Category Archives: Schools
New U234 Teachers: Woods, Hendricks
This is part of a series featuring the 20 new teachers in USD 234, Fort Scott.
Distict Events Taken From https://www.usd234.org/ :
August 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is the Fort Scott High School Open House at 1005 S Main St, Fort Scott.
School starts on August 18
Nicholas Woods, 25, is a new history teacher at Fort Scott High School, teaching world, American, and local history.
He graduated from Pittsburg State University and did his student teaching at Carl Junction. This is his first year teaching.
“My past teachers motivated me to be a teacher,” he said. “I liked school, but at times I struggled with learning. I want to be there for the students that struggled like I did. I believe I bring a different perspective that students can appreciate and learn from.”
“The best thing about teaching for me so far is seeing a student who was struggling succeed,” he said. “That could be as little as a student passing a test or as big as boosting their grade by two letters. You should always celebrate success.”
“I would say one of the biggest challenges in teaching for me is connecting with students,” he said. “I feel I connect with students/people easily, but as a teacher you are not going to reach every student. There will be students that don’t like your class or even you for that matter and no matter how hard you try you won’t change their mind. The best thing I can do is give all students the tools and guidance they need to succeed and hope for the best.”
Woods hometown is Fort Scott, and he is a 2016 high school graduate.
His uncle Donald Woods was a custodian for the high school for many years and owned a moving business and late aunt Joyce Woods was a grade school teacher at Winfield Scott for many years, he said.
Woods hobbies include golfing, fishing , and playing basketball.
Caleb Hendricks, 27, is a new Winfield Scott Physical Education Teacher and Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach.
He has six years experience in education, with three years as a certified teacher.
He earned his bachelors degree from Fort Hays State University and his hometown is Sterling.
“Growing up some of the most rewarding experiences I had were as a camp counselor, coach, and youth group leader,” he said. “Working with kids and seeing their growth and accomplishment in different areas has always given me a sense of purpose.”
“The relationships that I have made with both students and staff over the years is definitely the best part of being in education. That’s really what it’s always been all about for me. Being in a position that allows me to coach and connect with kids in that element has always been a very important thing for me as well.”
A challenge for him is growing and adapting to how kids and the world are changing, he said.
“Finding new ways to connect and relate with kids can be challenging at times for sure,” he said. “Having worked with both elementary and middle and high school ages, though, I feel like that has helped me better understand where kids are coming from and the different challenges they face. Then I feel like I’m in a better position to support them the best I can.”
He is married to Sarah Hendricks, who is a 4th Grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School and they have a 4 month-old son, Braxton.
His hobbies include football, Fantasy Football, golf, coaching, basketball, home improvement projects.
U234 Press Release for August 14 Board Meeting
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, August 14, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2023, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President David Stewart opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda, and the consent agenda as follows:
- Board Minutes
- 07/17/2023 Regular Meeting
- 08/07/2023 Special Meeting
- Financials-Cash Flow Report
- Check Register
- Payroll – July 20, 2023 – $1,619,878.22
- Activity Fund accounts
- USD 234 Gifts
The board approved the following items:
- Addition of two (2) full-time substitute positions
- Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year
- KASB Policy Updates
- SRO Agreement with the City of Fort Scott
- MOU with Learning Tree Institute
- Personnel Report following
Superintendent Destry Brown provided an update on the first day back for staff and the training on PBIS, which stands for Positive Behavior Intervention Support. There will be a breakfast for staff on Tuesday morning, followed by a welcome back ceremony. Mr. Brown noted the annual FSKNEA scholarship bucket auction.
Dalaina Smith, Assistant Superintendent, reported on the new teacher orientation that included 22 new teachers. Mrs. Smith reported on the training that took place in the district as teachers came back. She also noted that open houses will be on Tuesday for FSMS and FSHS and Wednesday for the Fort Scott Preschool Center, Winfield Scott Elementary, and Eugene Ware Elementary. Mrs. Smith answered questions from the board on professional development on assessment programs.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, recognized her administrative assistant for special education for the excellent work she is doing, and the tech team’s wonderful job. Mrs. Barnes updated the board on a para mentoring program that has been put in place for this year, providing general education teachers access to IEPs through PowerSchool, and updated the board on an Autism Team meeting.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, reported on the roll out of Red Rover, which is a substitute and absence management system, movement of funds from the Friends of USD 234 checking account into fund 64 within the district’s accounts, and provided an update on ESSER III spending. Mrs. Shelton noted that the budget had been published in the paper and posted to the website.
The board went into an executive session for personnel matters.
President Stewart adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
August 14, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Allen, Joseph – Transportation Director effective September 1, 2023
- Harrington, Kathryn – Fort Scott Middle School Paraprofessional effective August 14, 2023
EMPLOYMENT:
For the 2023-24 school year:
- Garzone, Christopher – District Emergency Operations Coordinator
Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Kellogg, Jan – District Full-Time Substitute
- Metcalf, Alvin – District Full-Time Substitute
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Center, Ronette – Fort Scott Middle School PRIDE
- Jones, Mesa – Fort Scott High School Play Assistant and Play #2 Assistant
- King, Christina – Fort Scott High School Play Assistant
- Lyon, Jarrett – Fort Scott High School Assistant Baseball Coach
- Sprague, Sierra – Fort Scott High School Assistant Cheer Coach
- Tourtillott, Jennifer – Winfield Scott Guiding Coalition
- Mentors for the 2023-24 School Year
New Uniontown Teachers: Ericson and Martin
This is a part of a series of new teachers in Uniontown’s School District.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
Tyler Ericson will teach 4th grade at West Bourbon Elementary, in Uniontown starting this school year.
“The thing I love about teaching is…relationships with each of my students,” she said. “How they can come to me about anything, and they will not be judged… whether it be in or outside of school. I love seeing children learn, but most importantly having fun and being engaged while doing it.”
“A challenge for me would be change,” she said. “…starting over from a whole new school district, a new grade, and new colleagues can be overwhelming. Teaching primary and now about to teach 4th grade, it will definitely be different, but in a good way. I am excited to see what West Bourbon has in store for me!”
She said she looks forward to taking part in school community activities that plan to make community members feel welcomed, respected, trusted, heard, and needed, to help promote student success.
Ericson hales from a big family in Kansas City and Oklahoma, she said. In addition, she and husband, Ethan, have two sons, Julian and Jamison, and one daughter Journee.
Ericson earned her A.A in Elementary Education, at Labette Community College and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University.
She taught second grade at Winfield Scott Elementary last school year; first grade at Winfield Scott from February 2022 to May 2022; and was a special education paraprofessional at Uniontown High School from January 2018 to May 2019.
She was substitute teacher certified by the Kansas Department of Education from August 2019 to May 2020.
Ericson worked in Early Childhood Centers in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area from the age of 15 to 24.
Christal Martin will teach high school science in grades 10-12.
She received a bachelors in science degree with an emphasis in nursing in 2008 from Pittsburg State University, and is currently finishing a master’s degree in secondary education from Western Governor’s University.
She has worked as a Uniontown Junior High At-Risk Aide for the past three years.
For Martin, the best thing about working with children is “Building connections with students, and watching them academically succeed,” she said.
A challenge this year will be learning to navigate through everything as a new teacher, she said.
She is married to husband, Seth, and they have two sons, Caden and Casen.
Beating the Back-to-School Blues
K-State Research and Extension
Family and Consumer Science Agent
Southwind District
211 W. Butler
Yates Center, KS 66783
620-625-8620
The smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the sound of bells ringing through the halls, and the gathering of friends that you haven’t seen all summer.
I am sure we can all think back to our childhood and remember how the beginning of a new school year brought on excitement, dread, or anxiety.
As a parent, you can help your children get a good start to this school year and ease some of those anxious thoughts and feelings.
For many kids, one of the biggest back-to-school worries is if they will like their teacher. Breaking the ice early is one of the best ways to calm their fears. If personal contact with the teacher is not possible before school starts, try locating the teacher’s picture on a school website or in a yearbook. Helping your child put a face with a name before the first day in the classroom can help them feel more at ease and prepare them for their first interaction.
Familiarizing your child with their environment is another thing you can do to help them avoid nervous tummy aches. If your school offers a walk-through before the first day, this can be a great opportunity for you to meet the teacher, find their desk, or explore the school together. With older children, try asking them to give you a tour of the school and their classroom. Not only will this help refresh their minds, but it will give you an idea of where they will be spending the majority of their time over the next several months.
Go over class supply lists and plan a shopping trip. Having all the needed school supplies can help your child feel prepared. By taking your kids back to school shopping, they will feel supported and encouraged. Allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a backpack in their favorite color while also keeping basic needs in mind. Even a small fun purchase can make going back to school more enjoyable and give them something to look forward to.
Ease into new routines the week leading up to the first day of school. Switching from a summer schedule to a structured school schedule can be stressful for everyone in a household. Avoid mayhem on the first day of school by getting into the new routine a few days in advance. Set an alarm clock, go through your morning ritual, and make time for a healthy breakfast. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing one early will make the first day of school go so much smoother.
After school kicks off, take time to talk as a family about how each day went. Try asking how they like their classes, if they have made any new friends, or what they like most about school thus far. Not only will you learn more about how they are adapting to all the changes, but this will also help strengthen family relationships by bonding over shared conversations.
Don’t let the beginning of a new school year create unnecessary stress for your kids and household. By doing some of these simple things, you can help your children feel prepared and ready to tackle another great school year. For more information, contact Cassidy Lutz at [email protected] or by calling 620-625-8620.
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 14, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order David Stewart, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
- 07/17/2023 Regular Meeting
- 08/07/2023 Special Meeting
4.2 Financials-Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – July 20, 2023 – $1,619,878.22
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 USD 234 Gifts
5.0 Recognitions (Information/Discussion Item)
5.1 Student Recognition
5.2 Employee Recognition
5.3 Board Member Acknowledgements
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Special Education Director’s Report
6.4 Finance Director’s Report
7.0 Old Business
7.1 Addition of two (2) full-time substitute positions (Action Item)
8.0 New Business
8.1 Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year (Action Item)
Emergency Operations Plan
Employee – Classified
Employee Safety Manual
Federal
8.2 KASB Policy Updates (Action Item)
8.3 SRO Agreement with the City of Fort Scott (Action Item)
8.4 MOU with Learning Tree Institute (Action Item)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session
10.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.0 Adjourn Meeting
New U234 Teachers: Singmaster and Feeback
This is part of a series featuring the 20 new teachers in USD 234.
Distict Events Taken From https://www.usd234.org/ :
Aug 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. is the monthly board of education meeting at 424 S. Main, Fort Scott.
August 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is the Fort Scott High School Open House at 1005 S Main St, Fort Scott.
School starts in the district on August 18.
Torrie Singmaster, 27, is a new 6th grade math teacher at Fort Scott Middle School.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Ottawa University and will graduate with a Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction in May of 2024 from Ottawa University.
“I taught first grade at Winfield Scott Elementary for two years and one year at Humboldt Elementary School in fifth grade, she said.
“My favorite part of being a teacher is being able to watch students transform not only academically but personally as well,” Singmaster said. “I take pride in knowing that I can make a difference in the lives of my students.”
“After I became a mom, I wanted a career that would allow me to have more time with my kids,” she said. “I started subbing at the elementary school and immediately knew that education is the path I was supposed to take. I always enjoyed school growing up and that was due to the fact I had really amazing teachers along the way. I want to help students see their self-worth and be a safe place for all of my students to grow into the best versions of themselves.”
“The hardest part about being in education has been trying to figure out where I am the most successful as an educator,’ she said. “This will be the third different grade I have taught in my four years as a teacher. I was a para at the middle school for two years before getting my own classroom. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to transition to middle school and start this next journey in my career.”
She grew up in Fort Scott and she and husband Dakota, have two sons: William will be in first grade and Tyson will be starting preschool.
In their free time , they enjoy golfing, playing cornhole, and driving RC cars and she also enjoys painting and doing projects.
Brennen Feeback, 22, is a new special education teacher at Fort Scott High School.
“Growing up, I saw that the influence teachers could have on students’ lives, and I wanted to be someone that invested into these awesome students,” he said. “With my area of teaching, I think it is going to be really awesome to help each individual student find their different ways of success.”
“The biggest challenge that I will be facing is that this is my first year, but the group (of educators)that I am going to be working with is very experienced and willing to help me,” he said.
Feeback graduated from Baker University this past May.
He grew up in Chanute, Kansas, but went to high school in Spring Hill. He just recently married his wife, Allisyn.
In his spare time he likes watching “any sort of Missouri Tiger athletic activity, and doing any sort of activity that is outdoors,” he said.
New U234 Teachers: Deatsch, Turner
This is a series introducing the 20 new Fort Scott teachers.
Distict Events Taken From https://www.usd234.org/ :
August 12 from 4-6 p.m. there is a Core Communities Poverty Simulation :https://advanceboco.ticketspice.com/core-communities-poverty-simulationat 1105 E 12th St, Fort Scott
Aug 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. is the monthly board of education meeting at 424 S. Main, Fort Scott.
August 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. is the Fort Scott High School Open House at 1005 S Main St, Fort Scott.
School starts on August 18
Erin Deatsch, 24, is a new kindergarten teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
She taught for two years for Kansas City Kansas Public Schools as a kindergarten teacher.
Deatsch earned a BSE from Emporia State University.
Her hometown Louisburg, Kansas.
“Teaching has always been what I wanted to do ever since I was a little girl,” she said. “I was that friend that had the chalkboard and always wanted to play school. In high school I had some of the best educators who really cared about their students and I wanted to be that for someone someday.”
“In education sometimes you have students who have a rough home life,” she said. “Every child deserves a champion and someone who is consistently going to bat for them. I love being that person. Knowing I make a difference for these little kinderbabies (as I like to call my students). Watching them… from being shy and meek in their abilities to knowing what they are capable of and believing in themselves no matter how many mistakes that they may make.”
“The greatest challenge for teaching for me is the time management with my home life,” she said. “I want to do so much for my kiddos that I sometimes take work home and don’t spend as much time with my daughter as I would like. I want to be the best teacher I can be and do the most for my students but it takes a lot of preparation to be able to do that!”
She has a 2 year-old daughter, Eleanor.
In her spare time she “enjoys making memories with my loved ones by taking trips…and going to new places while my daughter competes in pageants! She loves them!”
Candy Turner, 43, is a new special education teacher at Fort Scott Preschool.
She has 17 years of working with children: five years teaching 4th grade in Nevada MO, five years working for Sek-Cap Head Start Birth- 5 year-olds, two years title math in Arma, three years teaching kindergarten, 1st grade at Pleasanton, two years at Galesburg teaching Kindergarten- 6th grade pull out.
In 2003 she earned a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and in 2004 a masters in Early Childhood both from Pittsburg State University.
Her hometown is Fort Scott.
She has a son Landon, 16, a junior at FSHS and a daughter, London, an eighth grader at FSMS.
Outside of school, “I love watching my kids do what they love and spending time with my family. I enjoy traveling and seeing new things.”
Her Aunt Mary Ann inspired her to be a teacher, she said. “Over the years I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to ensure that every child had an opportunity to learn at their full potential in a fun, safe, caring environment.”
The best thing about teaching is “Seeing students learn new things and celebrating their progress with them.”
A challenge for her is “Saying goodbye at the end of the year,” she said. ” Each child I work with becomes part of my heart and family so when they move on I miss getting to see them every day.”
Poverty Speaker: Solving Poverty and Healing Trauma
ALL are invited and welcome to attend the Poverty Paradigm event this Saturday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at Fort Scott Middle School.The cost is $10 to participate.
If individuals want to participate, but cannot afford the $10, contact Jennifer Michaud: phone: 785-230-7010 or email
[email protected]
The speaker is Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz.
To get a ticket, see the flyer below.
About the Speaker: Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz
Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz works with both communities and schools across the US to truly solve poverty and heal trauma, according to a press release. She does this by helping caring leaders create sustainable ecosystems of resilience through building better relationships.
Rebecca fought her way out of poverty and the trailer park in 2011 with three young sons. A local poverty resolution project found Rebecca and activated her journey. She later went to work for that non-profit and then went on to build multiple projects like it to help more families. In 2015 She started working with public education and ignited a trauma-informed schools movement in her state and beyond.
Rebecca experienced a lifetime of trauma and poverty and through access to buffering relationships she healed from both and continues to light the path for others.
Schools:
Rebecca is a Co-Founder of the ESSDACK Resilience Team. Rebecca and her team have walked alongside well over 100 Kindergarten through12th grade schools, equipping their staff as they journey toward becoming trauma-informed. The Resilience Team’s core value is that in order to create more positive outcomes for children, we must focus on transforming the adults who are important in these kids’ lives.
Communities:
Additionally, Rebecca and her team have partnered with Youth Core Ministries out of Greensburg Kansas to establish and sustain poverty resolution projects across Kansas and Illinois. Currently they are working with over 200 families who are systematically building their paths out of poverty.
Rebecca is widely known in Kansas and across the United States for her extensive work building trauma-informed schools. She is a captivating presenter and her lived experience of escaping poverty when she was 40 years old, with three young children, invites people into her undeniable experience of healing, hope and restoration.
Rebecca has 8 ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) which she lived out as an adult with addiction, domestic violence, poverty and pain. She captivates audiences with her ability to weave concepts in with stories and helps people understand what is typically getting in the way of adopting the movement of trauma-informed schools. More importantly, Rebecca helps participants identify where they are, where they want to go, and how they want to get there. She is a master facilitator, a generous storyteller, and has an uncanny way of helping people boil down and absorb deep concepts around the brain, behavior, and healing.
Rebecca has shown the light for hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers on the path of equipping trauma-informed cultures and frameworks. She is well known for her carefully crafted work on:
- Behavior is a Brain Issue and Not a Character Issue
- Unpacking Behaviorism and its devastating effects on kids and families from trauma
- Poverty and Trauma: Brains Wired for Survival
- Understanding the science of the brain and resilience and how the brain wants to heal and can heal at any age
- No kid, regardless of their story is a lost cause
- Is it really all about choices?
- Healing a fight/flight/freeze brain into a cause and effect brain within our schools
- How Resilience is Built: The External Requirements for Thriving, Despite Adversity
- Truly, it IS all about the relationships
- Punishment Versus Discipline: The Hardest Hill in Equipping Trauma-Informed Schools for Sustainability
Rebecca coined the popular Resilience phrase “I see you, I hear you, I am with you.” This is the foundation for building resilience in ALL kids and staff.
To learn more:
New U234 Teachers: Krone, Rivera, Davenport
This part of a series of features on 20 new teachers at Fort Scott School District 234.
School starts August 18.
Jane Krone, 54, is a new school counselor at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
She worked five years as a school counselor at an Emporia K-5 elementary school and three years as a para educator prior to that.
Krone also worked in child welfare for 20 years and had a private practice for a time.
“I worked in child welfare for two decades and, sadly, saw things that cannot be unseen,” she said. “I wanted to reach the children earlier, before they entered foster care to see if I could help them and their families with resources and skills.”
“I love, love, love working with students” Krone said. “I enjoy teaching coping and resiliency skills. I love to watch them learn and grow as individuals.”
Krone received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a sociology minor in 1994, a master’s degree in counseling in 1997and a school counseling endorsement in 2018.
She is originally from Emporia and graduated high school from Hartford.
She is married and has two adult sons.
Outside of school, she enjoy remodeling her house and coloring.
Additionally, “I like creating things out of pallet wood,” she said.
Jacqui Rivera, 25, is a new second grade teacher at Winfield Scott Elementary School.
Rivera spent three years working in early childhood,the past two years as a first grade teacher.
“I can remember wanting to be a teacher since elementary school,” she said. “I loved getting to help others. I had several experiences throughout high school where I was able to… work with elementary students, I thought it was the best thing ever! I had several teachers throughout my schooling who inspired me, and I wanted to be a great educator just like them.”
“My students learn and grow so much throughout the year that I get to be their teacher,” she said. “The best part is watching them finally have that ‘ah ha’ moment when something that they struggled with clicks for them, like learning how to solve that tricky math problem, or read that difficult sentence.”
She received a bachelors of science in elementary education from Emporia State University.
She and her fiance, Zach, live in La Cygne with their two dogs, and two cats.
Gardner is her hometown.
“I come from a big family, I am the youngest of six,” she said. “I have four sisters and one brother…I have 13 nieces/nephews.”
“My hobbies include spending lots of time outside,” she said. “I love photography and spending time at the lake, we also do a lot of fishing! I enjoy reading and spending time with family and friends in my free time.”
Annyssa Davenport is a new special education teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
She earned her bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Services from Kansas State University and a masters in Elementary Education Unified at Ottawa University.
“I started out as a para for our district, after I decided to go back and get my Masters, then I started subbing,” she said. “I was very thankful to get a job teaching kindergarten in December in Archie, MO after I completed student teaching.This is my first year as a special education teacher.”
Her favorite thing about teaching is ” watching kids succeed,” she said.
“I was born and raised in Fort Scott and have lived here for a majority of my life,” she said. “I’m engaged to Brandon West and we are expecting our first child this fall.”
USD 234 Board of Education Press Release From the August 7 Meeting
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, August 7, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, August 7, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.
Vice-President James Wood opened the meeting.
Tonya Barnes, Special Education Director, presented an updated contract with No Limits Rehabilitation Inc., for physical therapy services. The board heard from building administrators regarding school handbooks.
Superintendent Destry Brown and Gina Shelton, Finance Director, presented the 2023-24 budget. Dalaina Smith, Assistant Superintendent, presented the Building Needs Assessment as part of the budget process.
The board approved the following items:
- Contract with No Limits Rehabilitation Inc. for the 2023-24 school year
- School and Activity Handbooks for the 2023-24 school year
- Personnel Report as follows
- The board did not accept the resignation of Caitlin Shrewsbury – Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher
The board went into two executive sessions for personnel matters.
Vice-President Wood adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
August 7, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Abati, Sarah – Resignation – Fort Scott High School Assistant Cheer Coach
- Reinbolt, Katren – Fort Scott High School Assistant Track Coach and Assistant Cross Country Coach
TRANSFERS/REASSIGNMENTS:
For the 2023-24 school year:
Certified:
- Anderson, Anna – Transfer from Eugene Ware Focus Room Teacher to Eugene Ware Special Education Teacher
EMPLOYMENT:
Certified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Garzone, Laura – Fort Scott Middle School English Teacher – through first semester
- Self, Karen – Fort Scott High School English Teacher
Classified Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Estes, Thomas – Fort Scott Middle School Custodian – starting 08/07/23
- Guss, Jordan – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
- Hardwick, Lauren – Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
- Haynes, Tonya – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
- Large, Lahanna – Winfield Scott Elementary Paraprofessional
- Michael, Dariane – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
- O’Bryan, Carolina – Fort Scott Middle School Paraprofessional
- Palmer, Lana – Preschool Van Driver – 5.5 hours
- Thurston, Erin – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
Supplemental Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Farrington, Jannah – DLM Coordinator
- Feagins, Adam – Fort Scott Middle School Detention
- Feeback, Brennen – Fort Scott High School Assistant Track Coach
- Gorman, Krista – Fort Scott Middle School Testing Coordinator
- Gorman, Krista – Fort Scott High School Testing Coordinator
- Gulager, Lindsey – Winfield Scott PDC
- Harney, Joel – Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Boys and Girls Basketball Coach
- Laubenstein, Michelle – CTE Coordinator
- Martin, Paul – Fort Scott Middle School Boys Basketball Coach
- Mayberry, Polly – District ESOL Coordinator
- Mix, Marci – Eugene Ware Testing Coordinator
- Rogers, Jamie – Fort Scott High School PDC
- Travis, Hayden – Eugene Ware Elementary Art Show
- FSHS Guiding Coalition Members
- FSMS Guiding Coalition Members
New U235 Teachers: Sutterby and Sutcliffe
This is part of a series profiling the new teachers in Uniontown School District USD 235.
The district’s open house is August 15 from 4 to 6 p.m.
The first day of class for students is August 16.
Rebecca Sutterby will be teaching Digital Media Pathway Career and Technical Education classes at Uniontown High School: Graphic Design Fundamentals, Digital Media Design and Production, 21st Century Journalism, Web Design, and Photo Imaging.
She earned bachelors degree in Graphic Arts and Web Design, and is currently working on a masters degree at Pittsburg State University to earn full teaching certification.
Sutterby has worked in the printing industry: logo design, typesetting, darkroom work, and plate burning, and has been the Uniontown elementary school secretary for the past five years. She was also a professional cake artist for years-teaching classes, doing demonstrations at cake conventions and competed on Food Network Challenge and TLC’s Ultimate Cake-Off.
“I’ve done lots of different design work over the years,” she said. “I was actually on the yearbook staff as a student here at UHS, and I was also on the yearbook staff at PSU when I was a student there the first time. Most recently, I designed the 55 foot-long artwork on the WBE cafeteria windows and decals for several of our school vehicles.”
Three generations of her family have graduated from UHS.
Her parents graduated in 1970 and her husband and she graduated in 1992. Their sons graduated from Uniontown – in 2015, 2017, and 2021.
“I am a Uniontown Eagle to the core. I’m very excited to be here to teach our students about Graphic Design and help them put those skills to use in real life applications,” she said.
Carrie Sutcliffe is a new science teacher at Uniontown who will teach Physical Science, Chemistry, Dual Credit Chemistry and Applied Biology and Chemistry.
She graduated Hume High School in Missouri in1988, and from the University of Central Missouri with a BSE in 1993, then a masters from UMKC in 2003.
Sutcliffe has 30 years teaching experience: three teaching Physical Science and Biology at Raymore Peculiar High School, one year teaching GED classes, 26 years teaching 7-12 Science and was a Science Olympiad Coach at Hume.
“The best thing about teaching is interacting with students and encouraging them to do their best,” she said. “The challenges that come with teaching are changing federal and state requirements.”
She is a member of Hume Christian Church, serves on Lawrence Cemetery Board and serves as a project leader in the County Line 4-H Club.
She lives on a small farm outside of Hume with husband, Tom, of 30 years and has three children, Derek, Megan and husband Cole Wooten and Tommy.