Last week, we began introducing the new teachers and staff from the Clarkston school district to our readers. There are several more staff members to introduce, so this week, the series continues will five more additions to Clarkston schools.
Casey Kirsten of Highland is the new LRC teacher at Bailey Lake. Prior to coming to Clarkston, Kirsten interned in the Portage Public School District.
She received her degree from Western Michigan University in 2006. Through her university studies she also gained experience in the Van Buren Intermediate, Kalamazoo Public and Richland Public school districts. An honor roll student all throughout high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society and won the High Honors Cadet Award in college. In high school, she was All American Basketball and Volleyball ? named MVP in both sports during her freshman and sophomore years. In college, her team won the school’s IM volleyball championship every semester for four straight years.
For 11 years, Kirsten was also a competitive dancer, saying she started dancing at age 3.
In her own words, ‘I love to play and watch sports, especially volleyball, basketball and football… I participate in a volleyball tournament every summer.
‘Someday I hope to go skydiving and para-sailing! I want to travel all over the world.?
Stacy Leicht, a Clarkston resident, is the new third-grade teacher at Pine Knob Elementary, but some may recognize her from her five years as a guest teacher in the district.
A 1988 graduate of Adrian College, Leicht worked at Blissfield Elementary from 1987-1991 and at Oakwood Elementary School from 1997-2000 before working in Clarkston.
Outside of work, you might find Leicht reading, baking, working on scrapbooks, walking Abby, her Shih Tsu, or cheering on the Detroit Red Wings with her husband, Rick, or their two children, Kelsey and Zach.
Kelsey is a sophomore at Clarkston High School and a member of the poms team. Zach, a sixth grader at Sashabaw Middle School, is a goalie for a traveling hockey team, but loves any sport.
Ann Krause joins the staff at North Sashabaw Elementary this year as a fifth-grade teacher, after completing a year of student teaching there.
‘I am absolutely thrilled to be here in Clarkston at North Sashabaw. I student taught there last year in third grade with Amy Randolph. What a terrific year,? said Krause. ‘I am so glad to be part of the Clarkston family.?
Krause obtained her bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in English from Wayne State University in 1997, and her post-bachelor’s EIA certification from Baker College in 2006.
Krause lives in Oxford with her husband, Darrel, and daughters. When she is not working, she said she likes cooking, especially Italian, and reading.
Alison Gilreath, who is a graduate of the district, is the new psychologist for North Sashabaw Elementar, Sashabaw Middle School and Renaissance High School. Gilreath graduated from Clarkston High School in 1999. She went on to the University of Michigan, where she obtained her bachelor’s in psychology, and then on to Wayne State University, where she obtained her master’s in school psychology.
Gilreath said her job involves evaluating special education students and working ‘educators, parents and other staff to support a successful learning environment for all students.?
Prior to her return to Clarkston, Gilreath interned in the Farmington Public School district and worked in the Berkley school district.
When she’s not working, she’s spending time with her husband Adam, also a CHS graduate, or exercising. In her own words, Gilreath is currently training for the Detroit Free Press Half Marathon in October, where she will be running to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Arlinda Crossland is the new media specialist at Andersonville Elementary.
Crossland, a resident of Bloomfield Township, graduated from Michigan State University in 1978. She worked as a media specialist in the Birmingham school several years.
Crossland is a music lover who enjoys traveling, photography, art and computer graphics. She considers herself fortunate to be blessed in so many ways ? she has a healthy life with her husband of over 25 years and her two children.worked as a technical illustrator for General Motors for several years.
Crossland is a music lover who enjoys traveling, photography, art and computer graphics. She considers herself fortunate to be blessed in so many ways ? she has a healthy life with her husband of over 25 years and her two children.