Each new school year brings fresh energy, perspectives, and talents to the Hanover Community School Corporation. For the 2025–2026 school year, we are thrilled to welcome an outstanding group of educators and staff members to our schools. Whether they are brand-new to teaching, transitioning to a new role, or bringing years of experience from other districts, each one is dedicated to supporting our students, families, and community.

Our new staff members come from diverse backgrounds and have a wide range of talents and interests, but they all share a common goal — to inspire and guide our students toward academic success, personal growth, and a lifelong love of learning.

Kim Wulitich is joining the Lincoln Elementary team to cover a maternity leave for a 1st grade teacher. She brings 9 years of teaching experience in kindergarten, 3rd grade, and 5th grade. A graduate of Knox High School, she earned her degree in Elementary Education from Western Governors University. Mrs. Wulitich has been married to her husband, Joe, for 20 years, and they have three children: Cameron (27), Ethan (18), and Carter (16). She enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with family and friends. A summertime enthusiast, she jokes that she would hibernate all winter if she could. She shared, “I am really looking forward to continuing my career at Hanover. I am excited to get to know the staff, students, and families, and have a great school year!”

Deb Meekma will remain at Red Cedars Elementary School, but is transitioning from Computer Coordinator to STEM teacher. Mrs. Meekma has served Hanover for 12 years in various roles, gaining valuable experience along the way. She graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School, attended Purdue University, and holds a graduate-level certification in STEM from the University of Indianapolis. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a STEM concentration at Indiana Wesleyan University. Married to her husband, Bill, for nearly 28 years, they have three children: Cameron (25), Corinne (22), and Courtenay (18). She enjoys reading (especially Stephen King), watching movies, football, and hockey, cooking, learning new things, and spending time with loved ones. Reflecting on her time at Hanover, she said, “I’ve come to really appreciate the strong sense of community that makes Hanover so special. I love our students, our families, and the way this district feels like home for so many, generation after generation. It’s amazing to see former students return to raise their families and give back. I’m proud to be a part of that story and honored to keep serving the Hanover family.”

McKenzie Oszust is joining the Red Cedars 4th-grade team. A new teacher with two years of substitute teaching experience and a full year of student teaching in a 1st grade classroom, she graduated from Lake Central High School and later attended Purdue University West Lafayette. Recently married to her husband of almost six years, she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with family and friends. Mrs. Oszust is a fan of 70s, 80s, and 90s country music, loves The Blind Side, and enjoys Duck Dynasty. She said she looks forward to “contributing to the academic success and well-being of the students at HCSC and building positive relationships with everyone.”

Bryan Sobczak will teach geometry and algebra 1 at Hanover Central High School. He graduated from Merrillville High School, earned his bachelor’s degree in middle/secondary education from Butler University, and previously taught algebra 1 and 2 at Lebanon High School for two years. Mr. Sobczak enjoys bowling, trivia and bingo nights with friends, video games, and listening to Kelly Clarkson and Taylor Swift. His favorite book is Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. He is the youngest of three siblings, has a brother who lives in Alaska, and is proud of his 99-year-old grandfather, a World War II veteran. He also has a cat named Beverly. He shared, “I’m so excited to begin working in the Hanover Community School Corporation. I want my students to feel empowered to learn from their mistakes and become strong problem-solvers.”

Brandon Lopez joins the Hanover Central High School social studies department to teach world history. He graduated from Lake Central High School and Indiana University Northwest and also completed the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and the Ironworkers 395 Apprenticeship. A familiar face in the district, Mr. Lopez student taught at Hanover Central High School and served as a long-term substitute at Hanover Central Middle School last spring. Married to his wife, Sayra, for five years, they share their home with two dogs: Babu, a Belgian Malinois, and Kuhlina, a German Shepherd. He enjoys working out, biking, wrestling, baseball, and fishing. He said, “I am excited to start this teaching journey at Hanover Central and share my knowledge of history with all of my future students. I am also excited to get involved with the community’s rich tradition of wrestling and keeping that tradition going.”

Mary Albrecht is joining Hanover Central High School to teach PLTW Engineering. She graduated from Seton Academy in South Holland, IL, earned her bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College, and her master’s in education from Valparaiso University. Certified in Technology Education, Mrs. Albrecht taught at Seton Academy from 2004–2008, St. Rita of Cascia High School from 2008–2014, and Bishop Noll Institute from 2014–2025. Married to her husband, Mark, since 2008, they have two children, Jimmy (15) and Maeve (11). She enjoys reading, re-watching Gilmore Girls, spending time with her family and their dog, Cody, as well as podcasts, Legos, and puzzles. She shared, “I’m excited about the opportunity to teach Engineering at Hanover Central High School. My husband and I are always impressed with the level of education that both our children have received at all of the Hanover schools. I love that I get to be a part of the community that I have respected for so long.”

Michael Schassburger III is also joining the Hanover Central High School team as the business and marketing teacher. A graduate of Munster High School, he earned his degree from Ball State University. He spent one year as a substitute teacher at Munster High School and another year teaching at Griffith High School. He has also been coaching baseball for five years. Mr. Schassburger has two younger brothers and enjoys Star Wars, baseball, hanging out with friends, reading, and going to the movies. He shared, “I am looking forward to meeting all of my new students at Hanover Central High School and getting involved with their baseball program.”

Adam Farster will teach Graphic Arts at Hanover Central High School. He graduated from Hammond High School, attended Columbia College Chicago, and transitioned into teaching through Calumet College of St. Joseph. He is currently working toward his master’s degree in education from Indiana University. Mr. Farster taught at Portage High School for seven years, the Gary Career Center for one year, and Ivy Tech for one year. Married to his wife, Kristen, for 18 years, they have two daughters: Lorelai (11) and Emily (8). He enjoys live music, traveling, camping, hiking, and movies, and is also a freelance illustrator and comic book artist. His favorite band is Pearl Jam, his favorite movie is Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and his favorite place is the Canadian Rockies. He said, “I am thrilled to bring my 20+ years of graphic design experience to Hanover. My love for design and creating, along with providing real-world creative opportunities in design, animation, and visual storytelling, to our students will be exciting and fun!”

Tony Bartolomeo joins Hanover Central High School as the Dean of Students and Head Football Coach. He graduated from Merrillville High School and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University. With 26 years of education and coaching experience at Lake Central, Duneland Schools, Munster, Merrillville, Crown Point, and Lowell, Mr. Bartolomeo brings a wealth of leadership to his new role. He has been married to his wife, Angela, for 23 years, and they have two sons—both Hanover graduates—Tony (21) and Rocco (18), who are attending Purdue University Lafayette. He enjoys coaching, working out, music, and working on cars and trucks. He said, “I am very excited and proud to be a Wildcat. I look forward to making a positive difference each and every day to my students.”

Catherine Fanno joins the Red Cedars Elementary 4th-grade team. She graduated from Crown Point High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University. A new teacher, she has experience as a long-term substitute in a 1st grade classroom in Crown Point Schools. Ms. Fanno lives in her hometown of Crown Point with her parents, brother, and her dog, Sugar. She enjoys exploring nature, traveling, listening to all types of music, doing puzzles, and spending time with family and friends. She shared, “I am thrilled to be teaching 4th grade at Red Cedars this upcoming school year! I cannot wait to share my love for learning with my students. I am so grateful for the opportunity to join HCSC and to grow as an educator!”

Alyssa Dickelman is joining the 6th-grade team at Hanover Central Middle School to teach Language Arts. She graduated from Andrean High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue Northwest. Mrs. Dickelman previously taught at Jefferson Elementary School in Hammond for three years and Kahler Middle School in Dyer for one year. Married to her husband, Cory, for two years, they have a one-year-old son, Everette, and a black lab named Adeline. She enjoys reading, traveling, and working out, and is a fan of Taylor Swift and Luke Combs. She said, “My family and I recently built a home in the area, so I cannot wait to join HCMS, meet the students, and see what Hanover is all about!”

Kourtney Iler will teach biology at Hanover Central High School. A graduate of Crown Point High School, she attended Purdue University West Lafayette. She taught for three years at Kahler Middle School in Lake Central Schools before serving as the Youth Experience Director at Camp Triangle Hills of Crossroads YMCA. Mrs. Iler has been married to her husband, Dallin, for five years, and they have two children—Jonah (3) and Arie (1). She plays the violin and met her husband in high school orchestra. She enjoys adventuring with her family at parks, farmers markets, or even while running errands. She said, “I am honored to join the team at HCSC and look forward to a great school year!”

Corinne Meekma is temporarily joining the Red Cedars Elementary team as the art teacher to cover a maternity leave. Born and raised in Cedar Lake, she graduated from Hanover Central before earning her degree from Indiana University Northwest. A new teacher, she completed student teaching at all Hanover schools except Jane Ball. Her mother, Deb Meekma, will be teaching next door to her at Red Cedars. She has an older brother and a younger sister and enjoys art, spending time with friends, shopping, and cooking. She said, “I am excited to teach at Red Cedars and teach students how to have a passion for art.”

Jalen Lopossa will teach Strength and Conditioning at Hanover Central High School. He graduated from Martinsville High School and earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Purdue University. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS-NSCA) and has three years of experience as a powerlifting coach, one year as a collegiate strength and conditioning coach, and two years as a youth football assistant coach. Recently married to his high school sweetheart, Maddy, they have two dogs—Rocky and Waylon—and two cats—Sunny and Mr. Mann. A professional powerlifting athlete, his favorite movies include Guardians of the Galaxy, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and The Thing (1982), and his favorite musicians include Metallica, ABBA, The Clash, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin. He said, “I am excited to begin working with all of our student athletes and I look forward to helping them grow both on and off the field. My mission for the program is to build a strong athletic foundation that supports long-term athlete development while also fostering a positive weight room culture rooted in hard work, dedication, and teamwork. Wildcat Strong!”

Claire Shenker is joining the 7th-grade team at Hanover Central Middle School to teach English/Language Arts. She graduated from Marian Catholic High School and attended Purdue University. This will be her second year teaching. Ms. Shenker has three sisters, two parents, and a mini poodle named Teddy. She enjoys golfing, reading, and listening to music, especially Taylor Swift. She said, “I am very excited to get involved in the HCSC community and continue growing my passion for teaching!”

Kylie Clay will be teaching 3rd grade at Red Cedars Elementary. A graduate of Hanover Central High School and Purdue University Northwest, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, going to concerts, and practicing Pilates. She said, “I am excited to come back to Hanover Central and give back to the community that shaped me!”

Jalyssa Paredes is joining Lincoln Elementary as the computer coordinator. She graduated from Crete Monee High School and has three brothers, two dogs (Riley and Roscoe), and two ball pythons (Mr. Maui and Mr. Lumiere). She enjoys reading romance and fantasy books, playing pickleball with her roommate, going on long walks, and doing nail art. She said, “I'm excited to join HCSC as the Computer Coordinator! I look forward to introducing our youngest learners to the world of technology, building skills in keyboarding, digital creativity, and problem-solving through coding and interactive tools. It’s a joy to help spark curiosity and confidence in tech from an early age!”

The 2025–2026 school year promises to be full of learning, growth, and memorable experiences for our students, and we are confident that these new staff members will make a lasting impact in their classrooms and beyond. We warmly welcome each of them into the Hanover family and look forward to seeing the incredible contributions they will make throughout the year. Here’s to a great school year!