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Carlson - who grew up in the small northwestern Minnesota town of McIntosh and attended Bemidji State University - has 14 years of teaching experience: four in Belcourt, N.D.; nine at Eagle Valley High School (Clarissa and Eagle Bend); and one year in Sauk Rapids.

He has head coaching experience in basketball and has also coached football, baseball, and golf. He is interested in coaching here but has no definite assignments yet.

"The people have been friendly and made me feel right at home," said Carlson. "It's good to be here."

Away from school, Carlson likes to spend time outdoors. He enjoys hunting, fishing, golfing, and spending time with his family.

Carlson, his wife, Amy, and their three sons still live in Sauk Rapids.

Ross Engelstad
Ross Engelstad was added to the elementary staff thanks to federal funds to reduce class sizes. Engelstad - a native of Fertile, Minn. - will teach second grade.

A graduate of Bemidji State University, Engelstad taught the last two years in Willmar. He taught third grade for one year, fourth grade for one year, and also taught migrant summer school. He also coached junior high basketball and fastpitch softball. His position in Willmar was cut for budget reasons.

Engelstad also has experience in teaching second grade, which he did for his student teaching in Red Lake Falls. "I'm excited about doing it," he said. "It'll be fun to work with the younger kids again."

As Engelstad's position depends on federal funds, it may only last a year. "I can hope it'll be more than that, but who knows," he said.

He and his wife, Kirsten, are moving to Paynesville in September. They enjoy heading up north to the lake on weekends. He calls himself a huge Vikings fan who loves to be outdoors and to snowmobile.

Gregg Kapsner
Gregg Kapsner will be a first-year teacher at Paynesville Area High School this year. Kapsner grew up near Little Falls and attended Bemidji State University.

Originally, he wanted to be an elementary teacher, but he switched to technology education. He student taught in Cass Lake.

He will be teaching drafting and woodworking classes in the high school and industrial arts for seventh graders at the middle school.

Kapsner is interested in coaching track. He ran for four years in high school and would have run at college except for an injury.

After 16 years of schooling, he is looking forward to being in charge of the classroom. "I'm excited to take over a class and bring my ideas to it," he said. One of his goals is to keep his classes fun and avoid the boredom that he hated in school.

He's also happy to be back in a farming community, as he grew up on a dairy farm.

Kapsner - who is single and living in St. Cloud - enjoys hunting, sno-cross racing, and playing sports.

Nathan Long
The new high school band director -ÊNathan Long - grew up in eastern Montana. He split his college years between Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mt., and Crown College in St. Bonifacius, Minn., where he graduated in May 2000.

He did his student teaching in Waconia and spent last year as a substitute teacher in that district. He was a volunteer assistant for the prize-winning Waconia marching band.

In addition to directing the senior and junior bands, Long will be giving individual lessons, teaching a general music class for sixth graders, and directing the jazz, pep, and marching bands.

"I look forward to a really good year," he said. "I've heard a lot of good things about the Paynesville music programs and the schools."

"I think it'll be a lot of fun to see if my ideas work and put my education to work," he added.

Long, who is single and living in Eden Valley, is excited by the area lakes and enjoys golfing, exercising, downhill skiing, and traveling.