Motivated Math Teachers: Meet the five math teachers new to East and learn what they look forward to this school year

Chanelle Dieckmann: After graduating in 2004, teacher Chanelle Dieckman returned to East where she says the level of expectations are surprisingly higher than Olathe East, where she previously taught. 

Entering her 11th year of teaching in a new building has been a great experience for Dieckman. 

“Everyone’s been very supportive and excited that I graduated from here,” Dieckmann said. “It’s very encouraging.” 

You can find Dieckmann in room 415 where she is teaching AP Statistics and Integrated Algebra/Geometry. 

After her classes learn a new concept, Dieckmann gives the time to “dive” into the subject to better learn and understand what they are learning, whether that be a game, lab, activity or exploring examples.

“I do a lot of activities in my room,” Dieckmann said. “We do a lot of structured group practice.” 

Outside of academics, she is the Assistant Sponsor for StuCo and hopes to eventually get back into coaching cheer, like she did at her previous school.

Dieckmann said she’s most excited to teach in an exceptional new environment with her students she’s had so far while learning and becoming a better educator along the way. 

“I hope that people find my classroom a safe environment to take risks” said Dieckmann.

Samantha Newlin:

Previously working at Blue Valley High School as an Intervention Specialist, teacher Samantha Newlin was ready to enter her 22nd year of teaching full-time in a new classroom.

Newlin can be found in room 410 teaching Calculus AB, and Integrated Algebra/Geometry. Her goal this year is to help her students, specifically her Integrated students, to improve their attitudes towards math.

“A lot of those kids don’t love math,” Newlin said. “But if I can get them to like it even just a little bit more that would be OK.”

Beginning this year as a new teacher, Newlin is ecstatic and has felt very welcomed at East. 

“They have welcomed my energy,” Newlin said. “I know sometimes I can be a little bit much when I’m excited.”

Eventually Newlin hopes to be involved in SHARE and Link Crew after having great experience in the past. She enjoyed being Blue Valley’s K Club sponsor — their volunteer program — and was the Link Crew sponsor at Freestate High School in Lawrence for 15 years. Newlin hopes she can continue working in similar areas in a new environment. 

As for the rest of the year, Newllin can’t wait to get to know the East community and hopes to work at East until her retirement. 

Jill Johnson:  

When searching for a new part-time teaching job at the end of last school year, teacher Jill Johnson requested to work at East where she would work alongside her daughter freshman Mae O’Connor and grow into a new environment.

Johnson is the president of the “Shawnee Mission Teachers Union,” and she teaches two Integrated Algebra/Geometry classes part-time in rooms 412 and 410. Entering her 17th year as a math teacher, she previously taught at four other schools, Shawnee Mission North High School, Antioch Middle School, Hocker Grove Middle School and Indian Woods Middle school. After teaching middle school for over five years, Johnsons says she enjoys being in a high school setting.

“I prefer teaching high school over middle school,” Johnson said. “I have noticed many of my students will say thank you when they leave my class which middle school students don’t do as much.” 

Johnson appreciates this from the East community as a new teacher this year and is ready to take on a new experience. 

Spencer Feldkamp:

When teacher Spencer Feldkamp and his wife were expecting their first child, he knew he was ready to work close to home. 

Previously teaching at Ottawa high school for four years, Feldkamp grew tired of making the 50-minute commute to work every day. He also wanted an opportunity to explore administration, an area he sees himself working in in the future. 

“It’s good to see different leadership styles and push myself to grow in that way,” Feldkamp said.

Feldkamp has taught every area of math from Algebra to Calculus but is currently teaching Algebra 2 and Algebra 3 classes. His main goal is to make a positive impact on his new students this school year and get to know them better. 

“I think it’s super important to make kids feel like success is possible in math classes, and getting time and feedback is important,” Feldkamp said.

Feldkamp also hopes to meet more of the East community when being the assistant boys basketball coach this year and eventually help out with other school activities.

“I want to get involved in not just the athletic but also the club side of things,” Feldkamp said. 

“I think it’s good to do one of each to get to see students in different environments.” 

Felkamp appreciates the uniqueness of East and hopes he can add to what makes it such a great school.

“East is a special place,” Feldkamp said. “Hopefully I can add to that and kids look forward to coming to my class.”

Mike Stoekle

When Samantha Newlin, another new math teacher at East and old co-worker contacted teacher Mike Stoekle asking if he would want a job as a new math teacher, he quickly agreed. 

At a previous middle school job, Stoekle was teaching multiple classes from STEM to Geography, so he prefers teaching only Integrated Algebra Geometry 1 and 2 a lot more.

“It was very hard and stressful to keep up with teaching so much,” Stoekle said. “So here at East I’m very happy, much happier than I was a year ago.”

Stoekle said he’s been most impacted by the East community’s honor for the school. 

“I’ve been at other schools before,” Stoekle said. “But I have never experienced a school that has a great pride in the school and connection with the community.”