New teacher to offer ag. education classes this fall

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

When students walk through the doors at Henning Public School next week there will be a few new faces greeting students on the first day of school. 

Arica Caughey and Julie Westrick will join the Henning School staff as agriculture and social studies teachers. This will mark the first time in a number of years that Henning School has offered an agriculture program at the school, which will also include the addition of an FFA program.

Caughey will be entering her first year in Henning, as well as teaching this fall. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Crookston and will be leading the new agriculture education program for grades 5-12. 

In addition to Caughey, she has four siblings and her parents. The new teacher said their family is very close and enjoy spending time with one another working outdoors and camping. On the farm the family has four dogs and a handful of chickens as well. 

Caughey said she is looking forward to creating new connections with students and individuals in the community.

“(I am looking forward to) creating connections with students and their families, as well as the staff and community,” she said. 

One of her favorite memories during her time in school was the ice cream social that her elementary school would do every year on the last day of school.

Westrick will join the Henning School staff this fall as the new 7-12th grade social studies teacher. She is a graduate of Valley City State University and most recently taught in the New Rockford School District in North Dakota. 

Her husband Dan lives in Fargo and her son and his wife live and work in Fargo as well. She also has a grand daughter who lives in Fargo and works as a graphic designer. Making the move to Henning with Westrick is her cat Dagny.

Westrick said she is looking forward to “meeting the teachers and students. Getting involved in school activities and watching school sports.”

One of her most memorable moments as a student was in first grade when her teacher Mrs. Backer sent her back to her desk for talking during story time. 

“I was devastated because I never got in trouble at school,” she said.