching position, and Mitchell Becker will be the one to see the two-headed department through.

Mr. Becker will join Missy Hansen as a second instructor for the CHS ag department, and will be teaching at the middle and high school levels.

He graduated from Minot High School in 2007, and would later receive his bachelor's degree in December 2011.

Before coming to Carrington, he taught for a single semester in New Rockford, three years in Kenmare and eight years in the Kindred public school system.

"My goal, as an agricultural educator, is to provide hands-on, real-world opportunities for my students to develop life skills they can use in any career," Becker said.

He is married to CHS graduate Jessie (Topp), and they have two sons, Callen and Caden.