***Itzel Mosso Ramos is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
This semester, Kewanee High School welcomed three new Boilermakers, David Armstrong, Ella Cagwin and Paul Lindstrom, to its faculty.
With nearly a month of classes completed, these instructors are already enhancing the Boiler experience in meaningful ways.
Armstrong, who has an extensive background in mechanics, has launched new automotive classes at KHS. Armstrong brings a wealth of experience to the classroom that started when he was a student himself at Black Hawk College.
After graduating, Armstrong worked at the Ford dealership in Galva. From there, Armstrong’s career brought him to Hodge’s Towing and Repair before he opened his own repair shop in Kewanee.
Armstrong has set his sights on developing a strong program for his current and future students and looks toward the future with passion.
“My plans for the future would be to build the most in-depth auto program I can so that students that either decide to further their education or go straight to the workforce, transition easily and be at the top of their profession,” Armstrong said.
This semester, Cagwin has officially transitioned from student teaching to running her own classroom within Kewanee’s Agriculture Department.
Cagwin appreciates the comfort of starting her teaching career in the same school she student taught in, which has given her reassurance and confidence.
“I get to be out on my own but still able to have a safety blanket that leads me in the right direction,” she said. “The KHS facility has been preparing me to make it all on my own and have my own guidance.”
Kewanee’s newest agriculture educator credits her upbringing on a family farm for teaching her to respect agriculture’s importance. She values the benefits the environment provides and hopes to instill the same attitudes in her students.
“This work matters to me because our world is surrounded by agriculture,” she said.
Lindstrom serves as Kewanee’s newest physical education teacher. While joining Kewanee’s staff, Lindstrom relocated from Florida, where he worked as a physical education instructor and athletic director.
Joining KHS brought Lindstrom in contact with many new faces and one familial one, Cody Butler, Kewanee’s Dean of Students. Butler and Lindstrom are cousins.
Lindstrom considers himself lucky to call Butler his family and KHS his new home.
“It truly is a jackpot because I played the lottery all the time and realized we can’t buy a good family with money, but can always have a good family without money. Cody is a true Boilermaker. He talks highly about the staff and the school, and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to work at KHS,” said Lindstrom.
Lindstrom echoed Armstrong’s and Cagwin’s enthusiasm for their new opportunities, students and colleagues.
“The students are really great, and I feel very welcomed by the staff and faculty. They made me feel invited and special in a new and stressful situation. I am excited for the program. [Kindra] Callahan [one of Cagwin’s department colleagues] has done a great job of being student-led and giving students the perfect opportunity to succeed. I can’t wait to see students grow from project to project and the relationships I will be able to build with everybody,” Cagwin said.
“The answer to why I came to Kewanee to work is simple: Mrs. Baney,” said Armstrong. “She truly cares for every student in the district. She saw a need for my program. The more programs Kewanee can offer, the more students the school can help. I believe that this program will open different opportunities, and even if students don’t make it a career, there are some skills they can take with them for a lifetime.”
