Ellsworth Community School District is pleased to welcome the following new staff members for the 2026-27 school year.
Jacob Ball
Position: Second grade teacher
Hometown: Lino Lakes, …
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Ellsworth Community School District is pleased to welcome the following new staff members for the 2026-27 school year.
Position: Second grade teacher
Hometown: Lino Lakes, Minn.
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy playing volleyball and basketball, reading and watching movies.
Family: I have a brother and a sister who are both younger. My brother Timmy is a junior at Bethel University in Minnesota. My sister Katie is a freshman at UW-River Falls. We also have two dogs names Mikko and Reya.
What are you looking forward to this year? I’m really looking forward to getting to know the students and families of Ellsworth.
Position: Elementary paraprofessional
Hometown: Maiden Rock
Education: Century College
Hobbies/interests: Anything artsy, fall camping, fishing and spending time with my grandkids, vintage furniture shopping to re-do rooms in our 1900 farmhouse!
Family: My husband and I met in sixth grade. We’re a merged family with eight kids and we have eight grandkids from 2 months to 13 years old.
What are you looking forward to this year? Meeting all the new staff and students.
Position: Special education teacher
Hometown/education: I am originally from Ukraine, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and I later completed my master’s as a Reading Specialist at Fort Hays State University. I currently live in Eau Galle.
Family: I am married and have a daughter.
Hobbies/interests: Outside of the classroom, we love traveling together and
experiencing new cultures/things. In my free time, I also enjoy listening to audiobooks and doing any type of activities (especially the ones that involve competition).
What are you looking forward to this year? I am most looking forward to meeting my amazing students this year, building positive relationships, and becoming an active part of our school community. I am excited to grow as an educator and make a meaningful difference in my students’ lives.
Position: English teacher
Hometown: River Falls
Education: UW-La Crosse
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy rock climbing, weightlifting, hiking, reading and spending time with my friends and family.
Family: Both of my parents are Ellsworth High School alumni and most of my extended family also attended Ellsworth.
What are you looking forward to this year? This year I am looking forward to getting to know my students and being a part of a great work community!
Position: School counselor
Hometown: Elk Mound
Education: UW-Stout
Hobbies/interests: Disc golf, almost all sports and collecting vinyl records
Family: I come from a loving family that includes two brothers and two sisters. I also am an uncle to a wicked pair of a niece and nephew.
What are you looking forward to this year? Being able to dedicate myself to place and learning more about the area.
Position: Special education teaching assistant/Panther Kids Club staff
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: UW-Stout
Hobbies/interests: I enjoy any opportunity to spend time outdoors, travel and create lasting memories with family and friends.
What are you looking forward to this year? Getting to know my students, working with the staff and making a positive impact throughout the school year.
Position: Special education teaching assistant
Hometown: Red Wing, Minn.
Hobbies/interests: Dance, crafts
What are you looking forward to this year? Getting to know everyone.
Position: High school math teacher
Hometown: Hammond
Education: UW-River Falls
Hobbies/interests: Camping, hiking, dog walking, music (band), watching hockey (go Wild!)
Family: I come from a family of teachers, and they inspired me to pursue education as well.
What are you looking forward to this year? I look forward to getting to know students and getting settled into my first year of teaching. I also really look forward to getting involved in the community.
Position: Speech and language pathology assistant
Hometown: Ellsworth
Education: Minnesota State – Mankato (partial); currently at UW-Eau Claire for my bachelor’s in speech, language and hearing sciences
Hobbies/interests: Teaching dance, coaching the Ellsworth dance team, and spending time with my family and friends and my puppy Tucker.
What are you looking forward to this year? Getting to know the students, building relationships within the school community and learning more about the field from the experienced staff in the district. It’s especially meaningful to begin my career in the same district where I grew up.
Position: Special education teaching assistant
Hometown: Ellsworth
Hobbies/interests: Car shows, reading, fishing
Family: I am married to my wonderful husband and we have a cat named Minnie.
What are you looking forward to this year? Becoming part of the Ellsworth School Dstrict family and making new connections!
Position: Middle school choir teacher
Hometown: Clear Lake
Education: UW-River Falls for undergrad, UW-Madison for master’s
Hobbies/interests: Spending time with my niece and nephew, shopping, reading, playing piano, singing
Family: My wife, Maggie Woletz, is a 2019 graduate of Ellsworth School District and a special education teacher in Hudson. We live with our three pets Simba, Nala and Koda in River Falls.
What are you looking forward to this year? Making new connections and making music with my students!
Compiled by Sarah Nigbor
