Staff Directory
STAFF | SUPPORT STAFF | INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST
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Richard Swanberg, Principal Mr. Swanberg was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating high school, he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from California State University, Chico and a Master’s Degree in School Administration for the University of Phoenix. He is currently in his 22nd year with the school district. He taught for 10 years prior to becoming a principal. This is his fifth year at Kate Smith ES. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading mystery novels and cheering on the San Diego Chargers.
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Tawnya Horsey, School Counselor Born and raised in Reno, Mrs. Horsey has travelled and studied extensively throughout Latin America. She attended colleges in Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Chile and went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Education from UNR. After 7 years of teaching high school Spanish, she completed her Master’s degree in Educational Counseling and was excited to join Kate Smith E.S in 2007. She has a two-year old daughter, Sofia and a newborn son, Connor.
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Mrs. Katrina Fries was born and raised in Northwest Reno. She earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and a Master's Degree in K-12 School Counseling from the University of Phoenix and is Nationally Certified. She has taught English and French at the secondary level prior to becoming an elementary school counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and participating in outdoor activities. |
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Daisy Frye, Administrative Secretary Ms. Frye has worked with the school district for 10 years. She has been married for 9 years and has 2 children; a 7 year old boy and a 19 month old boy. She enjoys reading books, playing with her children, the outdoors, running and needlepoint. She is currently going to school at TMCC.
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Nancy Dickinson, Clinical Aide Nancy Dickinson has been clinical aide at Kate Smith School since 2004. Prior to Kate Smith School Nancy worked at Marvin Moss E.S. in the special ed department prekinder ,developmental kinder ,CLS and Resource Department. Nancy has been happily married for 21 years and has 2 teenage children.
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SUPPORT STAFF
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Gloria Bennett, Computer Aide Gloria Bennett has been with the school district since 1998. She joined Kate Smith in February 2006. She takes care of the computer lab. She also helps the teachers train students with new and fun ways of learning in the computer lab.
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Luanne Hansen, Library Associate Mrs. Hansen is our school librarian. She has been at Kate Smith for seventeen years, and has worked for the district for 26 years. She has lived in Sparks for most of her life and attended Spark's schools, graduating from Sparks High. Mrs. Hansen has a deeply personal understanding and pride for our community and school. Her goal always has been and always will be to make our school library a place where our children love to go, and know they are safe and welcome.
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Monty Clark, 21st Century After-School Coordinator Mr. Clark was born and raised in Northern Californa's Central Coast. After graduating high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science from California State University, Chico and a Education K-8 Degree from Sierra Nevada College in Incline CA. He is currently in his 10th year with the WCSD. He has worked in the classroom for 2 years and been involved with ESL Dept for 5 years. Currently he is in his fifth year as the 21st Century TEAM UP Coordinator at Kate Smith ES. When he is not working he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching soccer and tennis, and hitting the slopes in Tahoe. |
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Jill Neumann, Kitchen Manager | |
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INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALIST
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Jackie Baclayon, ESL Teacher Mrs. Baclayon has been with the district for 23 years, the last 6 here at Kate Smith. She has been married for 40 years. Mrs. Baclayon has 13 grandchildren. Goal for the future: Improve my skills in teaching the writing process to the wonderful students at Kate Smith.
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Kathy Kyte, ESL Teacher Mrs. Kyte was born and raised in Southern California. After graduating high school, she went on to Cal State Long Beach where she earned a Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Education. Then she went on to Cal State Northridge where she received her Teaching Credential. She homeschooled her children for eleven years, then taught three years in the Oxnard County School District before moving to Reno, Nevada. She is currently in her 12th year with the Washoe County School District. When she is not working, she loves to spend time with family, friends, and enjoying the great outdoors. |
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Elizabeth McCauley, ESL Teacher Mrs. McCauley was born in Winnemucca, Nevada. She has been with the district for 16 years and Kate Smith for 12 years. She attended the University of Nevada, Reno where she received her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education and her Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She has been married for 16yrs and has 2 wonderful daughters.
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Wanda Counsil, Special Education Resource Teacher Mrs. Counsil is our Special Education/Resource Teacher. She has been at Kate Smith for 8 years. She is originally from Effingham, IL. She received her dual degree (Elementary/Special Education) at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois. She has been married for 37 years to Wayne, whom she met while attending Southern Illinois University. Wayne retired from the Washoe County School District in 1997. She has 3 step-sons, and a son, Christopher who graduated from San Francisco Academy of Arts University, his master degree in Adult Education and Training was received May 21, 2011 from the University of Phoenix and is an Enrollment Counselor for the University of Phoenix. She also has a daughter, Allison, who is attending the University of Phoenix for her master’s in Education; Allison's goal is to be a CLS teacher. Mrs. Counsil is also the guardian of her nephew, Ryan who is attending Eastern Illinois University of Illinois. Mrs. Counsil has been a residence of Sparks for 35 years. |
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Mimi Grunder, Instructional Coach/ Intervention Specialists Ms. Mimi Grunder was born in California from Swiss immigrants. She spent the first 8 years of her life in Switzerland speaking German and French. Now she is learning Spanish. She's always had the desire to become a teacher. So she earned a B.S, Master's and Specialist degree in Education from UC Berkeley and UNR. When not teaching and learning, she spends her time with her family and friends hiking and singing. In 17 years of teaching, the staff and families at Kate Smith Elementary have been and remain her favorite:) |
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Laura West, Speech Pathologist Ms. West was born in Idaho and she still likes to spend time in the mountains and near rivers. She has worked with Washoe County School district as a speech pathologist for 8 years, and this is her third year at Kate Smith. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Nevada Reno. She has one energetic preschool son.
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Lara Martin, Music Teacher Mrs. Martin was born and raised in Northern California. After high school she moved to Reno and earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education Degree and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently in her 12th year of teaching elementary music, 10 of which have been with WCSD. She has taught K-5 General Music, 6th Grade Choir and Band, and private lessons in clarinet, saxophone and piano. Mrs. Martin also coaches the UNR flag team and enjoys playing with her children.
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