KND would like to welcome our new teachers! Please read on for an introduction to each of them.
Sherrie Ingraham (6th grade)
My name is Mrs. Sherrie Ingraham, and I am thrilled to say that this is my 6th year of teaching upper elementary/middle school students. I am very passionate about my career, and I especially love teaching children from a small town in northern Michigan.
I graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. My student teaching experience was approximately six months in a 4th grade classroom. Since then I have been a Math and Reading Intervention Specialist for a year, and taught 5th grade for 4 years. I am certified in Restorative Practices by the International Institute of Restorative Practices. I’m also certified in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention by the Crisis Prevention Institute, and Adult and Child CPR/AED, Infant CPR, and First Aid Certified.
I strongly believe that instruction must be designed to meet the needs of all students in order to ensure student success, and that every student is capable of succeeding. I strive to build quality student/teacher relationships because it is my belief that this is very important to a safe and comfortable classroom environment, and that the power of developing meaningful relationships is critical to successful learning.
I have lived in northern Michigan for the majority of my life, and I truly believe that we are blessed with such a beautiful environment to live and raise our children in. My husband and I have raised our children here, as well.
I am very excited and looking forward to many years of teaching the kind and caring children from the community here at Kaleva Norman Dickson Elementary!
Emily Lint (U.S./World History, Government, Current Events)
Hello! I grew up in northern Michigan. I graduated from Kingsley High School in 2011. I attended CMU where I double-majored in Social Studies and History. I did my student teaching at West Senior High in Traverse City, and then I taught economics and 9th grade U.S. history there for two years.
I know that KND is a great school and a great place to work because my fiancé, Kyle Griffin, has been here for three years. I am so excited to join him and all of the staff at KND in creating a small school, big family environment for all students!
Rosie Dancz (3rd/4th Grade)
My name is Rosie Dancz and I’m thrilled to be the 3rd/4th grade split elementary teacher! I was born and raised in Ludington, Michigan. I graduated high school from Ludington High School in 2008 and went to West Shore Community College to work on my prerequisite classes for Elementary Education. I transferred to Ferris State University and graduated with my Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education, minoring in Integrated Science, Early Childhood Education, and Language Arts in 2014.
I married my wonderful husband, Matthew Dancz, in 2013 and we have two amazing daughters together.
Chelsea Hicok (Special Education)
I am extremely happy to be here working at KND as the elementary special education teacher. I grew up in Northern Michigan, and attended grade school in Mesick and high school in Cadillac. After graduation, I had a variety of jobs in the Cadillac and Traverse City area.
In 2003, I moved to Grand Rapids where I attended and graduated from Grand Valley State University. In 2008, I moved to Mongolia where I worked with special needs children. In 2006, I took a teaching position in rural Alaska in the Yu’pik village of Napaskiak. I worked there as a high school generalist teaching a variety of subjects 7-12 grade.
While in Alaska, I began working on my masters’ degree in special education through the University of Alaska Southeast. In 2013 my husband, Ben, and I had a little girl, Alice. In 2014 we decided to move back to Michigan to be closer to family. In 2015, my two teenage cousins moved in with us. In 2015, I began working at the Wexford-Missaukee ISD as a self-contained k-8 moderately cognitively impaired and autism special education teacher. I worked there for three years before making the exciting move to KND!
In my spare time I love to bicycle and help lead a bike group for the Cadillac Cycling Club. I also volunteer at a variety of local organizations in the area including After26 Depot Cafe.
I look forward to getting to know the students, their families, and the staff at KND as I share my passion for helping everyone achieve their best.