New PR-B teachers, from left, Erica Richards, Cindy Grindahl, Rebecca Taray, Shannon Rivard (who has since resigned), Emilie Kalvig, Pam Mills, Tim Ramler, Katie Hokanson and Kyle Bergem.

Rebecca Taray

Hometown: Pine River

Past teaching experience/education: I attended Bemidji State University, majored in elementary education, and emphasized in preprimary education as well as communication arts and literature.

Where will you teach? at the elementary

Interests hobbies: Photography, running, camping, golfing, reading and swimming.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Teaching in a classroom I attended as a child. Working with Pine River-Backus students, families and staff.

Erica Jo Richards

Hometown: Pine River

Past teaching experience/education: I went to the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Majored in unified early childhood education and special education.

What grade will you teach? Kindergarten and coaching junior high volleyball.

Interests hobbies: Golf, volleyball, reading, exercise and spending time with my family and friends.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Spending time in the same elementary classrooms that I went to school in. Getting to know co-workers, community and students.

Kyle Bergem

Hometown: Jenkins

Past teaching experience/education: Warren/Alvarado/Oslo, Pequot Lakes and Jackson County Central

What grade will you teach? High school business

Interests hobbies: Fishing, boating and family time.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Getting to know the students and leading the yearbook.

Katie Hokanson

Hometown: Pine River

Past teaching experience/education: St. Cloud State University - social work, school and county work experience.

What grade will you teach? Youth and family service worker

Interests hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, antiquing, going to flea markets and reading.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? A new work experience, meeting staff and all the kids.

Cindy Grindahl

Hometown: Duluth

Past teaching experience/education: Behavior specialist working with adults with special needs throughout the state.

What grade will you teach? Behavior specialist.

Interests hobbies: Quilter, rock hound.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Getting to know the students and staff.

Tim Ramler

Hometown: St. Cloud

Past teaching experience/education: RTI instructor, Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (RTR) High School

What grade will you teach? Eighth grade geography and tenth grade history.

Interests hobbies: Lacrosse, baseball and hunting.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? I'm looking forward to getting to know the community and the school district. I love the area and am excited to teach both eighth and tenth graders.

Pam Mills

Hometown: Pine River-Backus

Past teaching experience/education: Last school year at New Beginnings/ALC.

What grade will you teach? Special education

Interests hobbies: Reading, spending time with my daycare children and my own children.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Working with staff and students.

Emilie Kalvig

Hometown: Blackduck

Past teaching experience/education: Graduated from University of Minnesota-Morris with major in mathematics and secondary education.

What grade will you teach? Seventh grade algebra, eighth grade algebra I, tenth grade geometry and ALC students.

Interests hobbies: Knitting, embroidery and other crafts, softball and watching the Minnesota Twins.

What are you most looking forward to at Pine River-Backus? Getting to know the students and the community.