Jessica Kral is a 2020 graduate of New Ulm Public High School and graduated from Winona State University in December 2024 with an Academic and Behavioral Strategist (ABS) Special Education degree. In Chatfield, she is teaching special education in grades 4-6. This is Jessica’s first full-time teaching assignment but she worked in other local districts, including Chatfield, as a substitute teacher last spring.
This year Jessica is looking forward to watching her students grow and thrive in their educational journeys; both in their general education classrooms and in her special education classroom. She looks forward to continuing to learn more and more about special education from her fellow special education team members.
She chose the teaching profession because being the eldest of eight children, she’s been working with children since she was 12 and always knew she wanted to work with them as a career. She was further influenced by a cousin who had a disability and was inspired by his tenacity to defy his limitations, further inspiring her to become the best teacher for her students. She also credits her teachers and her mother, who each shaped her teaching philosophy in their own way.
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with friends and family. She is an avid Vikings fan, loves all things sports related, and is very competitive. For the past seven years she has followed in her mother’s footsteps and found a passion for renovating apartments and houses.
Her students might be surprised that she is the oldest of eight siblings (five brothers and two sisters). She has traveled a lot for her age and even spent a summer in Hawaii.
Claire McGinn is a graduate of Waukesha West High School in Wisconsin, who graduated from Winona State University and did her student teaching in Chatfield. She decided to stay in Minnesota after graduation and now teaches first grade at Chatfield Elementary. This is her first full-time teaching position.
As a new teacher she is looking forward to watching her students grow into amazing young people. She is also looking forward to learning with her students. Claire chose to go into teaching because she wanted to make sure each student is given the opportunity to shine academically. She was influenced by the teachers she had growing up, because they always made sure that her learning was done in a safe environment.
Some things about her that would surprise her students is that she has four nieces and three nephews and another one on the way. They also would be surprised that she has traveled outside of the country three times. In her spare time she likes to spend time with friends and family, watch different sporting events, and she loves to bake.
Lastly, she added that the beginning of the school year has been nothing but amazing. She can’t wait to see what the rest of the school year entails for her students and her.
Brittney Klug is a 2006 graduate of Caledonia High School. She received a degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. In 2023, she obtained her Master’s in Early Childhood from the American College of Education (ACE).
Seven years ago she taught preschool in Chatfield but then left to teach in the St. Charles Public Schools where she taught preschoolers and helped in Early Childhood Family Education. She is now glad to be back in the district where her kids go to school. In Chatfield she is a preschool teacher for 3- and 4-year-old children. She is also part of the ECFE team. This year she is looking forward to watching her students grow and learn.
Brittney chose to go into the teaching profession because she loves working with young children. Everything is magic! In this role, every day is different with rewards and challenges. It keeps her on her toes and allows her to be creative.
In her spare time she like to work in her garden. Her kids are busy with sports, so most of her time is spent at a field or in a gym but she loves it. Her students would be surprised that she is a mom, too! She and her husband have three children and a dog named Bear. She loves to bake and be outside whether it in the garden, walking the dog, going camping, or tending to her small flock of chickens.
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