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Central welcomes new educators

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Meghan Bond

Ryan Bergan

New staff at Central Community School include football coaches Blake Rodenberg, Isaiah Hopp, Joe Koehn and Colten Ledbeter. (Submitted photos)

The Central Community School District has hired several new team members to begin the 2020-2021 school year.

Mrs. Meghan Bond​ will teach 7-12 biology and agriculture, while also leading the FFA program. Bond is excited to serve the Central community, stating, “This role is going to allow me to work with many students across the district, which I am very enthused about. I’m excited to serve in a role where I get to live my passions of education, science, agriculture and FFA each day in a position close to my home.” A Valley High School (Elgin) alumni, Bond has earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University. She lives in rural Strawberry Point with her husband and operates a small farming operation. In her free time, she enjoys listening to educational podcasts, quilting, gardening, traveling with her husband, collaborating with colleagues, spending time with family and playing with here black lab, Diamond.

Mr. Ryan Bergan​ will teach 7-12 industrial technology. Bergan (2000) and his wife Bobbie (2000) are both Central alumni. After high school, Bergan spent four years in the United States Marine Corps as an M1A1 Tank mechanic and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has spent the past 11 years teaching at West Central. The past three years have also included high school and adult classes for Oelwein and NICC at the Regional Tech Complex in Oelwein. Bergan is a certified welder and will take over the welding classes Central has been offering through NICC. Ryan and Bobbie, along with children Carlie (9) and Lucas (6), live in Mederville.

Bergan and Bond are replacing Mr. O’Brien, who has retired from his combined position of industrial technology and agriculture.

Mr. Gage Thomas​ will serve Central as the band director. Thomas is a native of Birmingham, Ala., and has moved to Iowa with his wife Molly. Thomas is a percussionist and holds a degree in music education from the University of Montevallo. His background includes performances in musical theater, jazz ensembles and multiple opera performances. In his free time, he enjoys concerts, movies, video games and tabletop games. Thomas said, “I am excited to be a Warrior and hope for a wonderful school year.”

Thomas takes over for Ms. Wilming, who is pursuing another teaching opportunity.

Mrs. Nichole Orr​ will serve Central as an associate in the elementary. Orr has previously worked as a daycare provider, most recently operating her own daycare. On joining the team at Central she said, “I am looking forward to joining the great team at Central to continue to give the kids the best education possible.” Her family of husband Brian and daughters Savannah (13), Claire (9) and Sydney (6) live outside Elkader.

Coach Joe Koehn​ is in full swing as Central’s new head football coach. Koehn also leads Central’s wrestling program, where he has demonstrated his ability to develop a program, increase participation and provide outstanding experiences for Central student-athletes. The public may recall Koehn’s efforts in establishing Iowa’s first-ever junior high, girls-only wrestling meet, as well as one of the first high school meets to host a girls division. Koehn has worked this summer to increase participation in the football program, establish a JV and varsity schedule and build a coaching staff around him. His varsity assistant will be ​coach Colten Ledbeter​. Ledbeter is currently a physical education teacher at Central and coached junior high wrestling in 2019. Koehn and Ledbeter together led the junior high football team during a successful 2019 season.

Koehn and Ledbeter take over for Coach Seitz and Coach Wilwert, who previously shared a co-head coaching role.

Leading the junior high football team will be ​coaches Blake Rodenberg​ and ​ Isaiah Hopp​. Rodenberg is a 2015 graduate of Central and currently works full-time as the groundskeeper at the Elkader Golf Course. Hopp is a 2015 graduate of Central and is currently pursuing a degree in education.

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