South Dakota

Pictures by Ashley

Barb Hansen
High School Principal/English


I am extremely excited that my career in education has brought me back to Hurley once again. I grew up on a small farm in Murdo, South Dakota, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Northern State University in 1993. In the fall of that same year, I began teaching English classes in grades 8-12. Five years later, I joined the world of commuters and taught at Vermillion High School. Through a unique program at the University of South Dakota, I earned my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2001. Shortly thereafter, I accepted a position as an Education Service Agency representative, developing and providing professional development for teachers in southeastern South Dakota. This past summer, I completed the courses required for an endorsement in elementary and secondary administration. I am currently pursuing a specialist degree in administration.
For the past fourteen years, my family and I have called Hurley our home. My husband, Bill, teaches and coaches in the Hurley School District. Kristian is a junior at SDSU and proudly serves as a member of the South Dakota National Guard. Jasmyn is a sophomore, Logan is in the fourth grade, Tori is a second grader, and Luke is in kindergarten.
Along with my duties as junior high and high school principal, I am teaching 5th grade, 8th grade and Senior English classes. It’s great to be back!

Calissa Engler
Kindergarten

Hello I am Calissa Engler. I grew up on a farm and went to school in a small town of McClusky located in the center of North Dakota. I attended Minot State University in Minot, ND. I graduated in December of 2005 with a degree in Elementary Education, Kindergarten Endorsement, and Reading Credential. After I graduated I worked at the Minot Head Start in a one/two year old classroom for the past two years. My husband is getting his doctorate in school psychology at USD and that is what brought me to the town of Hurley. In my spare time I enjoy to scrapbook, golf and bake.

Erik Sommervold
History/Social Studies/Geography
PE/Psychology/Sociology

I was born in Sioux Falls and raised in Alcester, except for one year in which I resided in LeMars(1st grade year). Throughout the raising era, I lived on a farm outside of Alcester with my mother, father and played/fought with my two brothers. Fast-forward a couple decades and I have begun creating my own family with my wife Sophia and daughter Cameryn. If you have read the section about my education you know I recently graduated from the University of South Dakota. While attending school in Vermillion, I was the assistant boys basketball coach for Alcester-Hudson High School for two years. We still currently live in Alcester, but are in the process of packing and will move to Hurley in the middle of August. We are really excited to be moving to Hurley and I am excited to be part of the Hurley School District. I suppose time will become much more valuable when school starts, because I will be teaching Social Studies, assisting Coach Meyer with football, and in the winter I am head boys basketball coach.

Lindsay Palmer
6th Grade /3rd Grade Science

I grew up on a ranch near Ree Heights, SD with my parents and three siblings. I graduated from Miller High School and went on to attend Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, where I received my B.A. in elementary education.  My husband Daniel and I recently moved from Fargo, N.D. where he worked at NDSU and I substitute taught. Daniel now travels to USD for classes as he works toward his doctorate, and I am enjoying teaching the sixth graders here in Hurley. In my spare time I enjoy playing piano, guitar, and other instruments, singing, dancing, being outdoors, and spending time with my family

Leo Dunham
Librarian

I grew up  on a farm South of Iroquois SD
 I received a Bachelor degree at DWU with a History Major and History Secondary Education Minor with a Library endorsement from Northern State University .I started as Librarian at Viborg in 1993-. Ilive in Viborg on Mainstreet. I am a member: Danish Days Committee and Lions Club.

Tracey Swenson
3rd & 4th Grade

My name is Tracey Swenson. I have just started my first year here in Hurley as the third/fourth grade teacher. I am currently commuting from Sioux Falls, where I live with my two sons. We will soon be moving into a new home in Baltic, where my sons Ben and Christian are already attending school as tenth and eighth graders.
I have been on a two year sabbatical from teaching due to extenuating circumstances in my family, and am excited to be back in the classroom. Most recently, I have been working for Esurance and Command Management Services. Prior to that I was involved in education for seven years, having worked for the Sioux Falls School District as a Site Coordinator for one of their after-school enrichment programs, a K-8 one-room school teacher near Philip, SD, a private preschool teacher, and a tutor and education assistant for the Sioux Falls School District.
I am looking forward to a wonderful year here in Hurley!

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