Three new staff have joined Pioneer School District at the half-year point. They include Delevan Elementary psychologist Steven DeGroff, high school special education teacher Suzanne Rioch, and middle school health teacher Brandi Pettit.
They provided the following bio information:
BRANDI PETTIT - "I am very excited to be here at Pioneer. I grew up in Strykersville and attended Holland High School, so coming here to Pioneer brings me closer to home.
"Pioneer also allows me more opportunities to grow professionally and be a big participant in the school community. Both of my parents graduated from Pioneer in 1987; my mom Coleen was actually a former field hockey athlete under Jana Landahl (retired Pioneer Middle School health teacher for whom Ms. Pettit has taken over).
ABOVE: Brandi Pettit.
"My path to Pioneer started with four years of undergraduate study at Canisius College with a dual major in Physical Education and Health. I was a four-year varsity athlete on the cross country and track teams at Canisius as well.
"After graduating from Canisius I moved out to La Crosse Wisconsin to attend the Universtiy of Wisconsin at La Crosse in pursuit of my Master's degree. I taught PK-6 grade Physical Education at a Catholic school while I was in Wisconsin.
"Upon receiving my Master's degree I moved back to Western New York and was hired at Forestville School District. I have spent the last 3-1/2 years at Forestville teaching middle and high school Health and Physical Education . While at Forestville I was volunteering as a coach in cross country and track, and I look forward to continuing to coach here at Pioneer in a variety of sports.
"I am thrilled to be a part of the Pioneer community and work with the teachers and students of the district."
STEVEN DEGROFF - "I have been a school psychologist for nine years and I'm excited for the opportunity to join the Pioneer family.
ABOVE: Steven DeGroff.
“I was born and raised in Western New York. I worked in Vermont for two years, and then in Salamanca for 6-1/2 years.
“I just started working at Delevan on January 6, have hit the ground running, and am learning so much from everyone here already. Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly, and I cannot wait to just continue to grow and support the teachers, staff, students, and families in this community. Thank you to everyone in the district for the opportunity and the support!”
SUZANNE RIOCH - "I grew up in Victor near Rochester and graduated from Nazareth College, earning degrees in Art and Special Education.
ABOVE: Suzanne Rioch.
“I worked in special education art for about five years and then in special education. I now live in Springville in a house that I designed and is totally green; it has geothermal heating, solar panels that collect energy and Tesla Power Walls to store the energy.
"Me and my husband Jon have five grown children who live across the country and whom we love to visit.
“I love to read, ski, cook, do artwork, quilting and dance. I am at a great place in my life to enjoy teaching and I feel honored to be a part of the Pioneer District.”