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Chris Frey
Chris Frey
I am extremely excited to be teaching here at HMS. I was born and raised in Highland, and I am looking forward to be working with kids in my hometown. I earned my education degree in 2015 during my second stint in college. We have three children named Payton, Nolan, and Retta. I enjoy playing sports, reading, board games, comics, and geeking out with sci-fi movies and shows.
Mr. Chris Frey
Social Studies
cfrey@highlandcusd5.org
Linda Berg
Linda Berg
Mrs. Linda Berg grew up in rural northwest Iowa. She and her family moved to the Highland area in 1998. She has been teaching in the Highland School District since 2000 in a variety of special education classrooms. She is very excited about coming to the middle school and helping her students succeed in the 6th grade. She and her husband have three children, Paige, Kristen, and Christopher. She and her husband enjoy traveling and outdoor activities. They are kept quite busy attending numerous sporting events that their son is involved in.
Mrs. Linda Berg
Special Education
lberg@highlandcusd5.org
Valerie Haas
Valerie Haas
Mrs. Haas received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management with an emphasis in Athletic Training from SBU in 2002 and her teaching certificate in 2023. For the past 18 years, I have served the Wesclin community in various capacities as their Athletic Trainer, substitute teacher and PE Teachers Aide. She lives in Trenton with her husband Mark, and 3 sons, Adam (17), Noah (14) and Judah (6). In her free time, she enjoys watching her sons events and activities, gardening, reading, traveling and serving in her church.
Mrs. Valerie Haas
PE Teacher
vhaas@highlandcusd5.org
Jon Truitt
Jon Truitt
I grew up in many different areas with my father being in the Air Force, and I am now settled in Glen Carbon with my beautiful wife and two kids Claire and Leon. I have taught middle school science for 10 years, and received my degree in Earth and Space Science from SIUE. I love how science can help us understand the complexity of the world through fun and engaging ways! My hope is to motivate and challenge students to a higher level of thinking that will help prepare them for life. My other passions include spending time with my family, working out, and playing all sorts of different games!
Mr. Jon Truitt
Science
jtruitt@highlandcusd5.org
Aidan Leopold
Aidan Leopold
I am so excited to be teaching English at Highland Middle School this year! While it is not my first year in education, I am new to the school, so the students and I are in the same boat. I grew up in Edwardsville before getting my degree in English Education at Illinois State University. When I am not teaching, I live in Edwardsville with my wife and our three guinea pigs, Crouton, Toast, and Charlie. I also like watching movies, reading, collecting Pokemon cards, and cheering for the Cardinals in my free time.
Aidan Leopold
Language Arts
aleopold@highlandcusd5.org
Penny Straub
Penny Straub
This is my second year at Highland Middle School and my 24th in education! I'm thrilled to be here! Outside of school, I live in Glen Carbon with my husband, our two awesome kids, and our goofy bulldogs, Gerti and Gus. My daughter is a senior at Edwardsville High School, and my son is a 7th grader at Lincoln Middle School—so I get to see middle school life from both sides! When I’m not teaching, you’ll probably find me outside soaking up the sunshine, working in the yard or cheering loudly at softball and baseball games. I also love rolling up my sleeves for woodworking projects and dreaming up new interior design ideas.
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