Meet the new teachers in Basin schools

Big Horn County School District No. 4 has hired on eight staff members to start this school year, with familiar faces in different positions as well as several brand-new characters. 

Read about their backgrounds and goals, from their point of view. 

Sarah Bell – Third Grade

I was born and raised in Basin. I have a bachelor’s degree in social work and am currently seeking my master’s degree in Elementary Education from WGU. I have three boys. 

Life brought me back to my hometown roots, and I am excited to give back to the community I love so much!

I wanted to work with children and incorporate social-emotional learning within the daily curriculum instruction. I love watching the students learn new and exciting things!

Megan Kestner – Third through 12^th grade Art

I am originally from Basin. I got my BA in Art at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. After living in Oregon for eight years, I moved home and am raising my family here.

I want to have the space to help children discover creativity and problem solving… Sharing my passion with others and sparking their passion for art.

Ira Mickelson – Middle School Social Studies and Wrestling Coach

I was born and raised in Cody, taught and coached in Meeteetse. I love motorcycles and hunting.

I loved my teachers growing up and want kids to be excited to go to school. I love the Bighorn Basin. Doing a lot of coaching, I met a lot of Basin athletes and thought this school has drive. 

“I like showing students things I find interesting and watching the light bulb come on.

Sarah Hing – Pre-K

I grew up in Laramie and spent time in Cowley, Lovell and Byron growing up with my mother’s family. I attended LCCC and UW for Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I have taught in Douglas, Greybull and Sheridan and am entering my 10^th year teaching. 

I love being with kids and watching them learn! I also think it is extremely important dot the primary years in school to be fun and exciting so that students have strong foundations to help them throughout the rest of their education.

I always loved being in the area growing up. Loved the area even more and the people during my time teaching at Greybull Elementary School and could not wait to get back to the area.

Randi Lynn Noble – Grade 3-5
Special Education

I was a para at the high school for 10 years. I have a 20-year old special needs son and two grown daughters. My husband and I have been married for 28 years and we have six grandchildren. 

I became a para because it was a perfect fit with my son’s schedule and I fell in love with the kids and education. This has been my home and my community for all of my life. I love building relationships with the students and seeing them find success and growth!

Dana Romriell – High School Special Education

I started as a paraprofessional for many years, then I went back to school and finished my Special Education degree. I grew up in Lovell and five years ago, I moved home to the area to be closer to my family. I have adult kids in Wyoming, Idaho and Texas. 

I always knew I would be a teacher, but having a daughter with special needs drew me into Special Education… I’m a firm believer that every pebble, no matter how small, creates a ripple. Being a teacher allows you to create a small ripple in a student’s life that may someday become a wave in someone else’s. 

Aleah Russell – CTE Ag, Paintrock FFA Advisor

I just graduated from the University of Wyoming, where I was involved in a collegiate ag ed club and worked as a butcher apprentice for some time. I grew up in rural California and was involved in 4-H and FFA all of my life. Growing up, I primarily showed sheep and beef as well as rode horses.

Growing up in ag, I developed a passion and fondness for the industry as well as an understanding that it needs to be protected. What better way to do so than by continuing to learn all about it and share that knowledge and passion with others?

I love watching things click in my students’ minds as they begin to grasp what they’re learning. Watching the kids grow in their skillsets and interact with each other is wonderful as well.

Rick Wheeler – CTE Woods

I was born and raised here in Basin; graduated from Basin in 1984. I have been a teacher for 35 years… After retiring from teaching at Burlington, I decided I wasn’t finished. 

I really enjoy working with students, especially teaching them a skilled trade… There are no two days the same, there is always a different challenge not just day-to-day but student by student.