Ephrata school district welcomes new staff, teachers

EPHRATA – The Ephrata School District hired 15 new teaching staff members this year as well as 13 classified staff. During the Sept. 23 ESD meeting, the superintendent and school board had a special meeting before the regular board meeting to introduce and welcome new employees. 

The new non-teaching staff members include: Ephrata High School Store Manager and Freshman Class Advisor Katie Cummings, Bilingual Paraeducator at Parkway Intermediate School Nayeli Diaz, Safety and Security Johnny Dorton, Food Service Shelley Fairchild, Route 13 Bus Driver Pat Gallaway, Route 23 Bus Driver Vonda Kiter, Ephrata Middle School Assistant Football Coach Nicholas Lobe, Bilingual Paraeducator Ephrata MS Aurora Lopez, Food Service Emily Macken, Paraeducator at Parkway IS Susannah McQuade, Temporary Music Teacher at Parkway IS Naileah Nunez, Custodian Samantha Slaback Ephrata MS Assistant Volleyball Coach Erminia Suarez, Fall Team Assistant Katelyn Towry and Temporary Safety and Security Mike Warren.  

The new teaching and direct service staff in alphabetical order include:  

Allison (Ali) Heer, School Nurse  

Heer is the new school nurse in the Ephrata School District. Heer is an Ephrata High School alumni and received her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Washington State University. She then worked at Samaritan Hospital as a charge nurse. She said she is excited to get started and give back to the community that raised her.  

Kristen Jacobsen, Grant Elementary  

Jacobsen is the newest fourth grade teacher. Prior to coming to Ephrata, Jacobsen spent 19 years teaching and substitute teaching third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Provo City School District, Sumner-Bonney Lake School District and Chief Leschi School District. Jacobsen has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University. She said that she is excited to be around her family in Ephrata. 

Marilyn Limb, Ephrata High School 

Limb is a new resource English teacher. Limb has nine years of experience teaching English at Central High School. Limb has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Eastern Washington University and a master’s of education in curriculum design and instruction from Arizona State University. Limb is also working to get her special education certification.  

“I just love Ephrata,” Limb said.   

Sarah Moore, Ephrata High School 

Moore is a new math teacher. Moore is an Ephrata High School alum and went on to receive her degree in mathematics from Washington State University. Moore has a master’s in teaching from WSU as well. Formerly, Moore taught high school math at Clover Park High School. She said she was drawn to come back to Ephrata for the strong community and to be closer to her family.  

Lisa Nguyen, Grant Elementary School 

Nguyen is a new second grade teacher, bringing eight years of experience teaching first and second graders in the Thomasville and Moses Lake School Districts. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Governors University and a master’s degree in English language learners. Nguyen said she is fond of the people and activities in Central Washington. She said she is eager to begin the school year. 

Lauren Rathbone, Columbia Ridge School 

Rathbone is a new second grade teacher, bringing eight years of experience from the Othello School District, where she also served as the assistant girls' golf coach for three years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s in technology in education from Walden University. Lauren appreciates the enthusiasm for learning she has encountered in Ephrata, saying that "Columbia Ridge already feels like home!" 

Rosa Rantillan Chagollan, Parkway Intermediate School 

Rantillan Chagollan is a new sixth grade teacher for English language arts, social studies and English language learners. She recently earned her bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Washington University. With five years of experience as a bilingual paraeducator in the Ephrata and Moses Lake School Districts, Rantillan Chagollan chose to remain in Ephrata after completing her degree to support kids and their learning. 

Taya Rogers, speech-language pathologist  

Rogers joins Ephrata Schools as a speech-language pathologist for the whole district. A Moses Lake High School alumna, she earned her degree in communication sciences and disorders from Eastern Washington University. She has experience offering speech therapy to preschool through middle school students in the Moses Lake School District. With family ties in Ephrata, Rogers said she is thrilled to join the community and support its students. 

Shon Schaffran, Ephrata Middle School 

Schaffran is a new Alternative Learning Experience teacher. With 12 years of teaching experience, he has taught in Hawaii, Idaho, and most recently in the Moses Lake School District, where he also coached various sports. Schaffran holds a bachelor’s degree in social science from Central Washington University and a master's degree in teaching from the University of Alaska Southeast. Schaffran is a U.S. Army veteran. He said he feels blessed to be part of the Ephrata Middle School and community praising its wonderful people. 

Naileah Shaporda, Parkway Intermediate School 

Shaporda is the new fifth and sixth grade music teacher and fifth grade highly capable teacher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in K-8 education from Eastern Washington University and a master’s degree in educational leadership. Before joining the Ephrata School District, she worked in the Cheney School District, initially as a fifth-grade student teacher, and then as a second-grade teacher. Shaporda said she believes Ephrata is an ideal place to nurture growth and make a meaningful impact, helping students to realize their potential and build confidence. 

Denali Sheneman, Grant Elementary School 

Sheneman is the new third grade teacher. An Ephrata High School graduate, she earned her degree in elementary education from Central Washington University and is certified to teach English language learners. Prior to this role, she served as a long-term substitute teacher in Ephrata during the 2023-2024 school year. Teaching is a family tradition for her, as her mother, Shannon Sheneman, is a kindergarten teacher at Grant Elementary. 

Amanda Swanson, Ephrata Middle School 

Swanson is returning to EMS as a seventh grade English language arts teacher. Formerly a paraeducator there, she was drawn back due to the school's staff and environment. Swanson holds a bachelor's in elementary education from Western Governors University and previously taught sixth-grade English language arts, social studies and leadership in the Moses Lake School District. 

Daniel Timofeyev, Columbia Ridge Elementary School and Ephrata Middle School 

Timofeyev is the new school psychologist. A nationally certified school psychologist, he studied at Eastern Washington University. Before joining Ephrata, Timofeyev worked in the Sumner and Moses Lake School Districts. Originally from Moses Lake, he chose Ephrata for its strong reputation and small size. Timofeyev said he is eager to support students in their learning journey. 

Caleb Visser, Parkway Intermediate School 

Visser is a new sixth grade math and science teacher. With three years of experience teaching sixth to eighth grade math in the Orondo School District, he also served as a middle school head track coach. Caleb graduated from Western Governors University and holds a Guided Language Acquisition Design certification. His two young children are new to the Ephrata School District this year, and he's thrilled for them to grow up in the Ephrata community. 

Gallery photos courtesy of the Ephrata School District.

    Limb
  

    Jacobsen
  

    Heer
  

    Chagollan
  

    Visser
  

    Timofeyev
  

    Swanson
  

    Sheneman
  

    Schaffran
  

    Rogers
  

    Rathbone
  

    Nguyen
  

    Moore
  

    Shaporda