New to the Wayne School District this year are high school principal Jeff Fink and 10 new teachers.

Teaching at the elementary school are Tiffany Ervin, Johannah Daugherty, Lisa Autry and Lauren Miner.

Teaching at the middle school are Jake Brazell, Matthew Bless, Christine McKinney and  Dallan Berglan.

New teachers at the high school are Brandi Smith and Andrea Wartchow.

Fink comes from Purcell where he has been a teacher for 29 years.

He and his wife, Allison, have five children, Gunner, Bostin and Ryker Fink and Brody and Andy Anderson.

He is a Mustang High School graduate and attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and East Central University.

“I wanted to advance into a leadership role,” Fink said. “I am a family man that loves spending time with them. I like to exercise, hunt and attend Goldsby Church.

Ervin has served as a paraprofessional at Wayne for the past four years while earning her teaching degree.

She and her husband, Terrell, have been married for 19 years. They have two children, Addison, 17, and Alex 12. She is a graduate of Paoli High School and Western Governors University.

“I have loved working with the elementary students over the past four years and I am so excited about my new position as a fifth grade teacher,” she said.

Daugherty will teach special education in third and first grades. Married to her husband, Wade, Daugherty is a graduate of Agra High School and earned her bachelors degree from Oklahoma State. She has masters degrees from Southeastern Oklahoma State and the University of Arizona Global.

“I love to work with students who have challenging behaviors to see the growth and changes they can make,” she said. “ Also just love teaching special education.”

In her spare time, she likes to spend time with Wade and their dogs, hiking and doing photography.

Autry has two sons, Kyzer and Kipton. She is a graduate of Maysville High School and Oklahoma State University.

She previously taught at Washington Elementary School.

“This is where I started my teaching career and I’m excited to be back,” Autry said.

Miner will teach fifth grade math and science. She is a graduate of Southmoore High School and the University Science and Arts of Oklahoma.

Miner, who is married to Matthew Miner, enjoys reading, crafting and cheering on the Denver Broncos.

“I am excited to help students grow and to be apart of the Wayne community,” she said. 

Brazell, who has been a paraprofessional, is a Wayne graduate and a graduate of East Central University.

He will teach world geography and U.S. History in grades six, seven and eight.

“I just graduated from college and I have been wanting to move up from my paraprofessional position to a middle school teacher,” he confirmed.

Brazell will also be an assistant coach for football, basketball and baseball.

Bless will teach sixth and eighth grade science.

He is a Wayne High School and ECU graduate. He is engaged to Nayeli Delgado.

He previously taught in the Stonewall School District.

McKinney is a graduate of Purcell High School and ECU and will teach English.

“I want to make a difference in the educational lives of the next generation,” she said.

Berglan is a graduate of Lexington High School and ECU.

He will teach sixth, seventh and eighth grade reading.

“The opportunity at Wayne was something I couldn’t pass up,” Berglan said. “The values Wayne has fit perfectly with my own.”

Smith and her husband, Brennon, have three children, Kaylan, Aurora and Leon.

She is an Asher High School grad and will be a paraprofessional in special education.

“My first substitute job was in special education and I instantly fell in love with what I do,” she said.

“I love being outside with my family and my three dogs,” Smith continued. “Odds are you will see me with an iced coffee every day. I’m super excited for a new year.”

Wartchow and her husband, Billy, have two children, Bray and Konlee.

Wartchow will teach family and consumer sciences and be the FCCLA advisor.

She is a graduate of Moore High School and Oklahoma State University.

“I wanted to bring back the family and consumer sciences program to Wayne,” Wartchow said. “It is essential that students learn basic life skills that help them navigate everyday life.

“I am very excited to be a Wayne Bulldog,” she concluded.