Ms. Christina Ayala
Mr. Elliot Carmany
Mr. Jason Donnelly
A little bit about me. I grew up in Elk Point ,South Dakota, about 50 minutes south of Harrisburg. My father is a self-employed farmer and my mother is a school business manager. I have a brother who lives in Sioux Falls, within the Harrisburg as a Civil Engineer, another brother that is a Campus Police officer at the University of South Dakota, and a sister that is a Senior at Briar Cliff College.
I graduated from Elk Point - Jefferson High School and continued my education at Augustana College. At the best institution in the state, I was able to continue my athletic career and was a member the Augustana football team, earning all-conference and all-american honors as a cornerback. After four years at Augustana I received my college diploma having graduated with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in Middle School Mathematics.
During this time, I also met my wife, Amy, who was a member of the women's basketball team. We were married in June 2012. This summer my wife and I welcomed a baby boy, Callen, to our family on June 10th. He is a busy little guy and keeps us on our toes.
Upon graduation, I received a job offer from Harrisburg and have not looked back. This is my seventh year working for the Harrisburg School District, and I love it. When I am not teaching I am shingling houses in the summer or spending time working around the house and hanging out with my wife. My wife and I also spend a great deal of time coaching football and basketball in the district.
I graduated from Elk Point - Jefferson High School and continued my education at Augustana College. At the best institution in the state, I was able to continue my athletic career and was a member the Augustana football team, earning all-conference and all-american honors as a cornerback. After four years at Augustana I received my college diploma having graduated with a degree in elementary education with an endorsement in Middle School Mathematics.
During this time, I also met my wife, Amy, who was a member of the women's basketball team. We were married in June 2012. This summer my wife and I welcomed a baby boy, Callen, to our family on June 10th. He is a busy little guy and keeps us on our toes.
Upon graduation, I received a job offer from Harrisburg and have not looked back. This is my seventh year working for the Harrisburg School District, and I love it. When I am not teaching I am shingling houses in the summer or spending time working around the house and hanging out with my wife. My wife and I also spend a great deal of time coaching football and basketball in the district.
Mr. Tyler Fitz
Mr. Kyler Howard
Mr. Sam Lenz
I am from a small town in Iowa. I grew up loving to read, write, play music, and watch movies. I have always had a passion to learn and grow my strengths in new ways. I’ve drummed for a rock band that played around the Midwest. I’ve written many short films and a few feature lengths (none of which have been made to completion...yet)! One of my latest endeavors has been in comedy, doing both stand-up comedy and improvisational comedy with my troupe The Basement Dwellers. My journey as a tutor at HSMS has been a blast and a challenge, and I look forward to many memories being made here.
Mrs. Allie Long
I grew up in Ankeny, Iowa, which is about 10 minutes north of Des Moines. My dad owns a landscaping business, and my mom works in financial aid. I have a sister who graduated from Iowa State last May and began working for Business Solver, and another sister who is a senior at Ankeny Centennial High School. I have a step-dad who works at Business Solver, a step sister who is also a teacher, and two younger step brothers who are a part of the Waukee School District.
I graduated from Ankeny High School in 2011, and I continued my education at Augustana University where I also played on the Women’s Soccer team. Through mutual friends and athletics, I met my fiancé, Brian, who played on the Augustana football team. I graduated from Augie with a degree in English and secondary education. This will be my second year at Harrisburg South Middle School, and I have loved every minute of my journey at HSMS!
This October, Brian and I will be getting married! We have two fur babies who run the household; Drake is an 11 year old Black Lab, and Cash is a nine month old Chocolate Lab. When I am not at school I am usually reading, hanging out with my fiancé, or doing something outdoors with my dogs!
I graduated from Ankeny High School in 2011, and I continued my education at Augustana University where I also played on the Women’s Soccer team. Through mutual friends and athletics, I met my fiancé, Brian, who played on the Augustana football team. I graduated from Augie with a degree in English and secondary education. This will be my second year at Harrisburg South Middle School, and I have loved every minute of my journey at HSMS!
This October, Brian and I will be getting married! We have two fur babies who run the household; Drake is an 11 year old Black Lab, and Cash is a nine month old Chocolate Lab. When I am not at school I am usually reading, hanging out with my fiancé, or doing something outdoors with my dogs!
Mrs. Erica Lund
Ms. Sable McKay
Ms. Jordan Meland
Mrs. Jeanine Murphy
Mr. Andrew Nelson
Ms. Maria Pettinger
Welcome to Harrisburg South Middle School! My name is Señorita Pettinger. I love teaching 6th, 7th and 8th grade Spanish here at HSMS as well as 6th grade English/Language Arts. My passions revolve mostly around my family and food. I have a cat named Rascal who takes up most of my time outside of school. I also enjoy cooking, riding my bike and watching Cary Grant movies.
I spent a year and a half of my college days living in Europe and the other two and a half years pursuing my degree at Central College in Pella, IA.
I spent a year and a half of my college days living in Europe and the other two and a half years pursuing my degree at Central College in Pella, IA.
Mrs. Angie Plaine
I grew up in Park River, North Dakota. Nice little town, close to the Canadian border. My Dad was a State Farm Insurance agent and my Mom was an elementary PE teacher. They are both retired now and living the good life. I have one brother who lives in Edmore, North Dakota. He owns a construction business and has three awesome kids. Jordyn is a freshman in college, Jagger is in sophomore and Rayce is in 8th grade.
I graduated from Park River High School and headed off to Dakota Wesleyan University on a volleyball scholarship. But before I became a DWU Tiger, I ran off to Alaska for a year to satisfy my love of adventure! After college, I took my first teaching job near Rochester, MN. I was a science teacher and head volleyball coach during the school year and a park naturalist at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park in the summer. I loved taking people on cave tours and exploring the miles of cave passageways.
In 2011 I moved back to North Dakota and married Andrew Plaine. I taught in a SMALL rural school. We had 78 students in 7th-12th grade! We loved our small community, but we moved to Harrisburg a year later and love it here! This is my seventh year here at HSMS. I have a sweet little boy named Oliver, who is a kindergartener at Liberty Elementary.
I graduated from Park River High School and headed off to Dakota Wesleyan University on a volleyball scholarship. But before I became a DWU Tiger, I ran off to Alaska for a year to satisfy my love of adventure! After college, I took my first teaching job near Rochester, MN. I was a science teacher and head volleyball coach during the school year and a park naturalist at Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park in the summer. I loved taking people on cave tours and exploring the miles of cave passageways.
In 2011 I moved back to North Dakota and married Andrew Plaine. I taught in a SMALL rural school. We had 78 students in 7th-12th grade! We loved our small community, but we moved to Harrisburg a year later and love it here! This is my seventh year here at HSMS. I have a sweet little boy named Oliver, who is a kindergartener at Liberty Elementary.
Mr. Greg Rockvam
I am originally from Stewartville, MN. I have one younger sister, Amy who is also a teacher. I was involved in football, track, student council and anything else I could find time to get involved with in our small town. I graduated from Stewartville High School in 1994 and then moved to Sioux Falls, SD to attend Augustana College. I met my wife Jaime during my last year in college and we both graduated together in 1999. She took a job as a teacher in Hemet, California and I took a 3rd grade teaching job in Shishmaref, Alaska. After we were married I could not convince her to move to an island in the middle of Arctic Ocean so I packed up and moved to Southern California with her. I taught elementary for 2 years and then made the switch to middle school. I taught middle school math and science for 4 years at Bell Mountain Middle School in Menifee, California.
After our first son, Aidan, was born we decided to move closer to family so we packed up and moved to Harrisburg, SD. I taught 8th grade math and science in Canton, SD for 2 years before eventually deciding to accept a job teaching in our new home town of Harrisburg. I taught math and science for 6 years at Harrisburg South Middle School and coached 7th/8th football during that time. I have recently decided to make a career change and took the job as a PE teacher. I will be teaching 6th and 8th grade PE here at HSMS.
Jaime and I have 3 children; Aidan (a fifth grader at Liberty), Delaney (a 2nd grader at Liberty), and Cohen (3 years old). They keep us busy with soccer, basketball, gymnastics, playing outside, reading books, and laughing as much as possible. Jaime is a 3rd grade teacher at Susan B. Anthony in Sioux Falls and is starting her 17th year of teaching elementary school.
Personally, my favorite things to do are taking trips with my family, visiting my favorite places in California and Colorado, backpacking, running marathons, and reading.
After our first son, Aidan, was born we decided to move closer to family so we packed up and moved to Harrisburg, SD. I taught 8th grade math and science in Canton, SD for 2 years before eventually deciding to accept a job teaching in our new home town of Harrisburg. I taught math and science for 6 years at Harrisburg South Middle School and coached 7th/8th football during that time. I have recently decided to make a career change and took the job as a PE teacher. I will be teaching 6th and 8th grade PE here at HSMS.
Jaime and I have 3 children; Aidan (a fifth grader at Liberty), Delaney (a 2nd grader at Liberty), and Cohen (3 years old). They keep us busy with soccer, basketball, gymnastics, playing outside, reading books, and laughing as much as possible. Jaime is a 3rd grade teacher at Susan B. Anthony in Sioux Falls and is starting her 17th year of teaching elementary school.
Personally, my favorite things to do are taking trips with my family, visiting my favorite places in California and Colorado, backpacking, running marathons, and reading.
Mr. Byron Williams
Mrs. Robyn Winge