The Paton-Churdan School District Superintendent gives us a glimpse into the new 2025-26 school year.

Superintendent Brian Johnson says there were seven new hires and/or individuals that shifted positions within the school building in Churdan. Johnson notes one of the unique things about P-C is creating specialized professional development for the staff. 

“They’re not a cookie-cutter school. So a lot of our professional development is individualized PD, trying to get good professional development for professional individual growth to everyone, and that looks different for every person. So, being able to get them what they need, but yet fulfill state requirements and what is the latest and greatest of the science of education has been great.”  

Johnson explains that the smaller staff also allows for teachers to adapt to the changing wants and needs of the student body from year to year, whereas bigger school districts may not be able to. He describes one example of this being the newer role that Lauren Bardole took on this year, being the new librarian/media/technology position. 

“The technology piece or some of the in-depth things that we could do with technology exploration. We didn’t have someone on staff that could do that in the past and now we do. So, just being able to try to keep up with the times and keep up with their interests, and then balance endorsements, and staff, and finances to do that the best we can is what we hope to do.”   

Johnson continues to enjoy the best overall quality that the Rockets have is their family-life atmosphere, where everyone cares about everybody, and supports another one. A full list of the new hires and position transitions can be found below.

Jennifer Redenius – High School English

Mazie Erdahl – 3rd Grade Teacher

Autumn Gannon – 1st Grade Teacher

Miranda Steinkamp – Instructional Coach

Lauren Bardole – Library/Media/Technology

Jill Stream – Administrative Assistant

Joe Towers – Middle School Science and Special Education