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Paynesville Press - Sept. 5, 2002

Two new teachers start at high school

By Bonnie Jo Hanson

Melissa Bergeson
Melissa Bergeson Melissa Bergeson has joined the staff at Paynesville Area High School as a part-time chemistry teacher. She will be teaching chemistry to mixed classes of juniors and seniors.

Bergeson, who lives in New London, is new to teaching. She recently received bachelor of science in biology, with a minor in chemistry, from St. Cloud State University.

Previously, she worked as a medical technologist at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar. She became a teacher after thinking about it for years. She decided that she missed school.

Although originally from Chaska, Bergeson and her husband, Steve, have lived in New London for five years. They have three children: Bridgett, 11, Megan, 10, and Nicholas, 8.







Mike Guenther
Mike Guenther Mike Guenther began teaching the land transportation class at PAHS on Tuesday.

Guenther is a Paynesville native and a 1991 graduate of PAHS himself. Although he has never been a teacher, he believes he has plenty of experience in the automotive field.

After graduating from high school, he attended St. Cloud Technical College, where he earned degrees in both auto service technology and auto body. He has worked in the automotive field ever since and is a certified ASE Master Auto Technician.

Guenther has a temporary limited license to teach.

He wants his students to learn the basics of how an internal combustion engine works, how to deal with an automotive emergency, and how to perform vehicle maintenance. He also will teach troubleshooting and touch on electronics.

In addition to teaching, he will also supervise VICA.

Guenther has worked in his own shop for the past four years and enjoys restoring cars. He said he has always wanted to teach and he hopes he can make the class fun for his students.



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