Amanda Bishop
Second grade
Amanda Bishop will be teaching second grade at Washington Elementary. She graduated from North Cedar High School, attended college at Iowa State University and got her elementary and reading endorsements at Buena Vista University.
Bishop has previously been a long term and day-to day substitute for a number of years. She was also an elementary paraeducator for three years and worked as a kindergarten teacher for one year in Cedar Rapids. She and her husband, Bryan, have lived in Mount Vernon for 18 years. Daughter Lillian is a sophomore at Iowa State University, son YeongHo is a junior at Mount Vernon High School and son JiSeob is a ninth grader at Mount Vernon High School. When she isn’t in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, knitting and taking walks.
What do you love most about teaching? “What I love about teaching elementary school is being there at the start of their educational journey, helping them develop a love of learning and to believe in themselves.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “I had several high school teachers who really believed in me as a learner and made me feel valued.”
Brad Borrison
High School English
Brad Borrison will be teaching high school English at Mount Vernon High School. Borrison graduated from Camanche High School. He then graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor of arts in theater and English education. He attended the University of Iowa for his masters in strategic communications.
He previously has taught at North Linn High School for four years, three years at Liberty High School and three years in corporate learning and development at TransAmerica. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Mount Vernon with their children, Gwen (in fourth grade) and Mya (in kindergarten). When he isn’t in the classroom, he loves going to the movies with his daughters, grilling and cooking and going on drives with his wife.
What do you love most about teaching? “Interesting and engaging conversations with students. I love learning and I can learn more from high schoolers than I can from just about anywhere. They are a wealth of knowledge that I know will help me try and stay energized.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “My older brother (Brian). Don’t stress about things that you don’t have control over. (I didn’t have Brian for a teacher, but he’s been a teacher/coach/administrator for more than 20 years)”
Sarah Melsha
Mount Vernon Middle School counselor
Sarah Melsha is originally from Springville and now lives in Cedar Rapids. She went to Central City Community School District and attended Kirkwood Community College for her associates degree during high school. She graduated from Mount Mercy University with a bachelors of science and then earned her masters from Loras College in Dubuque.
She was previously a long-term middle school substitute at Anamosa and spent the last three years as the shared K-12 counselor between Anamosa and Monticello School Districts. Melsha will be bringing her therapy dog, Buoy, to the school with her every day. When she isn’t working in the classroom, she loves gardening, traveling, baking and being with her family.
What do you love most about teaching? “What I love most about teaching is building meaningful connections with students and supporting them as they grow; not just academically, but as individuals. I want to be their advocate and celebrate their successes along the way.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “I was lucky to have two incredible professors at Mount Mercy University who truly shaped me – Dr. Eden Wales and Dr. Jen Lee. They were strong, independent, and driven women who never gave up on me. They guided me through my degree, encouraged me every step of the way, and showed me that I could be successful at whatever I set my mind to. Their belief in me made a lasting impact.”
Jessie Miller
High school social studies
Jessie Miller will be teaching high school social studies. Miller is a graduate of Solon High School, and attended the University of Iowa. Miller has previously been a long term substitute for Mount Vernon High School in English.
Miller has family in the area, including mom and dad Randy and Denise Miller and brother Nathan Miller. He resides in Solon and when not teaching he loves reading, being with friends and family and fishing.
What do you love most about teaching? “Watching students grow in their educational journeys.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “Mr. Cocking, eighth grade English. I learned how to make every day an exciting and educational experience. Mr. Harnock, eighth grade science. Resilience, and how to reach out to the forgotten or the overlooked and make them feel welcome.”
Deb Siebenga
Elementary talented and gifted
Deb Siebenga will be the elementary talented and gifted instructor. Siebenga graduated from Fort Dodge High School, then attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls for her bachelor of arts. She attended the University of Iowa for her master’s degree and TAG endorsement.
Siebenga previously spent eight years teaching middle school language arts in Oskaloosa and 28 years in Cedar Rapids teaching middle school talented and gifted and elementary. She lives in Cedar Rapids with her daughter, Kirsten, and Kirsten’s boyfriend, Alex, and their dog, Franklin, and her boyfriend Mike, a retired journalist. When she isn’t in the classroom, she loves poetry (both reading and writing), and is a swimmer. She attended the 2016 Olympics and saw Michael Phelps swim his last race.
What do you love most about teaching? “I love seeing students’ eyes light up when learning takes place.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “My dad was not a formally trained teacher. He was a poet and visited my classroom often to share his poetry. He was a fisherman and wrote poetry about nature. He shared his hoy of writing with my students and family.”
Branden VanWey
High school business
Branden VanWey will be teaching business at Mount Vernon High School. He graduated from Marion High School and then attended Kirkwood Community College for his associates degree and Buena Vista University for his bachelor’s degree.
This is VanWey’s first year as a teacher, but he has spent 2.5 years as a paraeducator at Marion High School. His mother, Christie, is school business officer at College Community School District and his dad, Brent, works at Collins Aerospace. When he’s not in the classroom, VanWey loves playing pickleball/tennis and is the girls’ tennis coach for the school.
What do you love most about teaching? “That spark/excitement students get when learning new things surrounding what they are passionate about.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “Mr. Hahn at Vernon Middle School and Mr. Mitchell from Marion High School.”
Maia Walls
High school math
Maia Walls will be teaching high school mathematics this year. She graduated from Farmington High school in Farmington, Minn., and then the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in LaCrosse, Wis. She was a tutor at Sylvan Learning Center, a long term math substitute and eighth grade math interventionist (short term substitute), and a seventh grade teacher in Mississippi previously.
She and her partner, Hayden, live in Marion with their dog, Stevie. When not in the classroom, she loves going on walks outdoors, finding new recipes to cook, coloring and completing puzzles.
What do you love most about teaching? “What I love most about teaching students is connecting with them and learning their stories. Specifically, I love making an impact in students lives and making them believe they are great at math.”
What teacher influenced you growing up and what did you learn from them? “My mom was an elementary school teacher that inspired me to teach. She taught at a school that held students that came with many outside challenges. She was extremely patient and did not allow any of her personal bias. She believed in every one of her students and worked closely with their families.”