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New Year, New Faces: Cranberry High Welcomes Nine New Staff Members
New Year, New Faces: Cranberry High Welcomes Nine New Staff Members
By Abigail Nuhfer and Ethan White | 10/14/25
As the first quarter draws to a close at Cranberry High School, nine new faculty members have joined the team, bringing fresh energy and enthusiasm to the 2025–2026 school year. Hired over the summer to fill several open positions, these educators are already making a positive impression with their warm personalities and dedication to students.
Paige Darr, the new confidential secretary to the principal, said she has always wanted to work in administration and loves working with kids of all ages. She plans to remain here for years to come and become even more involved in work and school activities. There’s also a growing friendship between her and her coworkers, who like her detail-oriented, outgoing personality. Darr is also fairly active with her walks outside, which she finds enjoyable.
Christine Garmong, a 1986 graduate of Edinboro, has been a part of the Cranberry community for six years and is proud to share her passion for art with her students. Inspired by her deep love of art, she brings creativity and dedication to her classroom every day. Outside of teaching, she enjoys quilting, sewing, spending time outdoors, and having quality time with her dogs. What she loves most about Cranberry High School is the students, and her goal is to continue growing as an art teacher in the years to come.
Justine Zuchowski, a PennWest graduate, enjoys diving into new things and sharing that with her students and school. Her hobbies include crafting, canning, reading, and spending time outdoors with her 3 boys. Inspired by her 2nd-grade teacher, Mrs. Betzold, Zuchowski worked at a school south of Washington, D.C, before coming here to Cranberry High School. What she loves most about Cranberry High School is the students, whom she describes as a family: “They support each other. They are kind to each other and genuinely sweet people. You won't find this type of student body just anywhere,” she commented. For now, she's focused on settling into her role but hopes to get more involved in the future. She feels strongly supported by staff and is excited to grow here at Cranberry.
Taylor Aites, another PennWest Clarion graduate, is beginning her first teaching job at Cranberry and is already loving the experience. This will be her first and last year here at Cranberry as ‘Miss Aites,’ because as of next school year, she will be Mrs. Walters. She enjoys teaching dance, playing piano, and cross-stitching. Teaching has been her dream since childhood, and now that she is in a classroom, she knows this is what she was made to do. She states, “My students inspire me.” Aites chose Cranberry because of the warm, welcoming environment created by the staff and students. In the future, Aites hopes to start a dance team once she gets more comfortable in her role as a teacher.
Camden Buhite is Cranberry's new Social Studies teacher. A recent graduate from Pennsylvania Western University Clarion Campus, he has chosen Cranberry as his first teaching job because of “the welcoming atmosphere.” Buhite got to experience Cranberry for the first time last year as a student teacher. “The students accepted me quickly, and the staff was so excited to have me here. When I learned of an open position after graduation, I knew Cranberry was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” he stated. He would like to get involved in the future with coaching and the Ignite club. He finds joy in leisurely walks around town, collecting sneakers, and occasionally playing video games. Although Buhite didn't attend Cranberry High School, he has strong family ties here with six cousins graduating from Cranberry High School within the past decade. Inspired by his father, a teacher in Armstrong County, and his own 9th-grade teacher, Mr. Paul, Buhite strives to create a fun and engaging learning environment where students feel comfortable and excited to learn.
Janene Michael, a graduate of Tarleton State University and Texas Woman’s University, brings a wide range of experiences to Cranberry High School. She enjoys theater, reading, walking, gardening, crafting, and playing both board and video games. Teaching has always been a prominent idea in her life; she even taught her younger sister to read when they were young. Her career was always oriented toward adult learners, but after having her first child in her 40s, she discovered her passion for teaching both children and adults. Since she began here at Cranberry High School in 2018 as a long-term substitute, she has also been involved as the director of the musical, drama club advisor, and dance chaperone. Her favorite thing about Cranberry is the supportive, family-like atmosphere of the school.
Kalynne Ziegler is an alumna of Cranberry High School and a graduate of Indiana University Pennsylvania. Inspired to teach because of her desire to help students live a healthy life by providing them with information and different activities, she also strives to help students reach their greatest potential. Already helping coach cross country, Ziegler looks forward to developing the program and creating more activities. She also plans on getting more involved with Cranberry's athletics and clubs.
Isabella Klein is a PennWest Clarion University graduate and is excited to be teaching her first year here at Cranberry High School. Outside of her classroom, she enjoys crocheting, cooking and baking, and going to concerts. Inspired by the wonderful teachers she had growing up, she hopes to make the same impact on her students as her teachers had on her. What Klein loves most about Cranberry High School is the students and the pride and involvement she sees in the school community. In the future, she hopes to get more involved and contribute to the yearbook or journalism.
Tricia Kurtich, who studied at UTPL ("Technical University of Loja," a private research university in Loja, Ecuador) and Spring Arbor and is currently studying at Wilson College, is excited to join Cranberry High School as the new Spanish Teacher. While this is her first public teaching job, she brings valuable experiences to the students of Cranberry, such as time spent abroad as an international exchange student in 11th grade in the Canary Islands, the southernmost region of Spain. She enjoys reading, walking her dogs, and spending time with her grandchildren. She is very passionate about helping young people learn new things and explore the world through education. Kurtich chose Cranberry High School for its small, rural, and welcoming environment and supportive staff and students. Above all, she feels blessed to have the opportunity to teach at Cranberry High School.
With the addition of these dedicated educators and staff members, Cranberry High is growing in strength and spirit. Their fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and commitment to students are already making a meaningful impact and helping shape a brighter future for the entire school community.
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