Malta Public Schools Welcomes New Staff

Bright, smiling and eager faces of new staff welcomed students to school for the 2023-2024 school year.

Malta students began the year on Wednesday, August 23. Here are some of the additions to the staff at Malta Public Schools.

Mikayla Huber comes from Chandler, Ariz.; she is 29 years of age. She has a bachelor's degree from ASU and a masters in teaching from WGU. Huber's favorite sports are archery and volleyball. Her hobbies are drawing and reading. She will be teaching Science.

Mikayla Huber's life dream is to travel every continent.

Roy McKenney comes to Malta Public Schools from Billings, Mont.; he is filling the vacancy left with the retirement of Eric Engebretson. He is the band teacher for grades 5-12. He has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Montana in Missoula in Music Education. He also holds a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from MSU-Bozeman. Roy McKenney has taught for 11 years, with the last seven years being held at Billings Senior High. His enthusiasm is evident and he is enjoying Malta.

Malta High School welcomes Katie Smith to the staff. She will be teaching Consumer Science and eighth grade math. Her degree of a Bachelor's in Family and Consumer Science was obtained at George Fox University; she has spent the last nine years managing Westside Self Service. She said she enjoyed working alongside the staff, however, decided it was time for a change. She can utilize her original career path and teach FCS; she states she is excited for the new adventure.

Katie Smith's daughter, Sadie, is in the seventh grade. She enjoys cooking, rock hunting, traveling, and her cats, Lucky and Bella, and Koko, her dog. She enjoys time with family and friends and live music.

Born and raised on a family ranch in Missoula, Kaitlyn Indreland has an older sister and younger brother. She has a BA from U of M and is continuing her education at MSU-Northern for her Masters in Counseling. She enjoys all sports, but loves volleyball and softball. She is the Middle/High School Counselor.

"I am excited for this new adventure and can't wait to give back to this community that has been so welcoming and kind to me. Go Big Blue!"

Once here as a student, Class of 2014, MHS welcomes Evan Grabofsky to the staff. He attended Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and graduated with an Associate of Science Degree in Information Technology in 2016.  

During the past seven years he has been working in the IT industry expanding his skill sets. "When this position for IT Director opened at Malta Public Schools, I jumped at the opportunity."

"My interest in technology started at a very young age. First it started with battery powered Lego's which eventually morphed into audio/video equipment such as TV's, VCR's and DVD players. Then, after that, when my family got internet installed in 2008 and purchased a brand new PC, I knew this is the type of career I would pursue."

Not a "new" face in the crowd, Mendy Estill will be teaching one Ag Science class at MHS. She previously taught science classes at MHS and is now working at the Phillips County Hospital in Human Resources. She and her husband Sean have lived in Malta nine years now, their son Eion is a MHS graduate now enrolled in the nursing program at MSU-Billings.

She loves chocolate, coffee and annoying her family "with constant enthusiasm for absolutely everything."

MHS also welcomes Dara Wilke as a Middle School Paraprofessional. A graduate of Havre, she attended MSU-Northern and is married to Eric Wilke; they have owned Todd's Technology Store (also known as Radio Shack) since 1999. They have three daughters; one has graduated from MHS and two are currently students.

All staff at the schools were sent inquiries about the teacher introduction article, as of print time, these are the responses received. Any additional responses will be provided next week.