County Schools Welcome New Additions to Staff

Malta High School

Hannah Lane

Hannah Lane is a 5th-generation Montanan, born and raised in Billings. Having spent hundreds of hours on stage in various choirs, musicals, and plays through elementary, middle school, high school, and beyond, this is her calling! After graduating from Billings Senior High with honors, Hannah began her college career, with a music scholarship, at MSU in Bozeman studying Music Education.

Spring of 2017 she graduated from MSU and obtained her first teaching job at Middle Creek Montessori teaching music to preschool through 6th grade, and being the lower elementary assistant teacher.

When spring of 2020 hit, and many video/Zoom classes later, Hannah decided to take a break from teaching and moved to Ashland, Oregon, for the summer with her fiancé, two cats, and one dog.

Once refreshed (the ocean helped a lot with that!), and back in Montana she and Dillon decided they needed another adventure, and moved to Malta after 6 years in Bozeman! Hannah hadn't been in Malta a week before she got the call from Shelley Dunbar asking, "Can you sub tomorrow?". With moving boxes not yet unpacked, the house barely put together, and subbing paperwork not even in the system yet, Hannah began subbing at the Elementary school.

The subbing gig turned into a long-term subbing position, which turned into a full-time Library position that finally turned into a full-time music position! Hannah will forever be grateful for Shelley "making her" come in and sub that January morning! Ms. Hannah is excited to provide the students of Malta a fun and exciting year of music!

Rachel Mortenson

Rachel was born in Portland, Oregon, to Errol and Betty Riley. At the age of two, the family moved to Powell Butte, Oregon, where she was raised on a 250 cow-calf ranch.  Rachel graduated from Madras, Oregon, moved to Malta, Montana in the fall, and started classes at Montana State University-Northern (MSU-N) Spring of 1995 where she obtained two Associate of Science degrees in Business Administration and Agriculture Technology. 

On August 30, 1997, she married Paul Mortenson (celebrating 25 years), they have four children Riley Ann (24), Raina (21), Parker, and Pierce (20), and three dogs Duchess (11), Axel (6) and King (6). Riley lives in Saco with her fiancé Chris Brekke (an October 15th wedding).  Raina is attending college at the University of Montana Western to obtain a Health and Human Performance Degree in Kinesiology.

Parker and Pierce graduated from MSU-N in May with their Certificate in Welding and are currently working for Double R Trucking in Havre (their uncle). The Mortenson's live north of Dodson on the family farm where they raise both winter and spring Wheat, hay barley, peas, and a cow-calf operation. 

She teaches Personal Finance, 6th Grade Keyboarding, 8th Grade Computers, and high school Computer Applications.  In January, she will start back to school taking a few business classes through MSU-N and then transferring to the University of Montana Western to finish up and obtain her Business Computers Education Degree.  Rachel enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, reading (Christian Romance, Self-Help, Western Romance (B.J. Daniels is her favorite author)), riding horses, crafts, decorating, and spending quality time with family and friends. 

Desiree Egger

Back to her familiar surroundings while growing up, Desiree Egger is getting warm feelings from everyone in her life. A graduate of Whitewater High School Class of 2003, she is also a graduate of Minot State. Her teaching career began with student teaching in Malta in 2007; she moved on to teach K-12 PE/Health in Brockton Schools for one year. Her career led her to continue with those classes from 2008-2022. She also served as the Activities Director and Head Track Coach for 12 years. Six years she served (no pun intended) as Head Volleyball Coach for six-year, in addition to multiple other teaching positions.

In 2022 she was voted the Teacher of the Year. Making her way back to Montana, she is the new Athletic Director at the Malta Schools.

In 2011, in Malta, she married Dave Egger and they have a son, Braxton in 5th grade; a daughter, Kyle, in third grade; and a son in first grade, Nixon.

She has family in Whitewater and Malta communities and would enjoy meeting you.

Whitewater Schools

Magnolia McCann

Magnolia McCann, now teaching at Whitewater Schools, hails from Billings, where prior to teaching here, worked at the Billings Gazette.  In 2015, she relocated to Malta, where, until 2018, she was employed as a paraprofessional with Malta Public schools.   Upon completion of her Bachelor's Degree from Western Governors University, she was employed with Harlem Schools as both a Kindergarten and Special Ed and will teach Special Ed and Title 1 in WW.

For fun, she enjoys crafting, Science Fiction, spending time with friends and family and cooking.  Magnolia is married to Kelly McCann and has two children, Malachi and Kaille, and three step-children, James, Noah, and Kinsey.  Since last December, they have been proud grandparents of a little boy, named Sawyer Golden.

Magnolia states, "I know the reputation of Whitewater schools, and I look forward to a great year teaching some great kids."

Dodson Schools

Angela Richards

Angela Richards arrived in July as the new K-12 Building Principal. She brings a plethora of experience and education to the school district. Having been an educator and school psychologist for over two decades, she looks forward to the setting that Class C has to offer. Her culmination of experience and education will be invaluable to the Dodson School District. Welcome, Angela!

Vanessa Mitchell

Vanessa Mitchell joins Dodson School as the new Administrative Assistant. Vanessa brings a solid skill set and strong managerial knowledge to the Dodson team. This marks her fourth year with the Dodson School District, so she is familiar with the school, staff, and students. "We are fortunate to have her" expressed the Principal. Welcome, Vanessa!

Caitlin Henry

Caitlin Henry feels right at home in the halls of Dodson Public Schools. Caitlin joins Dodson as a paraprofessional. As a former Dodson graduate, Caitlin holds a vast knowledge of the Native American culture and community. She has positive energy, loves kids, and has an interest in becoming an educator. Stop by the school and welcome Caitlin!

JR Araya

JR Araya comes all the way from the Philippines to teach in Dodson. He has 11 years of experience as an elementary teacher. He is very excited to be here in Dodson as the new 5th-grade teacher. "JR brings to us a bright light of positivity and optimistic attitude," stated Ms. Richards. Welcome to Dodson and Montana, JR!

Chanel Weaver

Chanel Weaver is a new PE teacher in Dodson. She has been a paraprofessional and substitute teacher for the past two years. Her energy, positivity, and goal-oriented mindset will bring innovative ideas to the PE program.  Her family, the Omar Lett's, reside in Malta. 

Editor's Note: More Teacher Profiles will be published in the coming weeks. Many were unavailable for this week's issue.