On August 16, 2023, Platteview High School officially welcomed six new teachers and staff members to the Trojan family: Katie Wallman, Alexander Steinke, Katelynn Caniglia, Megan Poppen, and Addison Muhlbach.
Katie Wallman
One of the new friendly faces students see in the morning is at the PHS front desk. Upon arriving at Platteview, Mrs. Wallman said, “My first impression of PHS was that everyone was so welcoming and friendly.” Seeking a challenge and a career that allows her to work with others, Mrs. Wallman decided to become a school administrative assistant. Outside of school hours, Mrs. Wallman loves reading, working out, traveling, and hanging out with her family and friends.
Alexander Steinke
An enthusiastic new band director, Mr. Steinke knew at a young age that teaching was something he would excel at. He also felt that teaching was something that would be rewarding to put his full effort into every day. “My love for music went hand in hand with my drive to be an educator. Over the years, my methods and philosophy have grown but my love for spreading the joy of music making has and always will remain the same,” he said. Currently, his focus is set on the Marching Band show, The Greatest Showman. Mr. Steinke is proud of the band students’ hard work and determination so far this year. Outside of school, he enjoys fishing, kayaking, biking, and playing with his loyal canine, Clarke.
Katelynn Caniglia
The high school’s new FCS teacher, Miss Caniglia, a Platteview graduate, was thrilled to have the opportunity to return as an educator. Her love for baking motivated her to seek a career in cooking education. In addition to baking, Miss Caniglia enjoys reading.
Megan Poppen
Thrilled to be in the same school district as her three children, the PHS new science teacher also taught at Plattsmouth for 14 years before coming to Platteview. When she was still just in elementary school, she knew that she wanted to teach. As early as 2nd grade, Mrs. Poppen was fascinated by her science classes, saying, “We would be given challenges that we had to take home and then build something to see what worked best. My 10th grade Biology teacher was just animated/shared her love of science and solidified my decision to teach in science.” Her passion for science has continued to grow. Her hobbies include reading and gardening, and she will coach volleyball for PHS this year.
Addison Muhlbach
Miss Muhlbach joined the Trojan family as the new PHS English teacher. The desire to build positive student relationships motivated her to follow an educational career path. She finds joy in providing her students someone who wholeheartedly wants the best for them. Miss Muhlbach is a passionate sports fan, and she cannot wait to attend every game she can. Additionally, she’s excited to be coaching both One Act and Speech. In her free time, Miss Muhlbach enjoys reading and writing. “I’m an English teacher through and through, so you will always find me with a book.”
