New Prescott and Waitsburg teachers say 'hello'

WAITSBURG/PRESCOTT-Both Waitsburg and Prescott school districts brought new teachers on staff this year. Several were kind enough to take time from their busy beginning-of-the-year schedules to introduce themselves to the community on the pages of The Times.

In addition to the new teachers listed here. Waitsburg welcomes Mike Speiss, former DeSales head football coach, teacher and dean of students, who will teach middle school math, social studies and art and Colby Starring who will teach middle school math and science.

Longtime kindergarten teacher Pam Beasley, will be the new K-8 grade STEM (science/technology/engineering/mathematics) teacher. She was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2014 and was one of ten national semi-finalists to receive the Shell Science Teaching Award in 2015. She has also served as a member of the SE LASER Alliance and as a Science Fellow for OSPI/ESD from Waitsburg.

Kathy Pradere - Waitsburg

Kathy Pradere, who grew up in Carson City, Nev., will teach high school math, coding, small business exploration and finance at Waitsburg High School.

Pradere said positive high school and college experiences sparked her desire to teach.

"I had tremendous teachers and role models and I hope to provide some of these same experiences for young people," Pradere said.

Pradere graduated in 1985 from Gonzaga University with a Bachelor of Education Degree with endorsements in math, English, P.E. and health.

Pradere said a love of the great outdoors pulled her to apply to Waitsburg.

"I like the outdoor recreational opportunities in northeast Washington and when I saw the math position posted online, I applied," she said.

Pradere brings with her 30 years of teaching experience in math, English, P.E., computer science, Spanish, social studies and art, through all grade levels.

"I enjoy interacting with students in the classroom and at extra-curricular activities," Pradere said, when asked what she enjoys most about teaching.

Her greatest challenge? Finding enough time in the day to accomplish all the things she would like to do in the classroom.

Pradere lives in Dayton and has two grown daughters. Randi is a first grade teacher for West Valley in Spokane and Jennifer is studying computer science and music at Eastern Washington University.

Her hobbies include hiking, mountain biking, jogging, camping, hunting and fishing with her Labrador, Colby.

Jackie Garanzuay - Prescott

Jackie Garanzuay, who was born in Texas but moved to Walla Walla when she was 11, will teach Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Prescott.

Garanzuay graduated from high school in 1997 and attended Walla Walla Community College where she earned her AA Degree before transferring to Central Washington University where she graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching. She earned her ESL endorsement and master's in education at Whitworth University.

Garanzuay, who has worked as a long-term substitute teacher in Walla Walla, said she knew she wanted to teach Spanish since her junior year of college.

"I was interested in Prescott because I enjoy teaching in a small community environment and being able to teach in the subject area I majored in, which I love," Garanzuay said. "Teaching multiple subjects at different levels can be challenging, although getting to work with students in grades K-12 and watching them make progress is very rewarding."

"What I enjoy most about teaching is getting to work with students to succeed and seeing students grow academically, and watching their dream of graduating come true," Garanzuay said.

Garanzuay lives in Walla Walla and loves to travel. This summer she traveled to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Disneyland and Las Vegas. "Go Seahawks!" says Garanzuay.

Angela Johnston - Waitsburg

Angela Johnston, who grew up in Milton-Freewater and Helix, Ore., will assume 5th grade teaching duties at Waitsburg Elementary School.

Johnston said she became interested in a teaching career after working at a YMCA after-school program during college.

She attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Special Education. She previously worked as a special educator for the Pendleton School District.

"I was interested in finding a position in a small, tight-knit community with continued opportunities for growth and development and optimal education for my own children," Johnston said, when asked why she applied at Waitsburg.

When it comes to teaching, Johnston said she enjoys creating an enriching and safe learning environment that allows students to grow, create relationships and become advocates for themselves in both learning and life.

"The most challenging part of teaching is letting go of your students at the end of each school year," she said.

Johnston makes her home in Waitsburg with her family. She enjoys the mountains and all of the activities that go with the "Beautiful Blues."

Ada Gonzalez Hernandez - Prescott

Prescott graduate Ada Gonzalez Hernandez is the district's new seventh and eighth grade mathematics and social studies teacher. Gonzalez grew up in the Tri-Cities and Vista Hermosa (Broetje Orchards).

She said she knew she wanted to become a teacher after teaching preschool for half a year. The attended Columbia Basin College and finished her studies and Western Governor's University where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in elementary education in June of this year.

"I am a graduate of Prescott and had been working here for four years as a para and long-term sub. I enjoy the students and my coworkers," Gonzalez said, when asked why she applied to Prescott.

Gonzalez was the office administrator at the Vista Hermosa private school before teaching preschool for two-and-a-half years at Vista Hermosa.

Gonzalez said her biggest challenge is managing her time wisely between teaching and preparing, family, church and time for herself.

Teaching brings her satisfaction in the successes of her students.

"I enjoy seeing the students get excited about something new they learn, the relationships built, and knowing I am making a difference," she said.

Ada is a first-year teacher, having just graduated in June. She is a single mother of five children, and they reside in Pasco. She enjoys volunteering at her church and Friday Night Movies with her children.

Erika Romero - Prescott

Prescott's new fifth grade teacher, Erika Romero, grew up in Burbank and worked as a paraprofessional at the Vista Hermosa Elementary school for eight years. When Vista Hermosa Elementary closed, most of the students transferred to Prescott Elementary, as did Romero.

After her fourth year as a paraeducator, Romero said she knew she wanted to teach. She continued her full-time work as a parapro for three more years in Prescott, while taking classes online. Romero graduated this year from Western Governor's University with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Romero said she is excited to begin her career in Prescott.

"I have worked with this population of students since I graduated from high school. It was this group of children that has taught me all I know. Having my first year of teaching with these same children is a blessing," Romero said. 

Romero said the biggest challenge in being a teacher is watching students struggle. Conversely, her greatest joy is seeing students grow emotionally and academically.

Romero was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and currently live in Pasco with her second family. "During my free time, I enjoy fishing, photography, traveling and spending time with family," she said.  

Jamie Trump - Waitsburg

Dayton native Jamie Trump will take over teaching Kindergarten in Waitsburg for longtime Kindergarten teacher Pam Beasley who is the new STEM teacher.

Trump said she has known she wanted to teach since middle school. She graduated from Washington State University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2019 with a Masters in Elementary Education.

Trump said she was drawn to the Waitsburg position because she has several good relationships with people who work and help in the school district – not to mention that the short commute is a bonus.

"Being able to work side-by-side and learn from such incredible educators is going to be a highlight for me. When the job came open, I knew I had to apply," Trump said.

Trump has worked as a substitute teacher for grades K-12 in Dayton for two years and for grades K-5 in Prescott for one year. She was also the 6th Grade Camp Director for students from Dayton, Waitsburg and Touchet.

Trump said she especially loves teaching kindergarteners.

"I truly enjoy who kindergarteners are. They tell it as they see it, they enjoy learning and laughing, and they make incredible growth both physically and scholastically in their first year of school! I'm really looking forward to teaching this age group," she said.

She sees her biggest challenge as narrowing down the many incredible resources available to this age group.

"It can be daunting trying not to get bogged down in the materials and resources available, especially for a new teacher," she said.

Jamie was raised in Dayton where she makes her home with her high school sweetheart, Jeremy Trump. The couple has two daughters, Grace, 13, and Lucy, 10. She enjoys spending time with her family at home, going to sporting events, theater, church and being outdoors.

Trump is a co-superintendent for Baked Goods in the Pavilion at the Columbia County Fair and a founding member of the Backroads Club. She and other key members of the club put on events to help encourage their community to be active and healthy: Sunday Night Volleyball in the fall, as well as the Ugly Christmas Sweater Dash during Christmas Kick-Off. She hoards huckleberries, is a fan of the arts, digs volleyball and . . . shoes!