NS has two new teachers, including a brand new auto shop teacher, and a new special education teacher to help students in need. 

Madison Shiess

         Madison Schiess is NS' new special education teacher. She works with students who have individual education plans (IEPs) in the school. Not only does she teach special ed, but she also teaches learning strategies.

         Before Schiess started working as a teacher, she was a TA. A TA differs from a teacher because teachers get to work with the students more individually. This is helpful for the teacher, because they are able to see what the student needs more help with and what to work on.

         When they get to help them individually, they seem to catch on better. They also get more information from their teacher to help them get it and grow on their own time.

        “I call it like the light bulb moment when it’s like suddenly they get it,” Schiess said.

         Not only does Schiess teach, but she also has other professions. She is a licensed cosmetologist  and a florist. When Schiess does hair, she works in her backyard. She is also a florist because when she was a freshman she did FFA and worked on plants. She was good at it, so she got a job for it. 

         When asked why she was in all of these professions, Schiess said it was because of her ADHD. She didn’t want to stick with one job, because she needed more to do. Also with all of these jobs, she could make more money and stay busy.

         “I think I was in 2nd grade, but my mom never told me about it,” Schiess said that that was when she was diagnosed.

          Schiess’s mom would give her medication and different foods that helped her. Even though ADHD was a challenge, it has helped her so much now. Her son was also diagnosed with ADHD, and the things that her mom has helped her with, have helped her son.

          Overcoming her challenges has helped her be able to better connect with and understand students who struggle.

Gerald Christiansen

          Gerald Christiansen is the new teacher hired to bring the automotive program to NS. However, this is his first year of teaching, but not his first time in automotive work. 

          He feels that his many years of running his own shop has prepared him for this experience.

        “We can teach a mechanic to be a teacher. We can't teach a teacher to be a mechanic,” Christiansen said

         Christiansen has around 40 years worth of experience with automotive. Before becoming a new teacher, he worked with Bro’s auto in Mt. Pleasant and worked with demolition derby in Sanpete county. He also owned his own auto shop in Manti, but later sold it. 

          Working so many years in the industry, you get to know people. Christiansen loves to be part of the community and tries to give back by helping other automotive companies by giving them access to the tools in the newly built shop. By building this relationship, he is hoping to give his students unique opportunities for future careers inside of the local automotive realm. 

         “I have that opportunity if I get the right kid that wants to go out and do this. I have some job placement possibilities for them, all these shops are willing to come because they all have an investment in this class, because I might be training their future employees,” Christiansen said. 

          With a new class, Christiansen takes a different approach than the average classroom on how to run his class. Often taking in cars from friends and even students, the students have a hands-on environment to learn exactly what it means to have real world application. 

         "I want them to see how an automotive shop works,” Christiansen said.

         Christentiansen is seeing this program as an investment for the future. A program like this was something he grew up around, because his dad was an automotive teacher at Manti back when they taught automotive. Because of this, it is something he wants to carry on.

          “If I decide to step down,” Christiansen said, “somebody else can come in and have a running program, because it is that important.”