Santee Staff

Mr Blanchard is beginning his first year as Santee Superintendent and has been in education since 1970.

Education background include attending ColegioJuan Zorilla de San Martin, Cordoba, Argentina Exchange Program, graduating from Sidney (NE) Public Schools high school, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, B. Mus. Ed With Distinction, UNL, Master Degree in Music, UNK, M.A. Ed. (Principalship), UNK Ed. Spec. (Superintendent of Schools)

Additional non-degree hours: Conservatorio de Musical, Cordoba Argentina, CORORQUESTRAS, Medellin, Colombia, University of Missouri-Columbia, Pittsburgh (KS) State University, Sinte Gleska University, Rosebud (SD)

Mrs. Francis Blanchard had attended York College with a AA in ED, University of Nebraska at Lincoln with an BS in ED, University of Nebraska at Kearney with a MA in EDAD, and also the University in Nebraska at Kearney with a Specialist EDAD. Additional hours from ICC Pittsburgh State University, Wichita State University, Colorado State University and various hours from training's and workshops. She works with all programs and activities in the school, Child Protection team, NCSA, NASSP, and is on the writing team for the State of Nebraska Bulling Team. She has a husband and 3 daughters, Amy, Kate, and Emily. She has also taught both public schools and private schools in Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, and Bogota, Columbia. She has also tough college courses and facilities.

Mrs. Leah Hrbek has been a teacher here since 1994. She earned a BA from Mount Marty College.

Mrs. Tammy Sorenson is the 1st grade teacher sice 2001. In 1988 She received her Bachelor of Science from Wayne State and Master of Science from Wayne State in 2006. She in also PBS Coordinator and Crisis Team Member. She has three daughters and one grand daughter. She has taught in Winnebago five years and Bloomfield five years. Mrs. Sorenson also loves to do crossword puzzles and read.

Ms. Holzer began teaching in 2001 and has been with Santee Community School since 2003. She graduated from Timber Lake High School in 1997 in Timber Lake, South Dakota. Ms. Holzer earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Activities besides the classroom, Head Coach of girls Varsity Volleyball, girls Varsity Basketball and Coach of the High School Track team.

Mrs. Joan Allvin has been in education since 1995 and started teaching in Santee in 2000. She attended school at Crofton, Nebraska k-12, earned both BAE and MA from Wayne State College

Extra activities include serving on the SAT team, recording volleyball statistics, serving on the assessment team and leader of a learning group. Mrs Alvin earned her Master Spring 2006

Mrs. Wanda Henke has been teaching here for since 1989. She has attended Rochester State Junior College earning an Associate of Arts Degree, Nebraska Indian Community College, and then Wayne State College to attain her elementary education degree. She has taken additional hours at Wayne State College and earned her Masters in Curriculum Instruction. Mrs Henke has a Specialist degree: English as a Second Language
Extra Duties include HPLC and Science Family Fun Night Sponsor.

Mrs. Crouse graduated from University of South Dakota with a degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. The past summer she went to the Circle of Courage workshop. In October and November she will attend the APL classes.This summer she moved to Avon, South Dakota from Morris, Minnesota where she taught High School Special Education. She has also taught in South Dakota, Iowa, and Utah.

Mr. James Bartels joined the Santee teaching team in 1987. He attended Peru State College and has a B.A. Degree in Elementary Education.

Mrs. Nancy Crosley joined the Santee teaching staff in 1989. Attending Nebraska Indian Community College and University of South Dakota where she attained a A.A. Degree and an B.S. Degree respectively. She is a member of the discipline team, the Crisis Intervention team and Native American High Performance Learning Community (NAHPLC)

Ms. Shelly Avery attended the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD where she earned her B.S. degree and M.A.degree.She received her Education Endorsement from the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Kearney, NE. She spent 10 years at Nebraska Indian Community College and joined Santee Community School in 2004.

Bachelor of Art in Communication from George Mason University. While at Mason he was a member of the American Indian/Alaskan Native Student Association. Along with 3 other GMU students he started E.P.M. which is a neighborhood watch group. He is the high school English and reading teacher, along with being the Head Girls Basketball Coach, and also serves on the Crisis Intervention Team and NAHPLC (Native American High Performance Learning community) committee.

Mrs. Tami Heiser, has been in education and teaching at the Santee Community School for four years. She received her B.S. in Business Administration, at Wayne State College and Minors in Mathematics and Computer Information Systems. Field Endorsement in Mathematics-Secondary Education, from Wayne State College. She is Currently working on Masters in Math Education.

Extra duties, has been on HPLC for 3 years.

Hobbies- Gardening, and Crafts.

Chairperson NAHPLC

Mr. Leland Henke joined our staff in 1999. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD where he earned a B.A. Degree in Business Administration and then attended Northern State College in Aberdeen, SD where he earned an M.S. Degree in Business Education. Extra assignments include: NAHPLC, NASA after school programs and Entrepreneurship program.

Mr. Harold Jones is our most seasoned veteran! He's been here since the present day school opened in 1976. He attended Ranger Jr. College in Texas and Yankton College, Yankton, SD where he earned a B.S. Currently he is working on his Masters. Mr. Jones is PE teacher.

Mrs. Julene Kay, has been in education all her life and she started August of 2005 in Santee. She has taught Elementary K-6 and Sped K-12, also Recreation/Business. She attended UNK and earned her B.A. Then she went and attended Hastings College and received her MAT. Then she attended Kearney State College and was awarded her B.S.

Mrs. Janice Peterson is a Success For All Reading instructor.

Mrs. Sheri Plumbtree attended school at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. From here she attended the University of Texas at Pan-Am and graduated with a Life Time Certificate. She obtained her masters of Education at Wayne State University. Mrs. Plumbtree has done a number of activities at Santee schools she has been the Volleyball, Basketball and Track coach for many years. She has been numerous class and activity sponsors and is also the GED instructor at our school. She has taught many different subjects such as Health, Spanish, History, Drivers Education and Physical Education. Mrs. Plumbtree is currently our History instructor. She is married and has four sons.

Mrs. Misty Neilson

Elementary Endorsement

Mrs. Neilson had attended Chadron College and graduated with an endorsement in K-12th grade special education and reading classes. Mrs,. Neilson has four children, Dakota 16, Gage 6, Kyra 4, Tayla1. She enjoys going to her sons games and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Joyce Romkema received her B.A. in Music Composite from USD/Springfield. She also has 30+ Graduate hours from various Institutions, including USD, SDSU, UND, USF, and Vander Cook Institute of Music. She has been in education for 22 years and she has been working here for 2 years.

Mr. Todd Runnels attended the Nebraska Indian Community College at Santee then Wayne State College, Wayne, NE where he earned a degree in Industrial Technology Education. He began teaching here in 1998 and has extra-duty assignments football coach, basketball coach and entrepreneurship program.

Mrs. Judy Severin graduated from Augustana College Sioux Falls, S.D. in 1971she has been in education for 20 years and she started teaching here in 1996. Her extra-duty assignment is the yearbook.

Mrs. Dawn Smith started the fall of 2005 at Santee Community School and has been in education since 1989. She graduated from Wichita Falls High School, Wichita Falls, TX. She did undergraduate studies at Dana College, Blair, NE, Northeast Community College, Norfolk, NE, earned a BA Elementary Education and MSE (Master of Science) in Counseling with K - 8 and 7 - 12 endorsements, from Wayne State College, Wayne, NE. Mrs Smith has taken additional hours at Wayne State College and Doane College. Before coming to Santee she taught two years at St. Rose, Crofton, NE, was elementary counselor at Bloomfield, NE, for five years and K-12 counselor at Bloomfield for six years.

Mrs. Smith is the Academic Coordinator for the Alternative Education program. She is coordinator of the Student Assistance and Response to Intervention teams and Crisis Team. Mrs. Smith also serves on the Child Protection Team. When needed she is the Senior Class sponsor.

Mr. Redwing Thomas

Dakota Culture

The art teacher, golf coach, and athletic director.

Mrs. Ruth Bathke has been the secretary since 1991 and is starting her 15th year. She attended College of St. Mary's.

Mrs. Bathke is the Student Senate sponsor, Technology Consultant, member of High Plains Learning Community, and wonderful mother to four fantastic children

Mr. Tim Cavillo is part of the custodial staff.

Mr. "JC" Campbell

Mr. John "JC" Campbell Head custodian

Mrs. Chelsey Chohon, RN has been the Santee Community School nurse since 2002. Mrs. Chohon grew up in Niobrara, NE graduating from Niobrara High School then attending College of Saint Mary, Omaha, NE, getting an Associate Science Nursing in 1996, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1999. Currently she is working on her Masters Degree through the University Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, with future goal of being a Nurse Practitioner

Extra duties for Mrs Chohon include teaching health & nutrition classes to K-6th grades and assisting with summer school K-6th grades

Mrs. Chohon lives in Verdigre, NE with her husband Duke and their three children Gavin, Ava, and Maya.

Mrs. Shawna Drobny

Mrs. Shawna Drobny graduated at Verdigre High School. She is working on cheerleading, prom, and has been a kindergarten para here for 5 years. She has a "Wonderful" husband Jeremy who works at Verdigre Collision Repair. They have one "super" son William who is two years old. Mrs Drobny likes outdoor activities and traveling. She really enjoys almost anything as long as her family and friends are around.

Mrs. Tracy Medina is the home-school coordinator. She has been here since 1991. Tracy attended Northeast Community College and at Nebraska Indian Community College she earned an Associate of Arts Degree.

Extra Duties: HPLC Culture Committee.

Mr. Robert Moose has been a custodian here since 1999.

Mr. Steve Moose has been a teachers aid here since 1998. and assist with junior high basketball. Steve graduated from Santee Community School and was in band, football, and basketball

Mrs. Alberta Robertson has been a cook here since 2002.

Mrs. Faye Rouillard has been the head cook here at Santee Community School here since 1998.

Mrs. Laurie Stout has been a Special Education Aide since 1993. She went to college at Northeast Community College where she majored in general education. She is the Jr. High volleyball coach.