Nine new staff come to Clarke Community School

This year, students came back to school to see nine new faces.

Clarke Community Elementary, Middle School and High School all received new staff.

Clarke’s new business teacher, Elizabeth DeWitt, was previously a bank teller in Luveme, Minn. DeWitt heard about Clarke’s reputation as a good school and a strong district and decided to take the position.

Sarah Dentlinger, elementary art teacher, comes from Guthrie Center. She recently attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Dentlinger said she is enjoying her new job.

“Everything is going really well and I like my students and other staff members,” she said.

Katie Turpin, the middle school principal’s secretary, was the Office Manager at the Ankeny Center of Upper Iowa University. Turpin chose to come to Clarke because she is from the area.

“I wanted to find something closer to home,” she said. “This position has been perfect for me.”

So far, Turpin said things have been going great and she has learned a lot.

Mark Astleford joins Clarke Community High School special education staff from a position in Mt. Ayr. Astleford is a native of northwest Iowa and has worked for Green Valley AEA. Currently, Astleford is on the Clarke football staff.

Astleford said he is happy to be at Clarke.

“Things are off to a good start,” he said.

Tracey Schlichte, high school resource teacher, was a high school English teacher in Norwalk. Schlichte is from Osceola and accepted the position because she wanted to teach in the town where she lives.

Joanne Fisher, high school math teacher, previously taught at Mormon Trail. Fisher said she chose to come to Clarke because she worked at different professional development classes with the math teachers and respected their drive and enthusiasm towards math.

“I am very pleased with Clarke thus far,” she said. “Things have been going very well. The staff have been very helpful and gracious towards me.”

Heather Flanders, 7th grade resource teacher, comes from Melrose, Iowa. She taught 2nd grade at St. Mary’s in Centerville, Iowa. Flanders said she had interviewed at Clarke before and liked the team philosophy. She decided to join the staff because she wanted to teach special education.

Flanders said she enjoys working at Clarke.

“The administration and staff are all great to work with and are very helpful,” she said. “I hope I continue to work here for many years to come.”

Kim Antisdel replaced David Walkup who served as the high school principal for nine years.

Antisdel comes from Bedford, Iowa where she was the principal for grades 6-12 for 11 years. Before that, she taught special education in Creston.

Randy Bolton isn’t a new face at Clarke, but has changed positions. Bolton is now assistant elementary school principal. Bolton was the activities director at Clarke for the past four years and had taught in the classroom for about seven years.

Bolton said he likes the change so far.

“I’ve enjoyed the shift from the secondary building to the elementary,” he said. “ My first two weeks with students has been very rewarding, and I look forward to all the challenges and rewards that come with this new position.”