Zach Mason, 32, is a new junior/senior high physical education teacher at Uniontown.
He attended Fort Scott Community College, McPherson College, and Fort Hays University.
His teaching experience includes one year as a K-6 Special Education teacher at Dighton Elementary School, one year Special Education Para at St. John-Hudson Elementary School, and seven years K-12 Physical Education/Weights and Conditioning instructor at Crest Schools.
His hometown is Uniontown.
He and his wife, Megan Mason, have three daughters Markayla, Paxton, and Rory.
Outside of school he enjoys golf, softball, hunting, and spending time with family.
He wanted to become a teacher to help kids find the fun in staying active, he said. and his college track coach, Robert Spies, inspired him to teach.
The best part of teaching for Mason is “Seeing kids progress and do things they might have thought they couldn’t do.”
What are the challenges?
“Trying to get kids to understand that running and lifting are not the only ways to stay physically active. He wants students to understand that exercise as simple as walking, golfing, and bowling have health benefits.”
Luke Davis has been hired by USD 235 to teach math at the junior high school.
“Since Luke Davis still needs to complete a semester of student teaching, Ed Ramsey will also be in the room with him during the first semester,” USD 235 Superintendent Vance Eden said. “Ed is a retired teacher who moved to Uniontown a year or two ago. Last year he was a substitute teacher and substitute bus driver for the district. Luke will be providing the majority of the instruction. Once Luke graduates in the fall, he would then be able to assume the full responsibilities as the teacher.”
Davis graduated from Uniontown High School, before attending Pittsburg State University.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2022, for a special board meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board heard a presentation of the revenue neutral recommendation from Gina Shelton, Finance Director/Board Clerk. The revenue neutral hearing was held. One patron addressed the Board.
The board heard a presentation of the budget from Superintendent Destry Brown and Mrs. Shelton. The budget hearing was held. There were no patrons that addressed the Board.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
The board approved the following items at the meeting:
Resolution 22-07 – Expressing the Property Taxation Policy of USD 234 with respect to exceeding the Revenue Neutral Tax Rate
Approval of the 2022-23 Budget with the Building Needs Assessment and State Assessments having been provided to and evaluated by the Board of Education as used in the budget approval process
Resolution 22-08 – Local Option Budget Percentage to use in 2022-23 Budget
Approve revision of calendar
Tiger Families – Students will not attend on September 19th so that the district can have a professional development day to focus on safety and training. Students will attend on May 1st
Approve MOU with Greenbush for special education director
Personnel Report – following
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Leave of Absence – Tim Coyan, FSPC Van Driver
Leave of Absence – Gordon Harris, Eugene Ware/FSPC custodian, Aug. 18 to Sept. 18, 2022
Resignation – Tamara McReynolds, Eugene Ware paraprofessional
This is a series on new educators in Bourbon County.
USD 235 has six new teachers and all new administrators: new elementary principal, new jr.and sr. high school principal and new superintendent. School starts on August 25.
Kaitlyn Bradbury and her family. Submitted photo.
Kaitlyn Bradbury, 33, is a new fifth-grade teacher at West Bourbon Elementary, Uniontown.
She earned a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University in 2010 and a Masters in Educational Leadership in 2014.
Previously Bradbury has worked as a WBE-Title 1 Math teacher for two years and 4th-grade for four years from 2010-2016.
Her hometown is Uniontown.
She and her husband Tony have three girls Khloe (8), Laine (4), and Andie (1).
Outside of teaching her interests are gardening, spending time in New Mexico, volleyball officiating, and is a member of Dry Ridge Baptist Church.
Bradbury was born into a family of teachers, she said.
“Both of my parents taught at Uniontown, and our lives revolved around the activities that go along with being a teacher/administrator/coach.”
” My parents are quite inspiring to me. I know the positive impact that they made on their students, and I want to leave the same legacy that they did.”
“I love building a lifelong relationship with each of my students. It is rewarding to know that you helped make their school year memorable and that they had fun learning.”
A challenge she sees: “The misconceptions that some of the public have about teachers and what is being taught seems to currently be a big challenge. I take pride in knowing that Uniontown is a district with great teachers, and we all work very hard to see that our students are excelling.”
Rhonda Foster, 61, is a new 4th and 5th grade Math and English Teacher at West Bourbon Elementary School.
She earned a BSE at Sterling College, and a Masters of Special Education from Pittsburg State University.
She has two years experience in general education and five in special education. Her hometown is Moran.
She has two grown daughters and a 17 year-old granddaughter, a 15 year-old grandson and a 5-month-old granddaughter.
In her spare time she loves to bake, sew and crochet, as well as attending her grandchildren’s school activities.
In addition, “I help with Bible school and other church activities,” she said. “In the past I have been a 4-H leader.”
She started her career working as a para-educator and became interested so went back to school when her youngest child was in college.
” I just enjoy working in the school setting with both staff and students,” she said.
For Foster, the best part of teaching is making connections with the students.
A challenge she has experienced in the past is staff shortages, she said.
This is a series of features on the 26 new educators in Fort Scott.
School begins today for the district.
Bethany Anderson. Submitted photo.
Bethany Anderson, 23, will be teaching English at Fort Scott High School.
She earned her education at Emporia State University and has taught English at Lawrence High School.
Her hometown is Sterling, KS.
“My dad was my high school principal, now is a professor in the teaching department at Sterling College,” she said. “My mom is a school nurse where I did my student teaching.”
Outside of school she works at a coffee shop during the summers in Kansas City. She is in a sand volleyball league on Sunday and Friday nights. “I also really love playing tennis and reading books in my free time. On Wednesday nights I serve at my church for the high school youth program. I love being busy,” she said.
“I absolutely love English and it’s one of my biggest passions, but my first passion is loving kids well and building those relationships. That’s something I learned from my dad who has been in education for about 25 years. He taught me how to invest in kids first and then focus on the subject I teach. I think that has to be my favorite part of teaching, is the relationships I have built with the kids.”
“There are also some major challenges I have faced already in my short time teaching… hardships with administration support and feeling as if the kids weren’t a first priority in some decisions being made. It has also been an eye opener that there is a lot more that goes into teaching that they don’t mention in college or even during student teaching. I am excited to be apart of a smaller district where I already feel valued as an educator.”
Kim Carpenter. Submitted photo.
Kim Carpenter is an incoming 5th-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Before returning to college to earn her B.Ed. from Pittsburg State University when her youngest child was in kindergarten, she worked at Winfield Scott Elementary as a paraprofessional and teacher’s aide. Having four children of her own while working in an educational setting made teaching seem like a natural career choice for her. Carpenter earned her M.Ed. ion Curriculum and Instruction from William Woods University in 2014. She taught 14 years as an elementary teacher from Nevada, MO.
Carpenter’s hometown is Fort Scott.
Her daughter Jana and husband Michael and their two sons Randy and Liam call Fort Scott home, as well at her son Jon and wife Rachel and their daughter, Evelyn. Her son Kyle and his wife Anna live in Erie and her daughter Kelsey and her husband Drew reside in Bentonville, AR.
When Carpenter isn’t spending time with her family, she enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking. Apart from spending time in nature, she loves crafting, researching her family history, and going to flea markets. She is actively involved at her church, Faith Church.
Carpenter can’t say that any one teacher inspired her to become a teacher, but she has been blessed to have been impacted by many top-notch educators. Some of the most memorable include Don Miller, Fred Campbell, Jr., Barbara Albright, Joyce Sinn, Jean and Jack Gilmore, Connie Neil, and Pat Lamb to name a few.
She says the best part of teaching is building relationships with each new group of students who come through her classroom. Her philosophy is “relationships first and everything else will follow.”
Carpenter says there are many challenges educators face today. While there are so many things outside of our control, she says we can focus on the areas where they can have the most impact while still having fun.
Chad Ruddick, 39, will teach 11th grade English at FSHS.
He earned a Bachelors Degree in Pre-law from Pittsburg State University, a Master’s in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Teaching from PSU, and a Specialist of Education in Educational Admin. from William Woods University.
Ruddick taught 10 years at North Middle School in Joplin, MO; one year at Chetopa High School, and five years at Pittsburg Community Middle School.
His hometown is Scammon, KS.
He and his wife Jennifer have two children: Hayden (16 year old son) and Lily (13 year old daughter).
Outside of teaching he enjoys hunting, fishing, video games, woodworking, volunteering as a cook/chef for local organizations feeding those in need, and volunteer work with families in need.
He became a teacher accidentally, he said.
“After attending law school, I began working as an Outreach Coordinator with the Alzheimer’s Association. In an attempt to be better in that role, I began taking teaching courses through PSU. When my office closed in December of 2007, I focused on finishing my Master’s in Teaching and focused on teaching secondary English. What began as a two year plan has led me to 15 beautiful years in the classroom.”
Many have inspired him over the years, he said. “My parents and family have inspired me to be a better teacher, and man. However, I truly feel like the students and families we serve have had a tremendous amount of influence on my desire to keep teaching while becoming better at the things I wish to improve on. Knowing I am helping those who need me is the driving force that fuels success in my life.”
“The best part of teaching for me is helping students and families. Whether it’s the struggling student who finally connects the dots, or the family that finds success outside the classroom, the best part of teaching is serving those in our communities.”
There are some challenges.
“We face many challenges in the classroom in 2022. The evolution of technology has greatly enhanced our ability to help students, but keeping up with the technology can be a hustle. Teachers must continue to step up their game to stay relevant and provide 21st Century skills to our students. On a larger scale, dwindling economics impacts our families in the southeast Kansas area and directly affects our students in the classroom. It takes a village to educate and raise our young people. Fort Scott does a great job of reaching our families, so I feel fortunate to be a part of the high school team!”
This is part of a series featuring the 26 new educators in USD 234. School starts on August 18.
David Heidrick. Submitted photo.
David Heidrik is a new seventh- grade Special Education teacher at Fort Scott Middle School.
This is his 11th year as an educator, all of those in special education.
“I spent 8 years at Prairie View as a middle school resource room teacher and I will hold the same position here,” he said.
“I am married with two boys,” he said. “My wife , Luisa, is from Peru and we met at Pittsburg State University. Our boys are Matt, age 6, and Jacob, age 3.”
He has a variety of interests outside of school.
“I am into athletics, I practice Jiu Jitsu, I have a garden, and I study ancient history among other hobbies,” he said.
Janet Fairbanks. Submitted photo.
Janet Fairbanks has been hired to teach sixth grade history.
She earned a bachelors degree from Pittsburg State University in elementary education, certified to teach K-9 .
“I retired from teaching almost two years ago,” she said. “I taught in Osawatomie for 26 years. I have taught elementary physical education, elementary librarian, fourth grade, fifth grade, and even did elementary music.”
She moved to Fort Scott last May.
” I spend most of my free time with my four married kids and 15 grandkids going to ball games and enjoying all of the different activities that they participate in.”
“Even though I have loved retirement, I miss the classroom! I decided I can do what I love, teaching, and I can also travel with my female companion, Blue, a mini Aussie. I do plan on traveling to all 50 states with her, maybe even get her on a plane to Hawaii!”
“I am looking forward to teaching In Fort Scott. The staff that I have met while substituting last year are pretty awesome! I am pretty excited to join the team at the middle school.”
Samantha Short. Submitted photo.
Samantha Short, 53 is a new Fort Scott Middle School Spanish teacher and remedial English teacher.
She graduated from Nevada High School in 1987.Then earned her bachelors, masters and specialist degrees from Pittsburg State University.
She taught Spanish in the Nevada School District for the last 28 years and just retired this year.
Nevada is her hometown since 1975.
She has been married for 31 years and has three children and two grandchildren. Katlyn is a 6th grade teacher in Nevada; Colton, lives in Connecticut and is an engineer for a company; and Hallie will be a senior at Pittsburg State University studying Construction Management.
“I love spending time with my family, working on our cattle farm, and traveling,” she said.
“I became a teacher because I had such a bad 4th-grade experience that I hoped to make sure that other students didn’t have the same bad year that I did. I hoped to make a difference in their lives.”
“The best part of teaching for me is being with the kids and learning all about them,” she said.
“I have found that the biggest challenge is keeping kids engaged in the learning process. They are so overstimulated with everything that they have to entertain them, that class can be boring, so you need to switch topics pretty often to keep their attention.”
This is part of a series featuring the 26 new educators in USD 234. The first day of classes is August 18.
Suzan Durnell. Submitted photo.
Suzan Durnell, 53, is a new elementary instructional coach who works with teachers and students at both Winfield Scott and Eugene Ware Elementary Schools in Fort Scott.
She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from College of the Ozarks, a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Missouri State University, and a Master’s Degree in Library Science and Information Services from University of Central Missouri.
Durnell taught fifth and sixth grades in Galena, MO, second grade in Aurora, MO, then third, second, and K-5th library skills (including reading and technology). In her 30 years of teaching she worked as a trainer for the Missouri Reading Initiative providing professional development and instructional coaching.
“I was raised in Vandalia, Missouri, graduated from Greenfield, Missouri, and have raised my own family in El Dorado Springs, Missouri. I claim each of these places as a hometown!”
Her husband, Mike will be teaching high school math at Fort Scott High School. They have been married for 31 years and recently moved to Nevada. They have two grown daughters. Jenna and her husband Quade live in Nixa, Missouri, where she works as a CPA, and Quade works as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Springfield, Missouri. Tessa and her husband, Kip, live in Hays, Kansas, where she works as an autism specialist and Kip teaches and coaches at Hays High School.
“My passion is education,” she said. “I have been fortunate to work in a field I love for all these years. I’m excited to extend my career in Fort Scott.”
“My father (a teacher, coach, principal, then superintendent) inspired my love of school,” she said. “My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Forgy, made teaching something I aspired to do.”
“The best part of teaching is the joy,” she said. “It might be joy in teaching a fun topic, joy in watching a student grasp a concept, joy in creating a community of learners, joy in play, or joy in working with talented colleagues. There’s always something that reminds me how very important the field of education is every day.”
“For me, it is a challenge to remain knowledgeable about how kids learn best. We’re learning more and more about the developing brain and how best to approach teaching. To make that even more challenging, kids’ brains are changing as they’re exposed to more technology than ever before. I feel responsible to stay on top of the most recent developments, and that’s hard to do.”
Vangie Korinke. Submitted photo.
Vangie Korinke, 40, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott.
She earned her Bachelors of Science in Sociology and Master of Arts in Teaching.
She has been a substitute teacher, and paraprofessional. This will be her first year as a classroom teacher.
Her hometown was Pleasanton, Kansas until she was 14 and Bethany, Oklahoma following that.
She has been married to husband Matt for 17 years, and they have three kids Dawson (15), Brody(13), and Lila (9).
Outside of teaching she loves baking, shopping, coffee with friends, walking, and family time. And she said her family enjoys being involved in their church, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene.
“Teaching is actually my second career to pursue,” she said. “I was an adoption specialist after receiving my bachelors in sociology in 2004. As a mom of school ages kids, I saw firsthand what a difference teachers can make in children’s lives. My kids had some great teachers who really inspired me to want to be that difference for other students. I’ve always admired my sister-in-law, Cristin Stark who has been an elementary teacher for years. I started sharing this new dream with her and she was a huge support during my journey to get here.”
“Several people have inspired me along my journey of becoming a teacher, she said. “But there are two people in particular who influenced me the most. My dad always saw the good in everyone and insisted there was always hope. I have seen seen so many students struggle in different ways. My dad inspired me to want to help others believe in themselves and this is true with students as well. The second person who strongly influenced me was my son’s second grade teacher, Kirstie (Cox) Dwyer. She has a gift and made my son believe he could, and so he did. It completely changed his path academically.”
The best part of teaching for her is encouraging students and cheering them on until they too believe in themselves. “And obviously it is amazing to be a part of helping them make gains and witnessing their growth,” she said. One of the challenges of teaching is finding ways to reach students with different learning styles and needs.
This is part of a series of features on the 26 new educators in USD 234. School starts on August 18 for Fort Scott schools.
Sydney Crapson. Submitted photo.
Sydney Crapson, 22, is a new first-grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School in Fort Scott.
She attended Fort Scott Community College and Pittsburg State University graduating in May of 2022 with an Elementary Education Unified degree.
She is a first generation college graduate, and this is her first year of teaching.
“I have spent my entire life around children and have always loved being with them!,” she said.
Her hometown is Walnut.
Her mother, Karen, is a para educator at Girard High School. Her dad, Brian, does body work on cars and is a part-time farmer.
“I have an older brother named Bailey who is a ranch hand and lives with me in Fort Scott,” she said. “They have been my biggest supporters and I am so thankful for them!”
In her spare time she loves to read and collect books, fish, golf and sew.
“I also love animals and spend most of my evenings walking my dog,” she said. “I have lived in this community for four years and have worked at a local small business for the majority of that time.”
“Growing up, I had many amazing teachers,” she said. “All of the good ones that stick out to me made sure to take the extra time to get to know me as a person rather than just another student. Because of that relationship, they had such a strong and positive impact on my life and I knew I wanted to be that person for someone else.”
“My third-grade teacher is the main person who inspired me to become a teacher myself,” she said. “She took the time to really notice me as a person and helped me through a very difficult year when I felt like I had no one. I will forever be grateful to her.”
“The best part of teaching for me is being able to see my students grow. The excitement on their face when they finally understand or have discovered something new is heartwarming!”
“I think the most challenging part of teaching for me is spending almost an entire year with the same students and then having to let them go in May,” she said.
Sierra Sprague. Submitted.
Sierra Sprague, 24, is a new K-2nd Grade Low Incident Special Education Teacher, who will be at Winfield Scott Elementary School in Fort Scott.
Sprague earned a Bachelor in Sports Management with an emphasis in business and a minor in marketing then went back and earned a masters in Elementary Education Unified degree.
Last year she was a 4th-5th Grade Resource teacher in De Soto. Her hometown is Olathe, and she is married to Nick Sprague.
In her spare time she loves to find new books and explore coffee shops.
“My husband is the Family Pastor at Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, so I do a lot of activities there for the youth,” she said.
“Growing up my mom was a counselor in the school district, so I grew up at the school many nights and summer days,” she said. “In kindergarten we had a kinder city and that is where my love for teaching started.”
However, she started her college major in business, but changed to teaching, she said.
“A lot of my teachers had a part in making me want to teach.They believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself. One teacher I remember was Ms. White, in 6th grade she told me that I could be whatever I wanted but I had to be willing to work for it and be ready for any obstacles that came.”
“The best part of teaching is seeing the smiles of kids, when they just figured out something that they were struggling with”
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2022, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
Minutes from July 11, 2022, Board of Education Meeting (with modification) and minutes from July 25, 2022, Special Board of Education Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Check Register
Payroll – July 20, 2022 – $1,289, 232.37
Activity Fund accounts
Audiology Contract with Greenbush
Low Incidence Contract with Greenbush
The board heard reports from FSKNEA, the Assistant Superintendent, and the Business Manager. The board received a presentation of the budget and reviewed a copy of the District Needs Assessment. Budget publications will also be posted to the district website.
The board approved the following items:
Superintendent Brown to proceed forward with negotiation and finalization of a MOU with the City of Fort Scott to expand the School Resource Officer program to include a second School Resource Officer.
Participation in the KDHE School Board Grant. The board heard from Ashley Hooper and Dan Duling with CHC regarding a KDHE grant to provide a school-based clinic that would provide access to a medical provider, additional nursing services, and mental health services for students and staff. The planned site is the Fort Scott High School, but services would be available to all students.
COVID updated guidance for the upcoming school year
2022-23 Employee Handbook
2022-23 No Limits Contract for physical therapy services
2022-23 Happy Kids Contract for preschool slots and classrooms
Middle school chiller replacement up to $200,000
Personnel Report – following
2022-23 Negotiated Agreement as amended to reflect an increase to the base salary and agreed upon items
Recommended increases for Administrators, Directors, and Special Services personnel
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters, negotiations to discuss reopening the 2022-23 negotiations, and then into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
Lannette Wood – Resignation as FSHS paraprofessional, effective August 6, 2022
Norma Floyd – Resignation as Winfield Scott paraprofessional, effective July 25, 2022
Lacey Miles – Resignation as Winfield Scott cook, effective August 2, 2022
Angella Curran – Resignation as FSHS speech/debate/forensics teacher, effective August 15, 2022
Delynn Abati – Resignation as FSHS play assistant
Josh Hudiburg – Resignation as FSMS basketball coach
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS – FOR THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR
Instructional Coaches – Additional 10 days added to contract
Ashley Wilcox – Winfield Scott After-Care Program Coordinator
Adam Feagins – FSMS Intramural Coach for the first, second, and third nine-weeks
Shelly Sanborn – FSHS paraprofessional
Jannah Farrington – District Dynamic Learning Map (DLM) Coordinator
Marci Mix – Eugene Ware Building Test Coordinator
Tracy Homan – FSMS Building Test Coordinator
Josh Messer – FSHS Building Test Coordinator
Ashley Wilcox – Winfield Scott Professional Development Chair
Marci Mix – Eugene Ware Professional Development Chair
Angie Kemmerer – FSMS Professional Development Chair
Sara Jackman – FSHS Professional Development Chair
Gordon Harris – Reassignment from FSMS custodian to FSPC/Eugene Ware Custodian
Dylan Goucher – Reassignment from FSPC/Eugene Ware custodian to FSHS Custodian
Allen Davis – Reassignment from FSMS/BOE custodian to FSMS Custodian
Alisha Watkins – Reassignment from FSHS custodian to FSMS/BOE Custodian
Anthony Ogle – Assigned to FSMS custodian position
Dixie Jackson – Assigned to FSHS custodian position
This is part of a series featuring the 26 new Fort Scott educators.
USD 234 students first day is August 18.
Mike Durnell. Submitted photo.
Mike Durnell, 54, is a new math teacher at Fort Scott High School.
His hometown is Moundville, MO.
He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education from College of the Ozarks, a Master’s Degree in education from Missouri State University, and a Specialist’s Degree in Education from William Woods University.
He has taught for 31 years.
Durnell began teaching high school math in LaMonte, Missouri, then taught math in Billings, Missouri and Aurora, Missouri at the middle and high school levels, then junior high math in El Dorado Springs, for many years before serving as the Activities Director. Most recently, he have taught junior high math in Uniontown.
He is married to Suzan and has two grown daughters, Jenna and Tessa. “Suzan will be working in the elementary schools in Fort Scott this coming school year, my daughters are married, working, and making the world a better place,” he said.
Outside of the classroom he enjoys hunting and fishing.
Durnell was influenced to teach by his high school teacher and coach, Randy Robertson, he said.
Students are the best part of teaching for Durnell, although there are some challenges.
“In teaching, we are faced with students being more distracted than ever,” he said. “It is a challenge to keep things interesting for them.”
Christie Smith with her family. Submitted photo.
Christie Lutter Smith, 48 is the Speech Language Pathologist for Eugene Ware Elementary, Fort Scott High, St. Mary’s Elementary, Christian Heights and Christian Learning Center all in Fort Scott.
“I am really looking forward to being a part of the Fort Scott School District,” she said. “I am looking forward to the upcoming school year and can’t wait to work with the kids and their families.”
Smith earned a Bachelor’s in Communication Disorders (Speech Language Pathology), then a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education, taught school, then earned a Master’s in Communication Disorders.
“I have been a speech therapist for over 20 years and have practiced in a variety of settings: schools, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. I love them all and feel blessed to love what I do.”
She and husband Dallas have been married 25 years and have three girls: Meg, 22, is getting married this fall; Ellie,17 will be a senior and “can’t wait for basketball season, and Cate,10a, ttends Saint Mary’s and pretty much loves everyone,” she said.
In her spare time she loves to travel, read, and has hobbbies of photography, music and art.
Smith’s other involvements in the community: Catholic High School Youth Leader, past Mercy Hospital Foundation Board member, a nursing home volunteer, Parent Teacher Organization, past board member of Mother to Mother Ministry, Relay for Life, PEO, and Magazine Club.
“I started college as a pre-med student; however, after taking a few classes in speech pathology I fell in love. Probably because I love to talk! As my classes went along I also fell in love with the special education field and became actively involved in the Special Olympics. All these exposures and experiences have aided me throughout my career.”
“Some of the greatest challenges I have faced in my career and continue to face is finding the resources our families need in Southeast Kansas. It may not be easy to find but there are amazing people and companies out there, a lot of them in our community.”
