Meet the newest Hill City teachers

Five new teachers joined the Hill City School District staff this year. We reached out to all of them to learn more about who they are and what they will be teaching.

Two teachers are brand new to teaching. Lexi Johnson is one of them and will teach fourth and fifth grade special education. Johnson went to Black Hills State University, and just  graduated in May. 

“I absolutely love the ‘aha’ moments, the look a student gets when they finally understand what you are teaching,” Johnson said about teaching her subject matter. 

She is excited to share her love of learning and teaching. In her spare time, she can be found outside and being active with her friends. 

Alyssa Mitchell is also a first-year teacher and will teach ninth and 10th grade English. She got her degree from Chadron State (Neb.) College in the spring. 

“I love the amount of creativity that can be involved in reading and writing, and I love bringing that creativity to students. Reading and writing can be fun, and I love being able to prove that to students and encourage them to step outside of their comfort zone and explore new perspectives,” said Mitchell about her subject matter.  

She is most excited to “bring my creative voice and ideas,” to her students.

“I hope to make my classroom a safe space for students to express themselves and find a new love for not only reading and writing, but for school in general.”

Not a surprise for an English teacher, Mitchell herself loves to write, journal and read in her spare time. She also enjoys running, hiking and exploring the outdoors.

In the spring, Mitchell will be the assistant track coach.

The Limmers, Josh and Taylyn, are also fairly new to teaching. Josh graduated from Black Hills State University in 2025 with a degree in Physical Education and Health and completed his first year of teaching at the White Lake School District. 

In Hill City he will teach middle and high school physical education, sports physiology, health, fitness and nutrition, outdoor lifestyle and History of Sports. 

“I am excited to be your child’s teacher this school year,” Limmer said. 

His outdoor lifestyle class will allow students “to have opportunities to learn about the outdoors and appreciate the beautiful environment we have right in our backyard. “

Josh brings excitement to the classroom. 

“One of the things I enjoy most about teaching is getting to interact with so many different students throughout the day. I have a passion for helping students learn how to make healthy choices through physical activity, exercise, nutrition and lifelong wellness. I feel very fortunate to teach subjects that allow students to learn through both classroom instruction and hands-on experiences,” Josh said.

He is also, “excited to continue growing as a teacher and to be a part of the Hill City School District community.” 

When not teaching, Josh is spending time outdoors, usually on the water. He enjoys hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and playing pickleball. 

Taylyn Limmer also graduated from Black Hills State University in May 2025. This is her second year teaching, and she will teach fourth grade for the first time. Taylyn loves to build relationships with her students. 

“I love getting to know all the students on a deeper level. They all have such unique personalities. I also love when you get to see a student’s ‘aha’ moment when they are learning,” she said.

Like Josh, Taylyn is bringing a lot of excitement to the classroom. 

“I look forward to bringing my positive attitude, enthusiasm and commitment to creating a welcoming environment to the Rangers community,” she said. 

In her spare time Taylyn bakes, hikes and reads.

New teacher Sarah Daniels declined comment, but she will be the new district high school science teacher.