WHS Visual & Performing Arts Instructors
Julie Baker-Anderson
Vocal Music
Teacher Since: 1995
Hometown: Ericson, NE
Bachelors: University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: "I don't have that one yet . . . maybe someday . . . I have been too busy with my M.O.M. degree!"
Favorite Books
Favorite Movies
"I have so many favorites! I love musicals of course, all of the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Color Purple and Titanic. OK, and I am not afraid to admit that I had an obsession with E.T. when I was in jr. high. I saw it in the theatre six times!!"
Interesting Facts: There are only 100 people in my hometown. I was raised on a farm/ranch and actually used to rodeo. I can roller skate faster backwards than forwards. I started singing when I was five, sang in my first band when I was fifteen, was a member of the Scarlet and Cream Singers during college, played the main character for a Willa Cather Special on NETV, recorded a radio commercial for a bank, and am the voice you hear on the YouTube video of 'Beautiful Nebraska.' I once volunteered to go onstage at an Omaha Symphony concert at the Holland Performing Arts Center and was told I had to conduct a song. They were shocked when I came up onstage and told them I was a music teacher, so it worked out well! They were doing songs by Led Zeppelin that evening, and I conducted the song 'Dancing Days.' It was an amazing experience, and probably was my once-in-a-lifetime chance to ever conduct a symphony. I received a standing ovation. I currently sing in the classic rock band Crossroads. My husband Joel and I have five children, and everyone’s name in our family starts with a 'J.'"
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Kim Brigham
Art I, II, III, IV
Teacher Since: 1998
Hometown: Wahoo
Bachelors: Peru State College
Masters: Doane College (Crete, NE)
Favorite Books
"I enjoy Danielle Steel books"
Favorite Movies
"Pretty Woman"
"Dumb and Dumber"
Interesting Facts: "I have 5 children!"
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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)
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Tim Rischling
Instrumental Music
Teacher Since: 2009
Hometown: Alliance, NE
Bachelors: 2009, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
Masters: n/a
Favorite Movies
"Indiana Jones, The Rock, Forrest Gump, We Were Soldiers, Crimson Tide, Heartbreak Ridge, Braveheart, Dumb and Dumber, Tommy Boy, Happy Gilmore, Gran Torino, The Last Castle."
Interesting Facts: "I grew up in a family of music educators. My grandfather, who was a band director, had 12 children. Eight of the 12 became music educators, including my father, who is the band director at Alliance High School. I have a brother who teaches band in Grand Island, along with his wife who teaches orchestra. I have another brother who works for BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) in Nashville. Finally I have a younger sister who will graduate from UNL and become a band director as well. I also was married this past summer on June 27, 2009 to a wonderful girl named Jenny."
