Hanover Community School Corporation is thrilled to welcome an exceptional group of new teachers and administrators to our family for the 2026-2027 school year! Our new staff members bring diverse backgrounds, rich professional experiences, and a shared commitment to educational excellence and student success. From early childhood education through high school, these dedicated educators are ready to make a positive impact in our classrooms and community. We look forward to introducing you to the outstanding individuals who will be shaping the futures of our Wildcats. 

Dr. John Zack is joining the Hanover team as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction in July 2026. He brings nearly 30 years of educational experience to Hanover. He served as a special education teacher at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He was also a Career and Technical Education instructor, department chair, and principal at both the elementary and high school levels. Most recently, he served as the principal at Highland High School. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership. John is a relationship builder who believes that when staff feel supported, students thrive. Dr. Zack shared, "I am so very excited to be coming on board at HCSC to help keep the solid tradition of educational excellence alive. Supporting our teachers, students, and building leaders in this endeavor is exciting just to think about." He also enjoys walking his dog, going for a run, participating in Spartan races and other local road races, reading, and the occasional video game. He has a wife, six children, and eight grandchildren.

Tony Curatolo brings over a decade of experience to his role as Hanover Central Middle School's new principal in 2026. With five years in the classroom teaching Social Studies, Math, ELA, and Science, followed by six years in leadership roles as Dean of Students and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, he combines a teacher's heart with an administrator's vision. Mr. Curatolo's vision for Hanover Central is built on three pillars: strong relationships, student success, and an inclusive community. He believes every student deserves to feel valued, challenged, and inspired to grow. As he puts it, "I look forward to partnering with students, staff, families, and the community to continue our tradition of excellence and build an environment where every Wildcat can thrive." He has a loving wife and four children.

Also joining us at Hanover Central Middle School is Kenneth "Kenny" Evans as our Dean of Students/Athletic Director. He graduated from Portage High School and currently resides in Hobart. He attended Purdue University and Ball State University to earn his degrees, including a bachelor's degree in elementary education with a math endorsement and a master's degree in educational administration and supervision. He previously taught seventh-grade math for four years and Algebra 1 and eighth-grade math for eight years. He also served as the math department head and coached middle school football, wrestling, and track for 12 years. Mr. Evans has been married to his wife Jessie for 12 years after being best friends since the second grade. Together they have two sons: Oliver is eight, and Benjamin is five. He coaches both of his boys in football, travel soccer, and wrestling. He is also the president of the Brick Factory wrestling club in Hobart. As a family, they spend a lot of time at sporting events. He shared, "I'm really excited for the opportunity to join Hanover Central Middle School as the Dean of Students and Athletic Director. I'm looking forward to getting to know the students, staff, and families and becoming part of the Wildcat community. I'm excited to get started, build relationships, and do whatever I can to help continue the tradition of excellence at Hanover, both in the classroom and in athletics. I'm proud to be a Wildcat and excited to get started!"

Michelle Teibel is joining the Lincoln family as a kindergarten teacher. She is from Crown Point, Indiana, and has 15 years of experience in education. She taught preschool at the Southlake YMCA for 14 years and taught RTI for one year at Eisenhower Elementary School in Crown Point. She graduated from Griffith High School and attended Purdue University and Valparaiso University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Communications and Early Childhood Education, as well as an Early Literacy Endorsement. Mrs. Teibel has been married to her husband, Andrew, for 26 years. Together, they have three children: Chancellor is 22, Avery is 20, and Parker is 18. They also have a sweet Papillon dog named Tucker. She enjoys all kinds of music, and her favorite book is All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. Her hobbies include golf, fitness, hiking, decorating, and design. In her free time, Mrs. Teibel can be found at the gym, taking walks, volunteering at her church, traveling to see her kids, watching her son play sports, or attending community events. "I am incredibly excited to be joining HSCS as a Lincoln Leopard kindergarten teacher. It means so much to be a part of a district and school with not only a wonderful reputation but also a supportive community and commitment to helping students succeed. I feel grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a positive environment and can't wait to begin building relationships with my students and their families as well as my fellow colleagues. I'm looking forward to learning, growing, and making a positive impact as I start this new chapter at Lincoln Elementary School," Mrs. Teibel shared.

One of our new fifth-grade teachers at Red Cedars Elementary School is Gabrielle Vania from Crown Point, Indiana. She is a first-year teacher with two years of experience as an elementary school Title 1 paraprofessional and half a year of experience in the middle school setting as a resource paraprofessional. She graduated from Crown Point High School and earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Western Governors University. Miss Vania lives in her childhood home with her parents, Michelle and Steven. She coaches girls' basketball because she is very passionate about it. She expressed, "I am incredibly excited to begin this journey with HSCS and to have the opportunity to make a positive impact in the classroom. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with students, supporting their growth, and contributing to the strong tradition of excellence within the HSCS community."

Joshua Metz, from Valparaiso, Indiana, is coming to Hanover Central High School to teach Digital Design/Graphic Arts. He graduated from Merrillville High School, earned his associate's degree at Sessions College for Professional Design, and is currently working toward a master's degree. He has been a substitute teacher periodically from 2006 to 2020, when he landed a job in Merrillville teaching Digital Design/Graphic Arts. He is excited to join the Hanover family and bring new design opportunities to the school. Mr. Metz said, "I am super excited to bring my expertise in the professional creative space to Hanover! Hopefully I can offer a few CTSOs (Career and Technical Student Organizations) for Hanover to win in the near future. I am also excited to bring some opportunities for the Dungeons and Dragons club." He has been with his fiancée, Kimmi, for six years, and together they have two cats. He enjoys drawing, sculpting, painting, designing, animating, making films, and creating digital special effects. He is a lifelong Marvel Comics fan and enjoys Dungeons & Dragons. He recently has come to love Warhammer 40k.

We welcome Amanda Snow to the Lincoln Elementary family to teach second grade. She comes to us as a first-year teacher with two years of substitute teaching experience. During her time in college, she completed classroom observations and student teaching experiences across multiple elementary grade levels, as well as RTI. She graduated from Lowell High School and earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education with mild intervention from Indiana University Northwest. Miss Snow has three siblings, supportive parents, and a cat named Callie. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, attending concerts, spending time outdoors, and staying active. She shared, "I am incredibly excited to join Hanover School Corporation and the Lincoln Elementary family as a second-grade teacher! Teaching has been my dream for many years, and I feel so fortunate to begin my career in such a welcoming and supportive community. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with my students and their families, helping every child grow academically and personally, and becoming an active member of the Hanover community."

Mason Meyers is joining the Red Cedars Elementary family to teach music. He is from Saint John, Indiana, and graduated from Lake Central High School. He is a new teacher who earned his degree from Purdue University Fort Wayne and has two brothers. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and listening to a variety of music. He has been trying to read more books and recently read The Goodbye Cat. He expressed, "I am very excited to be joining HSCS to teach Elementary Music at Red Cedars. I look forward to having a great school year!"

Kristy Grady is a familiar face sticking around Jane Ball Elementary School to teach first grade. She has been an instructional aide at Jane Ball for the past six years, and this is her first year as a lead teacher. She graduated from Marian Catholic High School, earned her bachelor's degree from Robert Morris University in Chicago, Illinois, and received her elementary education license from Valparaiso University. Mrs. Grady has been married to her husband, John, for 17 years. Together, they have two children: Brooklyn is 13, and John is 11. She enjoys crafting, baking, swimming, traveling with her family, and watching her children explore their talents. She shared, "I am so excited to start this new chapter with Hanover. Seeing firsthand the impact that Hanover teachers have on our students inspired me to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. I am proud to be part of the Hanover and Jane Ball family. I am looking forward to giving back to the community that has given so much."

All the way from Whitehouse, Ohio, Nicole Dunbar is coming to Hanover Central Middle School to teach eighth-grade science. She attended Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio; Lourdes College in Ohio; Davis Technical College in Ohio; Western Governors University online; and the Museum of Natural History with a specialty in evolution. She taught at Lowell High School from 2016 to 2024 and is eager to return to the classroom. Mrs. Dunbar has four grown sons who all work in specialized trades. She enjoys listening to all kinds of music and attending concerts. She also has a budding vintage jewelry upcycling art business. She shared, "I am super stoked to return to education, teaching my favorite age group, teenagers!"

Benjamin Voticke joins the Hanover Central High School family as a world history and US history teacher. He graduated from Hanover Central High School and also attended Purdue University Northwest. He is a new teacher but has a year of experience at Lowell High School. He shared, "I am very excited for the opportunity to be part of the HCSC community once again! I can't imagine a better fit for myself as I begin my teaching career, and I'm looking forward to working with some of the people that inspired me the most." Mr. Voticke has been with his fiancée for five and a half years; they just got engaged this past March. Together, they enjoy cycling and mountain biking. Reading is his favorite hobby, and he generally reads science fiction, fantasy, thrillers, speculative literature, and history books.

Another Hanover Central graduate is joining the team at Hanover Central High School to teach Health/Environmental Science: Jared Comia. He attended the University of Illinois and Southwestern Illinois College, and later graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a bachelor's degree. He is going into his first year of teaching but has been coaching baseball at Hanover for three years. Mr. Comia has two sisters, a niece, and a nephew. He shared, "I love baseball. It's been a passion of mine for all my life, and I enjoy coaching and developing kids at a younger level! I am really excited to join HCSC and be part of the school community. I'm looking forward to teaching health and helping students learn how to take care of themselves. I am also excited to keep coaching baseball and working with student-athletes. I can't wait to build strong relationships and be part of the school's success."

Caitlyn Derwinski is joining us at Hanover Central Middle School to teach sixth-grade English/Language Arts. She graduated from Crown Point High School and earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue University Northwest. She is a new teacher with some field experience and substitute teaching experience. After student teaching, she covered a temporary third-grade position at Red Cedars Elementary. She said, "I am excited to be a first-year teacher and get to work with the middle school team!" Miss Derwinski's family includes her mom, dad, older sister, and their dog named Koda. She loves running, painting, reading, hiking, and traveling. She is also an assistant coach for cross country and track at Crown Point High School.

Kiersten Collier is joining the fifth-grade team at Red Cedars to teach math. She is from Valparaiso, Indiana, graduated from Boone Grove High School, and earned her bachelor's degree from Ball State University. She taught seventh-grade math and social studies in Oklahoma for the past two years. Mrs. Collier has been married to her husband, Shawn, for two years, and they have a mini goldendoodle named Okie. She enjoys reading, gardening, baking, and playing games. She shared, "I am so excited to teach fifth grade at Red Cedars and meet my students!"

Jessica Tipman is joining the Red Cedars family as our media center assistant. She is from Dyer, Indiana, and graduated from Lake Central High School. She received her bachelor's degree from Purdue University. This will be her second year at Red Cedars, as she served as the library aide last year. She shared, "Having started with Red Cedars last year, I look forward to continuing to connect with the students and share my love of reading and books. I am excited to introduce new ideas, activities, and experiences that make the library a fun and welcoming place where every student can discover the joy of reading." Mrs. Tipman and her husband, Kevin, just celebrated their 28th anniversary after meeting in high school and starting their relationship. Together, they have three sons: Elliot is 14, Caden is 12, and Jaxon is 8, all of whom attend Hanover schools. Her favorite hobbies include reading, decorating/organizing, and watching her sons play football.

Also joining the Red Cedars team to teach fifth-grade math and science is Emily Palm. She graduated from Munster High School and earned her degree from Purdue University Northwest. She is entering her fifth year of teaching, having taught second grade for two years and third grade for two years. Mrs. Palm has been married to her husband, Nick, for three years. Together, they have two children: Madeline is two, and Henry is one month old. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, going to the park, trying different coffees from local coffee shops, watching Disney movies, and reading fantasy or mystery books. She said, "I am very excited to teach at HSCS! I look forward to meeting all my students and working in a community that I also live in."

Our new criminal justice teacher at Hanover Central High School is Jason Hildenbrand. He is from Evansville, Indiana, and graduated from Ball State University. He recently retired from the Highland Police Department after 24 years of service and an additional 4 years in law enforcement in Owensboro, Kentucky. He said, "I am beyond excited to begin my second career at Hanover Central High School teaching Criminal Justice. I look forward to passing along the knowledge and insights gained over my 27-year career to inspire students as they navigate their own futures." Mr. Hildenbrand has been married to his wife, Sarah, for 25 years. Together, they have two children: Eric is 15, and Emma is 13. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess with his son, doing puzzles with his daughter, and going to the movies. His favorite movies are Heat and the original Star Wars trilogy.

Gabrielle Davidson is coming to Hanover Central High School to teach Entrepreneurship. She graduated from Griffith High School and received her bachelor's degree from Purdue University Northwest. This is her first year teaching, and she shared, "I am looking forward to getting to know my students as well as helping them grow in knowledge, confidence, and their abilities to be successful inside and outside the classroom. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and I couldn't be more thankful to have the opportunity to start my teaching career with HSCS." Mrs. Davidson is married to Ben Davidson, also a teacher at Hanover Central High School. Together, they have two children: Arianna is eight, and Sophia is one. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family, whether that includes outdoor activities or staying in for a movie night. She also enjoys golfing with her husband and Arianna, reading all kinds of books, listening to 1990s/early 2000s country music, and experimenting with new recipes for her family.

Joining the fifth-grade team at Red Cedars Elementary is Terri Priesol. She graduated from Lake Central High School and earned her bachelor's degree from Western Governors University. She has worked as a paraprofessional for three years and one year as a middle school interventionist. She shared, "I am excited about joining the Hanover School Corporation and look forward to watching students learn and grow this year." Mrs. Priesol has been married for 22 years, and together they have two children. She enjoys reading and completing home improvement projects.

We are incredibly grateful to welcome this outstanding group of educators and administrators to Hanover Community School Corporation. Each member of our new team brings unique talents, passion, and dedication to their work with our students. We are confident that they will seamlessly integrate into our school communities and contribute to our strong tradition of excellence. We wish them all success and joy as they begin this exciting new chapter with us!