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EDITOR'S NOTE: This week, we introduce you to new teachers at the elementary level and a few of the new Steamboat Springs Middle School teachers. Next week, we'll introduce you to the rest of the middle school and the new high school teachers.

Strawberry Park Elementary

Cristen Malia, 29 -- Kindergarten

For the past four years, Malia has worked for the school district as an aide and substitute teacher -- this is her first year as a full-time teacher. She describes her teaching style as warm and child-centered, and she sees every child as an individual. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family and friends. She has lived in Steamboat Springs for six years and is married.

Jenny Krentz, 38 -- First grade

Krentz just moved to Steamboat Springs from upstate New York with her husband and two children, ages 9 and 11. She has 13 years of teaching experience, including first, fifth and sixth grades. She became a teacher because she loves learning and working with children and thinks one of the most rewarding moments is to see a "light" go on in a child. She uses a flexible teaching style, trying new activities and teaching methods. When she's not working, she likes spending time with her family traveling, hiking, skiing and just hanging out.

Diane Schaefer, 26 -- Resource teacher

Schaefer has worked as a home program teacher for the Yampa Valley Autism Program and has lived in Steamboat Springs for the past 2 1/2 years. She has a passion for teaching and interacting with children. She believes in using visuals while teaching, teaching in small groups and individualizing instruction. She enjoys traveling, camping, biking and spending time with friends.

Lynn Snavely, 51 -- counselor

Snavely has lived in Steam--boat Springs for the past year, working as the long-term substitute counselor at Strawberry Park Elementary. She was a counselor in Hawaii for 10 years, discovering her interest in the profession after being a teacher and coach. When not at school, she works at her private counseling business and hikes, camps, bikes and swims.

Soda Creek Elementary

Laura LeBrun, 31 -- Second grade

LeBrun always is passionate about seeing children succeed and feel proud of their achievements. She loves seeing children in that "ah-ha" moment when they understand what they're being taught. She feels it's important that all children have a fun, exciting learning environment, something she didn't have in her own educational experience. She has lived in Steamboat Springs for eight years and taught fourth grade in Hayden for four years. She is married and has a 16-month-old son. When not at work, she spends time with her family and hikes.

Corie Sherman, 32 -- Second grade

Sherman has lived in Steamboat Springs for 11 years and has taught a first/second-grade class in Yampa. She teaches with a hands-on style and encourages students to learn how to discover answers to their questions and to become their own thinkers. When not teaching, she enjoys the outdoors, spending time with her dog and reading.

Naomi Lang, 29 -- Fifth grade

Lang became a teacher because she loves learning herself and wanted to share that love with children. She has taught sixth grade in Yampa, kindergarten in Vail, and a fourth- and fifth-grade class in Denver. Her style of teaching involves encouraging children to think on their own. Lang has lived in Steamboat Springs for one year and enjoys hiking with her puppy, snowboarding and traveling on her own time.

Becca Utu, 47 -- Special education

Utu has lived in Steamboat Springs for 23 years. She graduated with a teaching degree 24 years ago and is excited about finally beginning her career in teaching. For the past seven years, she has worked at the middle school as a para-professional. She is married and has two children who are both in college. Her goal as a teacher is to make sure every child succeeds to his or her best potential. When she's not teaching, she likes to work out, hike, remodel and do anything that involves children.

Steamboat Springs Middle School

Val Gary, 52 -- Eighth-grade math

Gary has lived in Steamboat Springs for 30 years, and is married with three teenage children. She has taught math at Christian Heritage School for 12 years and Hayden High School for 10 years. She became a math teacher because she enjoys watching chil----dren gain confidence in the subject. She sees all her students as individuals who have different ability levels and learning styles, and she works to help them all be successful.

Babette Dickson, 42 -- French teacher

Dickson decided to become a teacher after becoming a mother -- she has two young boys. She previously has worked as a substitute teacher and aide. Her teaching style focuses on having fun without losing the target. She wants all her students to enjoy learning a difficult language and hopes they will discover the world and other cultures as they learn. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her boys, reading and traveling.

Laurelee MacHale, 38 -- Art teacher

MacHale enjoys working with children and inspiring them by modeling her own passion for learning. She describes her teaching style as organized, but still open to chaos and imagination. She is married to Mark MacHale, principal at Strawberry Park Elementary. They have two children and moved to Steamboat Springs two months ago. Previously, she taught art in Rifle and New Castle. When she's not at work, she reads and spends time outside. She is looking forward to teaching what she loves -- art -- to students at the age when they can use reason and humor.

Gwen Laws, 29 -- Middle and high school choral director

Before returning to college to earn her teaching license, Laws performed professionally in Las Vegas as a vocalist and violinist. She recently moved to Steamboat Springs and has two children. She decided to teach because she loves the process of making music with students, and enjoys seeing them develop as musicians. Her rehearsals are very structured, but she feels it's important to have fun and find joy in music. She teaches violin and voice lessons on the side.