Several new teachers will join Cedar staff

HARTINGTON — First-year Cedar Catholic principal and longtime Cedar Catholic athletic director Chad Cattau has announced the hiring of four new teachers to complete the certified teaching staff at the high school.

Blair Kalin, who retired from Hartington-Newcastle this spring after a 30-plus-year career there, will take his talents across the street for 2023-24.

Kalin will be involved in the strength training program as well as junior high physical education. He also will be the head track coach for the Trojans and Lady Trojans, replacing Cattau in that position after Cattau relinquished those duties to embark on his career as the principal at Cedar Catholic.

'Blair will bring a lot of experience and knowledge to our strength and training program and coaching,' Cattau said. 'He already has a relationship with a lot of our students, so that part of his transition will be much easier.'

Kalin is excited for the challenge. 'This all just came up late in the spring,' Kalin said. 'I was looking at doing some other things, but this was too good to pass up. They have great kids and great athletes at Cedar, great people and a lot of support — it's kind of the same thing I've been doing, just a change in address. I really like the Hartington area and can't wait to get started.'

Russ Gade will be teaching business classes and assisting with some junior high coaching.

'Russ also brings a lot of years of classroom experience and administrative experience to our faculty,' Cattau said. 'He has been a teacher, principal and superintendent during his career.'

Miranda Bernecker will be teaching a variety of math classes at Cedar Catholic.

Bernecker has three children enrolled at the school and has had two children graduate from Cedar Catholic. She is also a former member of the Cedar Catholic Board of Education.

'She has a lot of knowledge of our school as a substitute in the past and from being on the school board,' Cattau said. 'She has a lot of investment in our school system.'

Teresa Hoffart will be taking over the high school English program at Cedar Catholic.

'She has been a librarian in Lincoln while working on her teaching degree and she has some family members here in Hartington,' Cattau said. 'She will have a great support system as she begins her teaching career.'