WHS Language Arts Instructors
Susan Dinsmore-Talbott
Spanish I, II, III, IV
Teacher Since: 1994
Hometown: Ames, Iowa
Bachelors: 1993, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA)
Masters: still working on it, alas . . .
Favorite Books
"There are so many!"
Favorite Movies
"Pete's Dragon"
"The Princess Bride"
The Bourne Trilogy
Interesting Facts: "I was a varsity swimmer for four years in high school, I love to watch Creighton soccer, have been a die-hard U2 fan since the band formed in 1979, 'followed' the Grateful Dead for a summer while in college, and I collect elephants (no, I'm NOT a Republican!)."
--------------------
Larry Fangman
English 10, British Literature, American Literature, Creative Writing
Teacher Since: 1987
Hometown: Epworth, Iowa
Bachelors: BA in Accounting, University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls); BA in English, Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, IA)
Masters: Doane College (Crete, NE)
Favorite Books
Ball Four by Jim Bouton
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
The Cupid Killer by Larry Fangman
Favorite Movies
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
"Bull Durham"
"Happy Gilmore"
Interesting Facts: "I was one of the cars heading to the ballpark in the last scene of the movie 'Field of Dreams'. My freshman year in college, Runner's World magazine published something I wrote and paid me $200. I had the pleasure of meeting my childhood hero, Lou Brock (St. Louis Cardinal's Hall of Fame outfielder), three times, and found him to be a wonderful, friendly person. The last time I met him a crowd of about 300 waited for his autograph on a hot, steamy, Nebraska day. He was about 65 and dehydrated. The security approached that he could not sign anymore autographs. My six-year-old daughter, Cara, was with me. She brought her autograph book that only special people are allowed to sign (for example, my mom signed it before she died). Cara wanted Lou to sign the book because she knew he was my childhood hero. The person driving Lou around the golf course drove past the crowd. Cara started crying. The cart driver drove 50 yards past us to the next tee. Then a security person came back to us and said, 'Lou said he has to sign an autograph for that little girl with blonde hair.' And he did."
Favorite Quote: "A master in the Art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine if he is working or playing. To himself he always seems to be doing both." --author unknown
--------------------
Cass Griffin
Spanish II
Teacher Since: 2008
Hometown: Grand Island, NE
Bachelors: 2008, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Masters: 2011, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Favorite Books
"As a kid I enjoyed Boxcar Children and the Dear America series. Currently I enjoy drama/mysteries like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
Favorite Movies
"Seven"
"Love Actually"
"Finding Nemo"
Interesting Facts: "I love adventure and travel, although the two often go hand in hand. I have lived in Mexico, Spain, and Australia, and have skydived, zorbed, ran with the bulls, and participated in some extreme spelunking."
Favorite Quote: "Be the change you wish to see in the world." --Mahatma Gandhi
--------------------
Cherie Johnson
Speech & Drama
Teacher Since: 1991
Hometown: I'm an Air Force brat. My favorite place I lived as a child: North Pole Alaska.
Bachelors: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: n/a
Favorite Book
Home to Harmony by Philip Gulley
Tony Hillerman's books
Favorite Movie
"Miracle"
"Glory Road"
"Titans"
Anything with Carey Grant
Interesting Facts: "I grew up moving every two to three years and loved it! I would really like to travel to Lochness in Scotland and see the Lochness Monster."
Favorite Quotes:
"If you're gonna be stupid, you gotta be tough." --Rod Johnson
"If you want to be loved, be loveable." --Evelyn Anderson Sittner (grandma)
--------------------
Andrea Mann
English 9, English 11
Teacher Since: 1997
Hometown: McCook, Nebraska
Bachelors: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: Peru State College
Favorite Books
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Help by Katherine Stockett
Favorite Movies
"I have tons. I'll narrow it down to three: Hoosiers, Caddyshack and The Notebook."
Interesting Facts: "I come from a long line of teachers. Both of my parents were teachers, along with my grandfather."
Favorite Quote: "Nothing will work unless you do." --Maya Angelou
--------------------
Carol Mertl
English 9, Senior Composition, Journalism, Yearbook
Teacher Since: 2003
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Bachelors: 1996, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Masters: 2008, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Favorite Books
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Favorite Movies
"To Kill a Mockingbird"
Interesting Facts: "I'm really not that interesting . . . just ask my students!"
Favorite Quotes: "One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes . . . and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility." --Eleanor Roosevelt
and
"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." --Atticus Finch to Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird"
