Six new certified staff members have joined Amboy School District 272 for the 2009-10 school year.



Amber Grenda

School/subject: School counselor

Previous experience: One year as a school counselor for Shiloh School District, Hume, Ill.

Education: Eastern Illinois University, Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Master’s degree in school counseling

Family: Married to Michael Grenda, who is a school psychologist for the Ottawa Elementary School District

Hobbies/pets: One orange tabby cat named Sneezy, hiking, puzzles, traveling

“I am very excited to be working with the Amboy district!”



Ron Gruber

School/subject: Assistant principal/athletics director, Amboy High School

Previous experience: 11 years teaching in Kentucky, seven years as athletics director, one year as assistant principal

Education: Illinois State University, B.A. in physical education; Morehead State University, M.A. in educational administration

Family: wife, Ronelia; daughter, Alexa, 3

Hobbies: football, baseball, traveling with family



Andrea Henry

School/subject: Amboy High School – English II, drama, In the News, advanced speech

Previous experience: first year; student taught at Peoria Woodruff High School

Education: A.S. at Sauk Valley Community College, B.A. in English education at Illinois State University

Family: My dad farms in the Harmon area and my mom is a manager at Wal-Mart. My brother works in Chicago designing power plants.

Hobbies/pets: reading, fashion, music, the Cubs and my dog, Little Ann

“I’m very excited to be teaching in a close-knit community so close to home.”



Dan Rodriguez

School/subject: Amboy Junior High, 7th and 8th grade special education

Previous experience: first year

Education: Illinois State University

Family: family lives in Sterling. Mom works at Wahl Clipper as an accountant and dad works at East Moline Correctional Facility as an electrician. Two brothers, one attends the University of Iowa and the other attends Sauk Valley Community College.

Hobbies/pets: listening to music and coaching; two dogs, Scooby and Marley, both are Labs

“Really looking forward to getting to know the students, faculty and community.”



Jennifer Smith

School/subject: Amboy High School, English

Previous experience: student taught in DeKalb and was a substitute for Whiteside County from March 2009 to June 2009

Education: Sauk Valley Community College, A.A.; Northern Illinois University, B.A., English

Family: Live with boyfriend and two dogs

Hobbies/pets: Two mastiffs, Nala and Kira, and a miniature dachshund, Lucky; enjoy reading, exercising, the Cubs!

“Looking forward to a great year!”



Arthur Wyckoff

School/subject: Amboy High School, English

Previous experience: student taught at Glenwood High School in Chatham

Education: Black Hawk College, A.A.; Illinois State University, B.A.

Hobbies: tennis, softball, movies

“I’m looking forward to the upcoming school year!”