South Haven News

By Emmalee Burden and Sydnie Rae

South Haven has several new teachers and staff joining us this 2024-2025 school year.

Kamdyn Butler

Kamdyn Butler is the South Haven Junior High volleyball coach. She is 19 years old and graduated from South Haven High School in 2023. Butler has been playing volleyball for six years but this is her first year coaching. When Butler was asked if she was enjoying coaching she replied with, “Yes, although it is a lot of responsibility to take on.” Her favorite spot to teach and play is middle hitter. Butler believed that each and every one of the girls are improving every day.

Jessica Brown

Jessica Brown is South Haven School’s new secretary. She is from South Haven and Graduated in 2021 from South Haven High School. She attended Cowley Community College, where she spent some time in EMS and recently switched to being a secretary for a change of pace.

She chose South Haven because she lives here and Brown was ready for something new. When asked how she was enjoying South Haven and being the Secretary, she said, “Yes I am, It keeps me very busy.”

Keely Coon

Keeley Coon is the new K-12 Music Teacher for South Haven Schools. She is from
Eureka, KS, and attended college at Sterling University. She was led to teaching by the teachers who have influenced her the most. She chose South Haven for the small community and students.

Coon chose music because “ It has always been an important part of my life and everyone deserves music education”. Coon said that she is very much enjoying South Haven and “Everyone is Amazing and Kind.”

Chelsea Metzinger

Chelsea Metzinger is the South Haven Junior High cheer coach for the Outlaws. She is 37 years old and graduated from Cowley College. She coached in Ark City for two years and this is now her first year coaching cheer. When they were legal Metzinger’s favorite stunt was a basket toss. Her favorite part of being the cheer coach is that she has the opportunity to incorporate the community, community service, personal and team goals into the team.

Metzinger wanted to coach because the opportunity came up and she wanted to be involved with South Haven and her children. She says that one thing she really enjoys about the girls is how they like a challenge and are really fun to be around. Cheer is her favorite sport and when it comes to teaching, basing is her favorite thing to do and teach. Metzinger wanted to add that in her HS class she was voted most spirited.

Christian Ward

Christian Ward is South Haven’s new K-8th Physical Education teacher. Coach Ward is from Caldwell, KS, and attended Wichita State University. He chose South Haven for the Small Community and it was close to home. He was led to teach and be a coach for his love for sports and teaching kids.

Ward’s inspiration is Coach Sean Blosser who was his high school coach. Ward is currently the assistant football coach and plans on coaching basketball and possibly track. When asked how Ward was enjoying South Haven, he said “I am enjoying South Haven and the small community.”

Olivia Winter

Olivia Winter is the South Haven Elementary Kindergarten teacher. She is 24 years old and graduated from Friends University. Winter wanted to be a teacher because she came from a long line of teachers. She is enjoying South Haven and when she was asked if this was the only vocation she ever wanted she said “Yes.”

Winter has two class aids, Mae Nicholson and Maddie Minor. She believed staying calm is the best thing to do when teaching gets rough and her mother is her biggest role model. Growing up, her favorite school teacher was Mrs. Schwartz. When she was asked how she always makes a positive impression on the kids she said, “Always have a smile because they know how you feel.”