BTS welcomes new director of instruction, seven teachers

TARA HARTMAN

KINGSFORD — Breitung Township Schools is pleased to announce the hiring of a new director of instruction, Tara Hartman, along with seven new teachers for the 2024-25 school year.

Hartman joined the Breitung administrative team in July. Previously she served as the director of general education services as well as the Math/Science Center director at the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District. Prior to her role at the DIISD, Hartman was a classroom teacher and coach at Iron Mountain High School.

“Tara brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and leadership skills to Breitung Township Schools,” said David Holmes, superintendent. “She has a great deal of experience with statewide organizations, grant writing, and school improvement. As we’ve grown and changed over the past several years, it became evident that we need someone in a position like this to assist with the continuity of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. She will be a great asset to the administrative leadership team, the teaching staff, and the district.”

Breitung Township Schools also added seven members to the teaching staff for the 2024-2025 school year.

Caroline Carlson was hired to teach kindergarten. Carlson was a student-teacher at Woodland Elementary during the 23-24 school year; she completed her undergraduate degree in education at Central Michigan University.

CAROLINE CARLSON

Zach Celello was hired to teach economics and U.S. history. Celello was a long-term substitute teacher at KHS during the 2023-24 school year; he holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is in the process of earning a master’s degree in education from Northern Michigan University.

Dorothy Debelak was hired to teach third grade. Debelak has previous educational experience as an elementary teacher with the North Central Area Schools and prior to that was a paraprofessional/specials teacher with the Bark River-Harris School District.

Tiffany Jenkins was hired to teach math at Kingsford High School and health/physical education at Kingsford Middle School. Jenkins was previously a high school math and health teacher at North Central Area Schools, as well as a credit recovery teacher at North Menominee County Community Schools.

Ashley Peterson was hired to teach special education at Woodland Elementary School. Peterson was previously in the role of educational assistant at Woodland Elementary, for the past three years. Prior to that, she was an instructional aide at Norway Elementary School for six years.

Kim Shilton was hired to teach special education at Kingsford High School. Shilton has worked for BTS in a variety of roles before joining the teaching staff at KHS this year. She has a great deal of experience working with people in a variety of work settings.

ZACH CELELLO

Sarah Touchette was hired to teach English language arts in the seventh grade at Kingsford Middle School. Touchette was a high school English teacher for Michigan Virtual Charter Academy for five years, prior to joining the teaching staff at BTS.

“We have been fortunate to fill all our open administrative and teaching positions with talented staff members,” said Holmes. “We are excited to have these individuals join our Breitung Township Schools team and look forward to their contributions to our district. We’ve also hired several quality support staff members throughout the school year and will continue to look to fill the remaining open support staff positions,” he said.