KHS added seven new staff members to help improve the school environment.

These new staff teach, protect, and help keep the school running efficiently.

Ms. Hattie Molina 

Ms. Hattie Molina is a geometry and algebra teacher at KHS.

She has worked various jobs in childcare and education, though this is her first year working in a public school.

Ever since she was young she enjoyed numbers.

“I have always loved math,” Molina said. “It was my favorite subject in high school and my passion continued through college.”

Molina was born and raised in Davison, so when searching for jobs she was looking to stay in the area, making KHS a perfect fit for her.

Molina enjoys helping students with math.

“I love my job. Working with my geometry and algebra kids is very rewarding,” Molina said. “I am really enjoying the opportunity to watch students grow and build relationships with them to help them better understand the material.”

She always knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age.

“There was never just one thing that made me want to be a math teacher,” Molina said. “There is a long list that includes teachers in the past, family members that are teachers, and my love for learning.”

Mr. Nick VanDuser

Mr. Nick VanDuser is the accounting teacher at KHS.

Before working at KHS, VanDuser earned his degree at Alma College.

“I just graduated from college last fall and was given the opportunity to teach here,” VanDuser said. “Of course, I had my run of summer jobs and on-campus jobs while in college, but KHS is my first teaching job.”

He had many passions growing up, but helping others just happened to be at the top of the list.

Van Duser spent 11 weeks of the 2017-18 school year as a long-term sub for the accounting class at KHS.

He said he is enjoying his first year as a staff member at the high school.

“I like the community and even though I’m frustrated sometimes, I really like the students,” VanDuser said. “I also really like my co-workers. It’s a great environment to work in.”

Mr. Stephen Riselay 

Mr. Stephen Riselay is a special education teacher at KHS.

Before working at Kearsley, he was a teacher for Valley High School for three years, Saginaw for three years, and Beecher for 11 years.

Before becoming a special education teacher, Riselay was a history teacher for three years out of his 18 total years of experience.

Riselay likes teaching children with greater needs.

“In special education, the kids need extra support,” Riselay said. “When you go into teaching you like to make a difference. I feel like I make a better difference as a special education teacher than I did as a history teacher.

Riselay loves his job at Kearsley.

“I love working here,” Riselay said. “The students are great, and the staff is great. I enjoy every day here.”

Dr. Rebecca Vannest

Dr. Rebecca Vannest is a counselor at KHS.

Before joining the staff, Vannest worked for two years apiece at Frankenmuth and Davison school.  She also used to have her own dance studio.

Vannest said she came to Kearsley because the district has a good reputation.

“I’ve always admired Kearsley’s really strong counseling staff,” Vannest said. “I felt like I could really make a difference with the counselors here.”

Vannest enjoys her job for unique reasons.

“I really like working here,” Vannest said. “I really have found the students to be grateful, hard working, and appreciative of what I do for them.”

Mr. James Duplanty 

Mr. James Duplanty is Kearsley’s director of security.

Duplanty first worked at Armstrong Middle School and enjoys working at KHS.

“I work for a great district where I see and meet great people who strive to help others,” Duplanty said. “I enjoy seeing many of our students who came from Armstrong where I started, and seeing their transition into adults is rewarding. I enjoy being here everyday.”

Before working at Kearsley, Duplanty worked for the Burton Police Department.

He worked in patrol, traffic enforcement, firearms training, high risk entry, and as a school resource officer.

Duplanty retired after 30 years in law enforcement, and he is also an Army veteran.

“I was in the Army, and I was what they call an E-5, or a sergeant,” Duplanty said.

He served as a military police dog handler from 1973 to 1977.

He began working for Kearsley schools in 2012 after his retirement from law enforcement.

In addition, he still works part-time as an officer for Genesee County Parks.

Mr. Glenn Anderson

Mr. Glenn Anderson is a security guard for KHS.

Anderson likes his work environment.

“I love it. The kids are cool,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a nice place to work.”

But he also said his focus is on keeping the school safe.

“We aren’t here to give kids a hard time,” Anderson said. “We are here for their protection.”

Before becoming a guard for Kearsley, Anderson worked for Genesee County maintenance as a night watchman doing security work.

He also worked at the Genesee County Jail, sheriff’s department, and the Genesee County Courthouse taking care of maintenance in the building.

He worked the longest at the Genesee County Courthouse, retiring in 2009 after 29 and a half years.

Anderson’s son told him about the job opening, and he decided to take it.

“My son from Florida called me and told me there was a job opening,” Anderson said. “I wasn’t trying to be a security guard. It just came about.”

Ms. Paulette Day

Ms. Paulette Day also works security  at the high school.

Before working in the United States, Day worked in  Nottingham, England.

Day worked in Child Protective Services in England  and in the care system working with kids.

After 22 years in the care system in England, she decided she wanted to move to America for work.

Day has always had a passion for working with young people.

“I’ve always worked with children,” Day said. “I love children.”

She moved to New York City and was a nanny there for three to four years.

After being a nanny, she moved to Michigan and worked for Grand Blanc as a bus aid.

She then took a job offer for a security guard at Kearsley because she wanted to try something new.

“I wanted to do something different but still work with kids,” Day said. “I also needed more hours.”

Day likes KHS so far.

“I enjoy working here. It’s a very nice school,” Day said. “The students are very polite. They say good morning to me and talk to me. I like that they talk to us security guards.”