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New Administrators, teachers welcomed at FSD and St. Lorenz

  In the Frankenmuth School District, 14 teachers, administrators and support staff have retired at the end of the last school year. The group totals over 430 years of combined service on behalf of the district.

  Administratively, Martin Mattlin retired with 38 years of service at Rittmueller Middle School, where he was a teacher and a principal. RMS instructor Mark Whelton was named his successor.

  Teacher and Assistant Principal Kevin Cowhy served nine years here. He will be replaced by Phil Martin, who last worked in the Flint School District. Phil’s wife, Adele Martin, is the principal at List Elementary School.

  New teachers for the 2010-11 school year include Amanda Nettleman, a 2003 FHS graduate. Nettleman, who taught one year in Carrollton, holds bachelor’s degrees in math and chemistry from Saginaw Valley State University and will teach math at the high school.

  Patrick Kauffman is from Lowell and taught in Lake Isabella the past two years. He holds English and history degrees from Northern Michigan University and will be teaching English at FHS.

  Angela Caponi is from Warren and will be teaching instrumental music at Rittmueller Middle School. Caponi graduated from Eastern Michigan University (playing tuba with the marching band four years) and has a major degree in instrumental music and a minor degree in history.

  Other FSD retirees and their years of service include Community Education director Linda Howard (13 years), FHS teacher Randy Bye (37 years), maintenance Ralph Muter (29 years), RMS teacher Patricia Mattlin (40 years), FHS/RMS teacher Denise Compton (17 years), List teacher Mary Balbach (20 years), bus driver Dennis Hammond (13 years), FHS/RMS teacher Diane Holmes (31 years), FHS teacher Judy Kay (37 years), secretary Sandra Nauss (23 years), List teacher Alice Stricker (22 years), RMS librarian Sally Lenk (26 years), bus driver Donna Hecht (23 years), RMS teacher Andrea Jenniches (20 years), and maintenance David Ramm (13 years).

  “We definitely got a bit leaner at the staff level but we are ready for the school year,” FSD Superintendent Mary Anne Ackerman said.

  As for the 2010-11 school year enrollment, Ackerman is awaiting next Tuesday.

  “We’ve definitely had an increase in traffic, in terms of new students. We have 35 new students enrolled across all the buildings, which is significantly higher than usual, But what we don’t know is who is gone and will not be here this year,” Ackerman said.

  School start for the FSD, St. Lorenz and St. Michael’s Richville Tuesday morning, September 7.