Looking forward to a new year

(Editors note: This is the second installment in a series about new hires in the Creston Community School District.)

Tawnya Jones

Tawnya Jones, the new food service director for Creston Community Schools, grew up in Creston, graduating from Creston Community High School in 1986 and Buena Vista — Creston center in 1990, then lived in Mount Ayr for 20 years, serving as food service director there for almost 10 years. She also served as food service secretary under Connie Edsall for five years previously.

Jones’ husband Darren worked at Community Grocers Incorporated in Mount Ayr, so when it closed, he got a job at Zeeland Farm Services in Creston.

Returning to Creston meant being a little closer to family. Jones’ daughter, four of her sisters, plus nieces, nephews and extended family live in Creston.

Jones said she is looking forward to getting “reacquainted with the community.” Worries of the changes due to COVID-19 are at the front of Jones’s mind for the year.

Dan Riegel

Another CCHS graduate Dan Riegel is joining the custodial staff. Riegel graduated high school in 1991, got his associate’s from Community College of the Air Force in 1988, and his bachelor’s degree from Troy University in 1991. He said he is proud to have served in the military.

Riegel said he is returning to Creston to be near his mother and sister.

“Helping to provide a clean and safe learning environment,” is at the top of Riegel’s things he is looking forward to this year, especially with the added concerns due to COVID-19.

Hannah Bengston

The new seventh- and eighth-grade science teacher at Creston Community Middle School this year is Hannah Bengston from Ames.

Bengston graduated from Ames High School in 2014, Iowa State University in 2018 with a degree in biology and Simpson College in 2020 with a Masters of Arts in Teaching.

For her first year of teaching Bengston said, “Creston Middle School just seemed like a great fit right away.”

She is looking forward to meeting her students and “getting to talk about science with them.”

Bengston said she really enjoys running and goes on a run almost everyday.

Farrah Richey

From Seymour and currently living in Grant City, Missouri, Farrah Richey will be working at CCMS as a behavioral support specialist.

Richey graduated from Seymour High School in 1995, Graceland University in 1999, and earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007 and a Specialist in Educational Leadership in 2012 from the University of Phoenix.

This is Richey’s 21st year of teaching, having started her career in 1999 at Central Decatur and transferring to Worth County R-III in Grant City, Missouri in 2002. She taught there until 2019.

Richey said she is particularly proud of her four children: Ethan, 22, Sammy, 19, Preston, 19, and Garrett, 12.

Richey wanted to return to teaching so when Creston had a position open, she applied.

“I am looking forward to building my behavior support program,” Richey said, “I am also looking forward to collaborating with new people.”

She has concerns about the changes for this school year due to the restrictions from the current pandemic.

“Just like all other teachers across the nation right now, I am worried about how online instruction is going to go,” Richey said.

In her free time, Richey refinishes antiques.

Jennifer Simon

Originally from Southern California, Jennifer Simon is no stranger to southern Iowa. She moved to Lorimor in fifth grade and then to Winterset in eighth. She graduated from Winterset High School and still lives in the city.

Simon will be serving as a school secretary at the Creston Community Elementary School. Previously she was the assistant director of the after school program for two years, and a para educator for seven years.

She is excited to change jobs, saying “Moving into an administrative assistant position was an exciting opportunity.” She is looking forward to “meeting a whole community of new families,” and most worried about winter driving.

Simon has been married 22 years and has three children.