New teachers join St. Timothy

By Brenda Erdahl:

Students at St. Timothy Catholic School in Maple Lake will see a few new faces in the hallways and classrooms when school starts, Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Among the new faces are three new teachers: Steve Ketter (PE) Mary Kline (music) and Maria Metz (MS and Resource Teacher).

Steve Ketter

Ketter grew up in Appleton, WI and attended Appleton East High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – La Cross in 2007 with a degree in Recreation Management and a minor in Business Administration. He will teach physical education for pre-K through eighth grade and middle school health at St. Timothy. Before joining the St. Tim staff, Ketter was a sports director with the YMCA.

“I am very much looking forward to the upcoming school year. I’m thrilled to be working at a values-based school doing something I am passionate about. I enjoy working with young people and seeing the progress they make throughout the year,” he said.

Ketter lives in St. Louis Park with his wife Sarah and their two daughters, Sophie (8) and Shay (5).

Mary Kline

Kline will teach kindergarten through eighth grade music at St. Tim’s. She holds a Music Education degree from Viterbo University in La Crosse WI. Her major instrument was piano, but she also studied voice. Kline also gives private piano, voice, and guitar lessons. Kline has spent most of her working years as a parish musician and continues to serve in that capacity at St. Henry’s in Monticello. She found out about the opening at St. Tim’s through a piano student. Kline has not been in the classroom for 14 years and said it has been an eye-opening experience, but so far, she has enjoyed working with the other staff at St. Tim’s.

“They are the greatest people to work with. I have enjoyed meeting and teaching the students. I have enjoyed digging into music history and past and present composers and sharing my love of classical music with the students. I hope that some of them continue their musical education in band, orchestra, community, or church choirs, and possibly even one or two may decide to be music teachers, music directors or professional performers,” she said.

Maria Metz

Metz is a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Winsted. She attended the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Textile, Clothing and Housing Design. She also completed a Cohort program at St. Thomas University for teaching.

Metz will be teaching enrichment courses at St. Timothy this year to middle school aged students in grades six through eight. She will also be a Resource Teacher for grades four through eight.

Metz is a familiar face at St. Tim’s. She has worked at the school in various roles since 1998 and is a St. Timothy alumni. Her most recent position was last year as a long-term substitute teacher. She said she chose to work at St. Timothy because she loves what they are about.

“I love that I can live my faith and teach using my faith. We are a family here and the atmosphere makes me feel at home,” she said. “I am very excited about the upcoming school year and my new positions. I look forward to working more closely with the middle school. It will be fun to see the students again after the summer break and start off the year refreshed with renewed energy.”

Metz and her husband Robert live in her hometown of Maple Lake where they raised three daughters, Victoria, Kathryn, and Christina. The couple also have six grandchildren. Metz’s children are also graduates of St. Timothy School.

“I wanted to become a teacher because I thought it would be exciting to work with children, help them learn and see them grow,” she said. “I love engaging with all the wonderful, different personalities and I find it very rewarding to be a part of a child’s enrichment, witnessing their growth academically, socially and spiritually.”