Dr. Kathleen Napholz
Dr. Napholz has attended DePaul University, Roosevelt University, and Walden University. Kathleen currently holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Master of Arts Degree, and a PhD. Her fifteen years of teaching experience includes Queen of the Rosary Preschool, as well as District 211 Alternative School before joining the staff of the Dakota High School in 1995. Dr. Napholz is the Language Department Unit Leader and is involved in the community as a volunteer for the Friends Forever Humane Society.
Mrs. Christine Moen
Christine believes in teaching students to love to read-not just how to read. Because of her efforts to nurture the love of reading, she received the ICARE for Reading Award from the Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education in 2003 and the Illinois Reading Council’s Reading Educator of the Year award in 2005. In her 24 years in the classroom, Christine has taught in Wisconsin, Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois. She is the author of ten professional books for teachers and one children’s book. Christine has been a member of IRC since 1991, and is an active member of ICARE (Illinois Council for Affective Reading Education). She is also on the review and nominating committee for the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers’ Book Award. She is currently in her 11th year at Dakota and teaches 7th and 8th grade language arts. In addition to her classroom responsibilities she is also the grade 7-12 literacy mentor. She is an adjunct associate professor of education at Rockford College where she teaches a course in young adult literature. Most importantly, she is a wife to her husband Tom, mother to her children Ruth and Alex, mother-in-law to Morgan and a deliriously happy grandmother to Katelyn!
Mrs. Michelle Shippy
Mrs. Shippy has earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from Rockford College with a minor in Secondary Education. She has also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Library Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She joined the Dakota High School Staff in 2000 and has served as a class sponsor and varsity scholastic bowl coach. Michelle is also currently co-coaching our school’s speech team.
Mrs. Amanda Hartzell
Mrs. Hartzell has earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Western Illinois University with a minor in Professional Writing and a Master of Arts in Teaching Degree from Rockford College. Amanda joined the Dakota High School Staff in 2006 and currently teaches 8th Grade Language Arts, High School Language I, and Application of Literature. She also serves as the Fresh/Soph Girl’s Basketball Coach.
Mr. Darin Davis
Mr. Davis has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Western Illinois University and a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University. Mr. Davis’s teaching experience includes several years working with mentally handicapped students at St. Francis in Freeport, Illinois, before coming to Dakota as an elementary teacher in 1997. Since moving to the high school in 2005 Mr. Davis has been teaching seventh grade language arts.
Mrs. Holly Chrisman
Mrs. Chrisman has earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Judson University and a Master of Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. Mrs. Chrisman is in her thirteenth year of teaching. Holly recently joined the Dakota Jr./Sr. High School Staff in 2007 and currently teaches 8th Grade Language Arts and Study Skills. Mrs. Chrisman also serves as the Dakota High School Student Council Advisor.
Mrs. Lexy Johnson
Mrs. Johnson has earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Clarke College as well a Master of Arts Degree from Illinois State University. In her second year at the Dakota High School Mrs. Johnson teaches Spanish I, II, II, and IV. In addition to her classroom responsiblities she also serves as the advisor to the class of 2011.
Ms. Sarah Millen
Ms. Millen is in her first year at Dakota and is currently teaching Language Arts and Study Skills. She has earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Illinois University with a major in English and a minor in Communications. Sarah also serves an the freshman class sponsor.