New Faces In Stanley Schools
As the new school year started on Wednesday, Aug. 20, there were several new faces on the teaching staff. Of the eight, two were hired after school started last year and others are moving to different positions.
Elementary School
Five new staff members are on staff at the elementary school this year.
Elizabeth Hinds
Elizabeth Hinds, age 23, will be teaching elementary special education. She joined the staff late last school year.
Originally from Bowbells, she earned her degree from Minnesota State University in Moorhead.
She lives in Stanley.
She says she spends a lot of her free time reading and browsing bookstores. She enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with family and friends.
Christina Singer
Christina Singer, age 41, will be teaching fifth grade.
Originally from northeastern Oregon, she has a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Valley City State University. She has been a paraprofessional at Stanley Elementary School for the past four years.
She has two children, Josie Singer who lives in Texas, and Mikey Stoddard who lives with her.
Her hobbies include spending time with her family, traveling, reading and take pictures.
Courtney Sem
Courtney Sem will be teaching kindergarten.
Originally from Minot, she has her degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education with a kindergarten endorsement. She previously taught kindergarten for eight years in Powers Lake.
She and her husband, Nathan, live in Powers Lake. They have two children, Everlee age 4 and Emeree age 1.
She is a member of the Lions Club of Powers Lake and the Kindergarten NDEA.
Her hobbies include spending time with her family, going to their lake cabin, and shopping.
Syria Fuhrmann
Syria Fuhrmann will be the K-4 school counselor.
Originally from Culdesac, ID, she has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University, and is in the Master of Education in School Counseling program at Grand Canyon University. She was an ELL paraprofessional in the Stanley Schools in the 2024-2025 school year.
She lives in Stanley. Her hobbies include fishing, camping, spending time outdoors, traveling, and spending time with her friends.
Amy Walter
Amy Walter, age 43, will be teaching fifth grade this year, having worked previously as a paraprofessional at the elementary school.
Originally from Fargo, she earned her Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education from Western Governors University. She has worked at Stanley School since 2014 as a paraprofessional.
She and her husband, Ira, have two children, Madison, age 20 and Ashley, age 16. They also recently became grandparents to grandson, Stetson.
Living in Stanley, her hobbies include crocheting and reading.
Junior/Senior High School
There are three new faces on staff at the junior/senior high school this year.
Raylea Kalmbach
Raylea Kalmbach will be teaching Pre-algebra, Algebra1 and Algebra 2.
Originally from Glenburn, she has her degree in Mathematics Education from Minot State University and is currently working on her Masters Degree at St. Cloud University. She taught for the last three years at Newburg United School.
She and her husband, Scott, are living in Bowbells. She has two stepdaughters, Miranda and Anna, and a son Lincoln who is nine months old.
Her hobbies include spending time outdoors with her family, friends and two dogs. She also says she is a huge concert fan.
Arik Napoles
Arik Napoles, age 23, will be teaching band, choir and sixth grade music.
Originally from Thousand Oaks, CA, he has a BSEd in music education from Minot State University. This is his first year teaching.
While he currently lives in Minot, he will be moving to Stanley soon.
He is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the National Association for Music Education (NAFME) and the Percussive Arts Society.
His hobbies include baking, crocheting, hiking and traveling.
Zachary Norstedt
Zachary Norstedt, age 32, will be teaching 7th grade language arts, Algebra 1 and AP Precalculus.
Born in Minot, he went to grade school and middle school in Powers Lake, and then attended high school in Stanley. He received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
His previous experience includes an undergraduate math course on infinity at Mount Angel Seminary, St. Benedict, OR and high school precalculus and calculus at Chesterson Academy of the Willamette Valley in Mount Angel, OR. He was hired last school year to teach in Stanley.
Living in Stanley, his hobbies include shooting, hunting, fishing, working on vehicles, brewing beer, reading science fiction and watching old movies.