Teachers
Mr. Follman - JH History
Classes Teaching:
US History I (1492-1865)
US History II (1865-Present)
History Through Film
World History
Future Explorations
"I have been a teacher since 2019 at Astoria Junior High and I graduated from Western Illinois University in the same year. I have a passion for teaching history. I look at history as one big never-ending story with Action, Drama, Romance, Battles, and all the other fun things that make up a great story.
My favorite topics to teach are the American Civil War, World War 2, and Ancient Greece. "
Mrs. Hollenback - JH Science & Reading/Language
Classes Teaching: 6-8 Science and 6th Grade Reading & Language
"After teaching 2nd grade here in Astoria for a decade, I got the chance of a lifetime! I get to teach SCIENCE for the better part of my day! I will still get to teach my STEAM Lab students on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and have room for the projects we will be working on. This new adventure I hope will be as exciting for my students as it is for me! As a newly minted empty nester, I am more apt to call these students my own!"
Mrs. Gale - JH Special Education
Classes Teaching:
6th Grade English and Reading
7th Grade English & Reading
8th Grade English, Reading, and Math
JH Journalism
"I have been a special education teacher for 7 years - 5 of which has been in Astoria Junior High. I currently have my bachelors from SIU Carbondale in Special Education as well as my masters degree from ISU in Special Education. I also have a certificate in Curriculum Adaptation. I chose to become a teacher to make an impact in students' lives and show them that they are capable of so much more than they even know!"
Ms. Koopman- JH Math
Classes Teaching:
7th Grade Math, 8th Grade Math, 7th Grade Language Arts, 8th Grade Language Arts
"I am originally from Minnesota where I earned my Bachelors in Psychology and Head Coaching Certification from the University of Minnesota. I worked in a couple of housing non-profits and volunteered for ministries, but for the most part I was a stay at home mom to my 5 kids. In 2019 I ventured back into the workforce and started teaching Drug and Alcohol Prevention classes to area Jr High students. I quickly fell in love with being in the classroom and wanted to be able to be in a school investing in students full time. I was able to get my teaching certification in Special Education from Blackburn College in 2021. I worked in Rushville for 2 years as an Elementary Special Education teacher. I am excited to be back working with Jr. High students. I love all things Psychology and Mental/Emotional Health so I am really excited about our SEL curriculum in Astoria."
Mrs. Welscher - JH Math/Language Arts
Classes Teaching:
6th Grade Math & 8th Grade Language Arts
"This is my 12th year teaching in Astoria. I began teaching at Astoria in 2012. I taught special education in the elementary for nine years before becoming the special education director in 2020. I currently teach 6th-grade math and 8th-grade language arts. I received my bachelor's degree and K-9 certificate in 2011 from Greenville University. I decided quickly that special education was my passion and returned to Greenville University with my master's degree in special education. In 2020, I attended National Louis University and earned my certification as a special education director. I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach in a small school that allows me to explore my passions as both a special education director and a teacher."
Ms. Quigley - Art
Classes Teaching:
"My name is Christy Quigley, I attended Spoon River College and Western Illinois University for my degree in Art Education. I am currently in my 6th year of teaching where I have tried to become a teacher who is a safe place for kids to explore creativity and enjoy being themselves! I look forward to exploring the world of art with everyone and seeing each of your kids' unique creativity flourish!"
Mrs. Thiner - Music
Classes Teaching:
K -8th Music
"I'm Shaina Thiner and I am so grateful to be able to teach in the district where I live with my husband and family. I graduated from Hannibal LaGrange College in 2009. I began teaching that fall as a tutor for a family living and working as missionaries in Haiti. I tutored their three kids and worked for the mission for six years before moving back to the U.S. and working in several different para- positions in the Macomb schools. I began teaching elementary music at VIT last year and loved it, so I am excited that I now get to do that in my hometown as well! Music is so dear to me and I look forward to helping each of the kids find joy in it in their own ways."
Mrs. Friedrich - JH PE / Health
Classes Teaching: 6-8 PE and 7th Grade Health
"Greetings! My name is Mandy Friedrich and I am currently in my twenty-third year of teaching. I have a Bachelor's from MacMurray College in Physical Education, and a Masters' from Walden University. I am married, have one son, and reside in Havana. I spent 15 years teaching middle school health in Jacksonville, IL at Turner Junior High, which later became Jacksonville Middle School. I love the atmosphere of Astoria and really enjoy the small school experience."
Mrs. Wesley - Special Education
Classes Teaching:
"Hi! Mrs. Wesley here! This is my 16th year of teaching, and my 4th year at Astoria. I, myself, graduated from AHS in 1990.
I went on to graduate from SRC with my AA, and then onto SIU-C to graduate with a bachelor's in psychology in 1994. I went on to get a master's in educational psychology in 1998. I proceeded to begin working as a substitute teacher, and decided to go back to Illinois State University to get my teaching certificate and a master's in Special Education in 2002.
I have taught in Chicago, the south suburbs, and in Beardstown. I also spent 5 years working as a behavior specialist with adults with developmental disabilities. All of these adventures have conspired to bring me full circle, back to the place I started from, except now I get to go into the teachers' lounge!
In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family, read books, and drink coffee. I have a 6 year old daughter who goes to school here and is in first grade. My parents live just outside Summum, and it's great to have family so close by! I look forward to many years with my Astoria teaching family!"