MWP-ISD Welcomes 29 New Staff Members
    By Danielle Pardue, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, August 21, 2008

The Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Independent School District will welcome 29 new teachers to the district for the 2008-2009 school year.

Chris Boone will be on board at the Supervised Alternative Classroom.  Boone has a BA in interdisciplinary studies from Western Governor's University.  Boone and his wife, Heather, have one son, Fisher, 3.

Cullender Kindergarten will see some new faces this year with four new staff members.  Dana McWilliams joins the staff as Generalist EC-4.  McWilliams obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Humanities at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.  McWilliams and her husband, Chris, have three children, Ciara, Katlyn, and Cali.  Belen Finley comes to the kindergarten as a paraprofessional.  This is Finley's first year with the district.  She has three children, Dominic, Dane and Dustin.  Nancy Munoz joins the kindergarten this year as a science lab aide.  Munoz has subbed for the district for six years and attended Lubbock Christian College.  Munoz and her husband, Ricky, have three children, Ryan, Ryley and Randy.  Minerva Navarret-Porras comes to the kindergarten and Tatom as the school nurse.  Porras obtained her associates degree in nursing from Odessa College.  Porras and her husband, Ramon, have one child, Heidi.

Tatom Elementary also will see some new faces this year with six new additions to its campus.  Courtney Phillips comes to Tatom as the physical education teacher.  She also will be coaching 7th grade volleyball and head softball coach.  Phillips obtained her degree from the University of North Texas.  Joining Phillips on the Tatom staff is Ashlea Cosby.  Cosby joins the staff as a third-grade teacher.  Cosby has three girls, Katlyn, Kimberly, and Kylea Navarrete.  Chris Martinez comes to Tatom as first-grade bilingual teacher.  Martinez obtained a bachelor in Health Science with a minor in Chicano studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.  Martinez and her husband, Joe, have four children, Brendan, Alexis, Chris and Kaylin.  Roxanne Sotelo will be on board at Tatom teaching third grade.  Sanchez obtained bachelor of Arts degree in English.  Sotelo and her husband, Rudy, have one child, Natalie.  Ashley Baker comes to Tatom as a third-grade teacher.  She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Studies with a minor in Special Populations.  Baker comes to Monahans with her husband, Calvin.  Kandace Bolin also will join the staff at Tatom as a first-grade teacher.  Bolin obtained her liberal arts degree in English and Communications from Middle Tennessee State University.  Bolin and her husband, Matthew, have two children, Caitlyne and Thomas.

New to Sudderth this year will be Jean Quillian as a special education teacher.  She obtained her bachelor of science degree in Education from the University of Texas.  Quillian and her husband, Mike, have two children, Tracey and Terri.  Maxine Cantu joins the staff as a 5th grade teacher.  Cantu obtained her bachelor's of science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  She and her husband, Steven Gonzales, have two children, Morgan and Reagan Cantu.  Sherry Sotelo comes on board with Sudderth as a 5th grade paraprofessional.  Sotelo and her husband, Albert, have three children, Amber, Ashley and Arik.  Aime Carrasco obtained her education through Odessa College Vocational Nursing.  Carrasco and her husband, Alfonso, have one child, Gabriel.  Whitney Brockman joins the staff at Sudderth as a 5th grade teacher.  Brockman obtained a bachelor's degree in Education from Texas Tech University.  Brockman comes to Monahans with her husband, Thomas.

Walker Junior High will see new faces with the addition of four new staff members.  Stephanie Taylor comes to Jr. High as a special education teacher.  Taylor obtained her degree from Wayland Baptist University.  Also joining the Jr. High staff is Britney McCutchen as 8th grade English teacher.  McCutchen obtained her degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.  Beau Harris will be wearing many hats this year at the Jr. High 7th and 8th grade resource Science and Social Studies.  He also will be teaching physical education, coaching 7th grade football and basketball and coaching junior varsity baseball.  Harris obtained his bachelor of science degree from Sul Ross State University and Tarleton State University.  Harris and his wife, Liza, have one child, Landen.  Liza Harris will also be joining her husband on staff at the Jr. High as 7th and 8th grade Science teacher.  She obtained her bachelor of science degree from Tarleton State University.

Monahans High School will also see nine new faces this year on the staff.  Crosby Swanson joins the staff as 9th and 10th grade English and Journalism teacher.  Swanson obtained his bachelor of arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin.  Also joining the MHS staff this year is Brad Miller as special education Math and Social Studies.  Miller is a graduate of Sul Ross State University.  He and his wife, Terry, have two children, Loren and Collin.  Bryce Waterman comes to MHS as band director.  Waterman obtained his Bachelor of Music Education at Grand Valley State University.  Also joining Waterman in the music department is Jason Duck as band director.  Duck received his bachelor's degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University.  Joining MHS as a special education paraprofessional is Rita Stephens.  Stephens and her husband, Greg, have four children, Jessilyn, Brittany, Mark and Justin.  Thomas Brockman joins the MHS staff as physical education coach and 7th grade football coach.  Brockman obtained his bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Exercise Sports Science from Texas Tech University.  Brockman comes to Monahans with his wife, Whitney.  Sandra Hodges joins teacher.  Hodges and her husband, Maurice, have three children, Jill Steen, Randy Hodges and Jimmy Hodges.  Jolene Davis comes on board at MHS as ESL and English teacher.  Davis obtained her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.  Davis and her husband, Roy, have two children, Mallory and Holly.  Also new to the high school this year is Kurt White.  White joins the staff as History teacher and football, head boys' basketball and track coach.  White received his education from Angelo State University.  He and his wife, Kim, have three children, Tress, Tyler and Mallorye.

Although there will be new faces and new changes within the district this year, one thing that remains the same is the level of dedication and hard work these teachers put in to shaping the lives of our children.  Welcome to all the new teachers, and have a great year.