RGS hires three new paraprofessionals

The Ritzville Grade School has gained three qualified individuals to serve as paraprofessional educators for the school district. The three women work in a variety of roles with the district, but focus primarily on the needs of the special education students in the district.

The paraprofessionals can be contacted at Ritzville Grade School by calling 659-0232.

Terry Kenoyer

As a paraprofessional, Terry Kenoyer is excited to be joining the staff at Ritzville Grade School to assist students with learning disabilities. Kenoyer previously taught special education classes in the Othello School District for eight years.

Along with serving as a special education educator, Kenoyer also worked in preschool classrooms for four years and has served as a Sunday school teacher throughout the years. Working with students has always been a passion for Kenoyer, and earning a job in the Ritzville School District has also been rewarding for her.

After graduating high school, Kenoyer immediately began working with the Washington Court System in the mental health department. It was this experience that helped her gain an appreciation of working with individuals with disability and helped her recognize her true passion.

“They draw me. I really have a heart for special education,” Kenoyer said.

In the mornings, Kenoyer works one-on-one with a student before working within the preschool classroom in the afternoon, where she assists the student and instructor as needed. On Friday mornings, Kenoyer travels to the high school to assist the secretary as needed.

For Kenoyer, special education students have always been her focus and passion because she enjoys helping them develop into exceptional students and individuals. The development and improvements can be seen on a daily basis, Kenoyer said, and to be able to witness the growth is truly rewarding for her.

Kenoyer began working full-time at the school last week and said the transition has been easy with the support of school staff and already being familiar with many of the students. Kenoyer previously worked at Harvest Foods, where she met many of the families of students at Ritzville Grade School.

Kenoyer has three sons, Michael, Layne and Carl, and two of the boys are currently attending Lind-Ritzville High School.

“I really like the school, the small setting makes it lovely,” Kenoyer said. “This is has been my passion, to work at the school with special education students.”

Kenoyer is looking forward to a year in the Ritzville School District working with the children and helping them develop as students. In the future, Kenoyer hopes to further her education to strengthen her abilities as an educator.

Denise Strot

Recently moving to the community from Oregon is paraprofessional educator Denise Strot. Strot is married to Guy Strot, the current principal for the Lind School District.

Strot received a two-year degree in early childhood development from Mt. Hood Community College and began working as a substitute teacher after receiving her degree. She has spent the past 15 years working as a special education instructor in the Gresham/Barlow School District and is excited to bring her expertise to the local schools.

Strot made the decision to move to the local community to join her husband, who has been working in the cooperative school district for two years. The Strot’s have four children, the majority who live in the Portland area.

Strot visited the district last spring and worked within the schools as a volunteer, which provided her with an opportunity to meet the students and staff. She applied for the open position and was thrilled to receive the position with the district.

“I think the staff is awesome, I’ve felt so welcome here,” Strot said. “Everybody is very friendly and welcoming.”

For Strot, she is focusing her curriculum and teaching based around the Walk to Read and Walk to Math programs at the grade school. She also works with the Tier Three students during the afternoons at the school.

During each lesson, Strot works with seven to 10 kids on specific subject areas where the students need to improve. Strot works with students in kindergarten through fourth grade and covers many of the basic learning tools associated with math and reading.

Strot’s main goal for the year is to help each individual student achieve growth in the classroom and help the students work towards passing the state standards.

She also wants to continue working with the teachers during the late start Monday collaboration period to ensure each of the students are working to overcome their individual challenges in the classroom and are receiving the individualized attention they deserve.

Karin Wilgus

After serving as a substitute teacher in the Ritzville School District for the past six years, Karin Wilgus is joining the staff as a full-time paraprofessional educator.

Wilgus has served in a variety of positions with the district, ranging from working the high school office and library, to the cafeteria, and also as a special education educator, which is where her passion truly lies.

Wilgus moved to the Ritzville community seven years ago from Cle Elum and has enjoyed being a part of the small town lifestyle. Wilgus has always enjoyed working with children, and as the mother of four, she is excited to be working within the school district.

Throughout the day, Wilgus works with one specific student and even with the school year just getting underway; she has seen drastic improvements with her student. Wilgus enjoys the one-on-one learning environment because it allows her to focus completely on the needs of one student and help that individual develop as a successful student.

Aside from her responsibilities as a paraprofessional, Wilgus also works with seniors at Lind-Ritzville High School on Fridays to help ensure all of the students are on track for graduation this spring.

Wilgus enjoys working with the high school students and assisting in the cafeteria as needed, but her passion is working with the special education students and hopes to be able to fully dedicate her time there in the future.

“This is really where I want to be,” Wilgus said about her position with the school.

Wilgus uses predominately hands-on activities to help her student learn about the basics, and the lessons help the students become acclimated to the curriculum taught inside the classroom. For Wilgus, the thing she enjoys the most about being a paraprofessional is the personalities of the students she gets to work with.

“It’s fun to work with the kids,” Wilgus said. “If somebody gives them the time, it’s amazing to see their potential.”