NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on June 21, 2022, for a special board meeting.

President James Wood opened the meeting and budget hearing.  There were no comments, and the budget hearing was closed.  Board members approved republishing the budget.

The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting.  Board members approved the following employment items:

A.    Resignation of James Harrison, high school paraprofessional, effective at the end of the 2021-22 school year

B.    Employment of Michael Freeze as a high school paraprofessional for the 2022-23 school year

C.    Employment of Lacey Miles as a 6.5-hour Eugene Ware cook for the 2022-23 school year

D.    Employment of Janet Fairbanks as a middle school teacher for the 2022-23 school year

The board adjourned.

Dalaina Smith, who has served as the Fort Scott High School Director of Academics will become USD 234 Assistant Superintendent, as of July 1.

Although she will maintain many of her previous duties, she is “excited to move into an administrative role and get more involved with staff and students in the classroom,” she said.

She highlighted some of the changes in the district as of this date.

New Teaching Model

“This past academic year, the district embraced the Professional Learning Community model and began training teachers and administrators,” Smith said.  “A group of twenty, including staff and a board member, had the opportunity to attend the PLC Summit in Phoenix, Arizona in February and returned excited for the direction the district is moving.”

“In May, the district was able to bring in Regina Owen from Solution Tree, to speak to the certified staff about the PLC framework and the district’s continued commitment to giving all students the best,” she said.

“The Professional Learning Community model focuses on four questions,” she said. “1. What do we want students to know? (Essential Standards); 2. How do we know that they know it? (Common Assessments); 3. What do we do when they don’t know it? (Remediation) and 4. What do we do when they already know it? (Extension).”

“Through this framework, the district is committing to giving teachers time to ensure that there are clear expectations, data driven decisions, and appropriate interventions for all students,” Smith said.

COVID-19 Effects Student Achievement

“Since  the Covid-19 Pandemic, we have seen an increase in student achievement gaps,” Smith said. “Although Spring 2020 affected all students, we see the greatest impact in our elementary students who missed out on fundamental skills. Continuing into the 2020-21 academic year, numerous students had their learning interrupted when they were out ill or for quarantine. For many they were able to participate remotely while absent, however, for others they were unable to continue their learning during the time they were offsite.”

“Additionally, we must consider the social emotional effects we’ve seen in the students,” Smith said. “I don’t know that we still truly know the impact. From feelings of isolation and loneliness to students who struggled to learn to identify emotions and facial expressions through masking, it’s hard to say that many were untouched. Thankfully students are resilient and our teachers are rock stars! Together they’re working to overcome the gaps that Covid created, however, it is a process.”

“Through the use of PLCs, the district will provide a structured environment for teachers to make the necessary changes to approaching student learning.  USD 234 is excited for the impact to come,” she said.

Early Release on Wednesdays

For parents these PLC days will mean students will be released early nearly every Wednesday through the USD 234 2022-23 school calendar.

“During Early Release, teachers will be meeting in grade levels or departments (depending on their building) to work collaboratively as professionals,” Smith said. “It’s during this time that they will determine their essential standards, build and refine common assessments, review student data, and plan for interventions.”

“Preschool will operate in a different manner, to ensure they are in compliance with their required minutes,” she said. “More details related to preschool will come following the approval of a new preschool principal.”

“This time will allow teachers to participate in their PLCs and ensure the grade levels and departments can give their best to all students,” Smith said.  “The district recognizes that not all families have the ability to pick up their students early on Wednesdays and will have age appropriate opportunities for students to stay in a fun, safe, and educational environment until the regular dismissal time.

“At this time, students K-8 will have supervised activities/areas in place during the early release (Wednesday until 3:15),” she said. “Additionally, the elementary schools will both offer a daily After School Program that will run until 5:15 p.m. More information about each of these opportunities will be shared as the district administrative team solidifies the necessary details.”

New Faces at USD 234

“Each school year brings new faces as some retire and others explore new opportunities, and this year is no different,” Smith said.

“Mr. Destry Brown will be joining Fort Scott from Clinton, MO and serving as the USD 234 Superintendent,” she said.  “Brown brings numerous years of experience, as he returns home to Fort Scott.  Although he doesn’t officially start until July 1st, he has already begun working with staff in a variety of capacities to ensure a smooth transition and clear direction for USD 234.  Not only will Brown be seen within the district, but also within the community as he works to encourage the relationship between the school and local organizations.”

“Mrs. Shelly Charter will be serving as the Winfield Scott Principal.  Charter comes from Independence, where she has taught gifted, third grade, and Title for over 20 years,” Smith said.  “In addition to her years of experience in education, she also has served in a variety of leadership roles and is excited to begin her work with her staff and students.”

“Mrs. Krystle Griem will be coming to Winfield Scott from Junction City, KS,” Smith said.  “Griem will be serving as the Assistant Principal, where her licensure as a Registered Behavioral Technician and summer work at children’s camp will serve as valuable experiences.  In addition, Griem has taught English Language Arts at the middle and high school level.  Griem and Charter have already been collaborating on ideas for next school year.”

“Dr. Zach Johnson will be joining the Tiger Team at Fort Scott Middle School,” she said.  “Johnson has been the assistant principal and athletic director for Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School for the past four years.  Previously, Johnson was a physical education teacher.  Johnson brings experience with the PLC process, as well as a student-centered approach to education.  Johnson began his first day of summer joining the current administration to learn more about becoming a Tiger!”

“The district is still in the process of hiring a preschool principal and will be sharing information once a candidate is board approved,” she said.

Familiar Admin Faces

“Although there are many new faces, there will also be familiar ones returning next year Mina Query (Eugene Ware Principal), Brandon Boyd (Eugene Ware Assistant Principal), Matt Harris (Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Principal), Scott Kimble (FSHS Principal), Alex Specht (FSHS Assistant Principal), and Jeff DeLaTorre (FSHS Athletic/Activities Director),” Smith said. “USD 234 is excited for another great year.”

Destry Brown, 59, is the new superintendent of schools for USD 234, Fort Scott.

He believes he is coming full circle in his life in returning to USD 234 after 38 years in education.

“The funny thing to me is that I began school as a kindergartner in Fulton, KS which was part of USD # 234,” Brown said.  “Now, I am back in the USD # 234 School District. I guess one could say that I have come full circle.”

“I graduated from Fort Scott High School, attended Fort Scott Community College for two years and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Pittsburg State University,” he said. “I also received a Master’s Degree in Building Administration along with additional coursework to complete the licensure requirements to be a superintendent.”

He began his teaching career teaching elementary school in Mound City, where he taught grades 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and taught there for 11 years.

Brown was then the elementary principal for two years in Wilson, KS.

“From there, I was the principal at Alcott Elementary School in Chanute, for five years before moving to the assistant superintendent position for four years. My first superintendent position was in Frontenac,  where I remained for three years. Then, for the next nine years, I was the superintendent in Pittsburg. I then moved to Clinton, MO where I have been for the last four years.”

Brown begins officially in Fort Scott on July 1st.

“I will probably be in and out of the district throughout the month of June as I work toward a smooth transition,” he said.

Background

“I grew up on a farm between Fort Scott and Fulton,” he said. “We moved to Fort Scott when I was in middle school.”

His wife, Joan, works for Community National Bank and they have three boys between the two of them.

“We also have six wonderful grandkids!,” he said.

Brown has many ties to Bourbon County.

“My parents are Donnie and Georgia Brown.” he said. “Dad farms in northern Bourbon County and Mom owns and operates Sunshine Boutique in downtown Fort Scott. My sister, Ginger Nance, is the Director at Presbyterian Village.”

In his spare time he attends events in the school district and community, he said.

“In Clinton, I am involved in the Optimist Club and serve as the Treasurer,” he said. “I am also a Rotary and Elks Club member. I serve on the Henry County Health Board. I am involved with Olde Glory Days, a week long 4th of July celebration, Main Street Clinton, and the Emergency Planning Commission. I serve as a Big Brother in Big Brothers and Big Sisters and I mentor a student through the Juvenile Justice program. I coordinated and help with community food distributions. Joan and I attend the Clinton Methodist Church. As you can see, we spend most of our spare time serving our community and especially the children/families in our community.”

” I also love to cook and I am an avid student of leadership,” Brown said.

Brown has been inspired by many.

“As a young teenager, our neighbor, Tom Davis was the Recreation Director in Fort Scott,” he said. “He asked me to coach a tee ball team one year and I found that I really enjoyed working with kids. I volunteered on the playground at Winfield Scott Elementary during my lunch hour in high school. I also had some amazing teachers who had a tremendous influence on my desire to be a teacher including: Welcome Van Sickle, Margaret Titus, Elaine Wimberly, Maxine Kinney, Alice Miller, Tom Davis, Bill Sailors, Lily Kober, Gary Wimmer, Warren Jones, Steve Wolf, Gary Key, Lucille James, Marcel Norman. I am sorry for this long list. But, these people along with many others like Dick Hedges and George Hudiberg encouraged and inspired me along the way. All of these people had a way of teaching and leading that broke average. They always pushed me to work hard and to love and serve people. They displayed a joy for teaching and leading and drew me into the field of education.”

The greatest challenge he faces coming to Fort Scott is to learn about the Fort Scott system and the people who work here,  and making up for lost time during the COVID 19 Pandemic, he said.

“Now that we are past the pandemic, the challenge will be to help our students to recover the loss of learning that has occurred,” Brown said. “More importantly, we will need to figure out ways to address the social and emotional issues that have presented themselves during the pandemic. Although we learned a lot about different ways to educate our kids and different ways to do business during this time, our challenge will be to blend the old with the new in ways that best meet the needs of every student.”

“I am so excited to be able to return to my hometown,” Brown said. “The things that people will be able to count on from me are: 1) I am about doing our very best for kids. 2) I will encourage and support our staff. 3) My door is always open to people to stop by with concerns, encouragement, or just to talk. 4) I will be honest and transparent about the workings of the district. 5) I will always support and positively represent the Red and the White. Go Tigers!!!!”