If parents or caregivers have questions they are free to call the preschool at 620-223-8965.
Additionally information is also listed on our Facebook page, Fort Scott Preschool Center and school district page.
Additionally, if parents have concerns about their child’s development and would like a screening for potential developmental delays they may also call the preschool.
Reyna Valenzuela, 21, was hired as a Fort Scott High School English Teacher for 2020-21.
She graduated from Pittsburg High School in 2016 and from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Education in May 2020 and will be starting a Master’s in English Literature in the fall.
“I worked at St. Mary’s Colgan as a YES Tutor for a year and a half, following that I worked for two years on campus as a writing center consultant,” she said. “I also did my internship through PSU at Northeast High School as well as completed my student teaching at Northeast.”
Valenzuela was born in Fort Hood, Texas and has lived in Arma, KS since she was three-years-old.
Her interests include reading, Greek Mythology, British Literature, watching YouTube, and Netflix, her cat, and hanging out with her family.
In addition, she loves softball, baseball, and football.
“So I look forward to cheering students on at their games in the future,” she said.
Becoming a teacher was a realization for Valenzuela.
” I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do, I switched my dream career a lot when I was younger,” she said. “Eventually though, after watching my mom become a teacher and having an amazing AP Literature teacher during my senior year of high school, I realized that this was the field for me. I wanted to have the chance to make a difference in a student’s life as my mom, Tina Valenzuela, and my AP Literature teacher, Mrs. Johnson, did in mine. Because of this, I’ve worked hard through college to learn as much as I could so I could become a successful educator who makes a difference and helps her students in positive ways.”
“Seeing how much they both loved to teach and how they put everything they had into the classroom was incredibly inspiring and I don’t think I would have come this far without them,” she said.
The best part of teaching for her are the students, she said.
“Getting to know them, watching them grow, and succeed, they are the reason I want to teach so I guess it only makes sense they are the best part of teaching.”
Some of the challenges of teaching is continuing to learn and grow as a teacher “so that you are still providing students the most effective methods of learning is what I would consider one of the greatest challenges in teaching; because as humans we like routine, and so making sure that you’re constantly changing and evolving is something that can be a struggle, but it’s worth it, in the end, to watch students grow,” she said.
Larry Davolt is the new principal of Fort Scott Christian Heights. Submitted photo
Larry Davolt, 53, will be the new principal at Fort Scott Christian Heights School, effective June 1.
“I have been the secondary science teacher at FSCH for 28 years,” Davolt said. ” I have also taught math and Bible classes.”
The principal position is responsible for the day to day operations of the school, he said.
In addition to 28 years of experience is in the classroom, Davolt also pastored a rural church for 15 years, he said.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University and completed some graduate work through the Institute for Creation Research, and is currently working online for a master’s degree in school leadership.
Davolt’s hometown is Independence, KS.
He has been married for 32 years, has three grown children, and seven grandkids.
His hobbies are working on cars and houses.
In addition, for the last five years, he has worked part-time for Mercy/Bourbon County Emergency Medical Service.
For Davolt, seeing the way God uses former students to make a difference in society, is the greatest part of teaching.
His greatest challenge?
“Following a legend,” he said, referring to Terry Chance, who is retiring. ” I have worked with Mr. Chance for all of my teaching career, I know the excellent job he has done, and the difficulty of the position.”
Abby Helt, 23, will be the new Fort Scott High and Middle School Choir Teacher for 2020-21.
Helt received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Kansas State University and student taught in the Shawnee Mission School District.
Her hometown is Lenexa and her parents and family all live in the K.C. area.
Helt has been involved in her community as a member of the Kansas City Choir, Te Deum.
The following is an email interview with the new teacher:
How did you become an educator?
“I have always wanted to be an educator throughout my whole life. My sisters and I would play ‘school’ all the time growing up, and I’ve always been very musical. I want to be able to instill that passion for music in my students, whether it be just a hobby or a potential career.”
Is there someone who inspired you to teach?
“My high school choir director really inspired me to teach music because he made the choir class such a welcoming environment where everyone was able to be themselves. I want to create that in my classroom.”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“The best part of teaching is getting to know the kids and watching them grow from the first day of school to the last day of school/when they graduate.”
What are the greatest challenges in teaching?
“As I am still fairly new to my career, I have not experienced any great challenges!”
USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong nominated Fort Scott High School Senior Elizabeth Ngatia to serve on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission, started by the Kansas State Department of Education.
The KSDE asked all school districts to nominate one senior from the graduating class of 2020 to be on the task force to assist other seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with the pandemic of COVID-19.
“I felt so honored, thankful to have a superintendent who believed in me so much,” she said. “The nomination was to represent the USD 234 school district and our seniors.”
Hessong was impressed with Ngatia as a student at FSHS, he said. “After hearing some of her speeches, I was moved by the passion she had for topics she was conveying to the listener. I was not aware of Elizabeth’s personal story at the time of the nomination, but when she shared her story with me I knew she was the right choice to nominate for her to represent USD 234.”
Once nominated, Ngatia wtote a bibliography about herself and waited to see if she was selected to be a part of the 50 students selected.
“After the meeting with the 50 students, a few weeks passed and KSDE contacted me about being a part of an even smaller group to help have a more focused conversation that can benefit students,” she said.
The group met online for discussion beginning May 1.
The following is an email interview with Ngatia.
What do you do on the commission?
“I discuss my thoughts, ideas, and concerns about my struggles as well as other seniors and their struggles through this trying time with fellow seniors in Kansas, and the staff of the KSDE.”
How do you meet?
“We meet every few weeks on Zoom calls as a group.”
Elizabeth Ngatia, top middle , in a Zoom meeting with others on the Kansas Learning Plan Commission. Submitted photos.
What is the commission all about?
“The commission is all about… the leaders of the Kansas education system, getting to hear from students about how we are coping with everything. They are able to have an insight on what ways they may be able to help with such a drastic change. However, the commission goes beyond Covid-19 and the burden it has been. We discuss how and what educators can do to help address some of the barriers seniors face. What they can do to create, and improve, some of the high school learning experiences for future graduates.”
Has anything good come out of the experience of the pandemic that shut down the country, for you?
“I think for me I took the time to grieve and be heartbroken about the situation. I took the time to remember all the things that would no longer be accessible to me, once I got past that grieving stage, I reminded myself that this is the way that it has to be, that although it has affected many important areas of my life, I must look at the positives. I quickly recognized how lucky and blessed I am to have a home life where I feel safe, cared for, and can easily focus on my online studies well. At the end of the day, you must take the bad situations and make them good, I am happy to have gotten this extra time with my family, this extra to also re-evaluate and discover more about myself before moving on to a new chapter of my life.”
What challenges have there been?
“For me, asides from the common missing being with friends and extended family, it was navigating post-secondary education plans without the help of teachers and especially the counselors.”
What are you looking forward to in your education?
“I am really looking forward to being in the leadership community at Washburn University and being around such a family-like atmosphere. I am also really looking forward to studying pre-law (political science) in the capital city where I will hopefully get to work with some of our state lawmakers and see everything in action, hopefully, pick up a few skills!”
“Elizabeth has a bright future in front of her and I know by her participating in this task force, others will be able to learn and relate to her story and she will help her fellow seniors across the State of Kansas in dealing with COVID-19 in a positive manner,” Hessong said.
Ngatia shared a little of her life journey with fortscott.biz:
She was born and raised in Mombasa, Kenya, and her parents worked hard to support the family.
“At the age of seven, my family immigrated to America,” Ngatia said. “My parents picked up jobs at local fast-food restaurants to support us.”
The culture in Kenya and the U.S. were immensely different, she said and she felt like she was out of place due to her strong accent, financial issues and other cultural differences.
Her family became her source of motivation.
Her parents told her the American Dream was meant for her and her sister.
“They pushed us to be successful because this is an opportunity not many have in Kenya,” she said.
The faith and support of her parents helped her realize the opportunities she has before her, and she looked for ways to change the status quo, by getting involved in many school activities to fulfill the goals she had, she said.
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met virtually on Monday, May 11, for their regular monthly meeting.
President David Stewart opened the meeting. The board approved the official agenda. The board also approved the consent agenda as follows:
A. Minutes
B. Bills and Claims
C. Payroll – April 17, 2020 – $1,375,747.90
D. Financial Report
E. Bond Proceeds Reconciliation
F. Activity Fund Accounts
Stephanie George, KNEA President, presented a report. Administrators from each building shared information with board members.
Superintendent Ted Hessong expressed thanks to administrators and directors for their leadership throughout the pandemic. He also discussed competency-based learning, CARES federal money, a return-to-work plan, and the Return-to-School Committee.
Gina Shelton, Business Manager, discussed closing down the financials, CARES federal money, a food service/food distribution update, and insurance renewal.
Board members approved the following items:
· Roof change order
· Roof payment
· 2020-21 Calendar
· 2020-21 Fees
· Greenbush Energy Group Participation Agreement and Hedging Authorization for 2020-21
· LEA Assurances
The board also reviewed summer projects.
Board members shared comments and then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters for nonelected personnel and returned to open meeting. The board then went into executive session to discuss matters relating to employer-employee negotiations and returned to open meeting.
The board approved the following employment matters:
A. Transfer of Rachelle Thomas, Eugene Ware fourth grade teacher, to a fifth grade position for the 2020-21 school year
B. Transfer of Rhonda Dawson, high school secretary, to high school activities/athletic secretary for the 2020-21 school year
C. Transfer of Pam Hutchison, high school teacher aide, to high school secretary for the 2020-21 school year
D. Contract extension for Angella Curran, high school debate/forensics sponsor
E. Employment of Dalaina Smith as Director of Academics for the 2020-21 school year
F. Employment of Paulette Howard as a K-12 gifted teacher for the 2020-21 school year
G. Employment of Courtenay Slinkard as a high school English/Language Arts teacher for the 2020-21 school year
H. Employment of Reyna Valenzuela as a high school English/Language Arts teacher for the 2020-21 school year
I. Employment of Larry Amer as a high school art teacher for the 2020-21 school year
J. Employment of Abigail Helt as high school/middle school choral teacher for the 2020-21 school year
K. Employment of Danny Larsen as Eugene Ware physical education teacher for the 2020-21 school year
L. Resignation of Curtis Horton as a high school assistant football coach, assistant basketball coach, and freshman boys’ head basketball coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year
M. Resignation of Erica Clark as a high school assistant cheer sponsor at the end of the 2019-20 school year
N. Resignation of Brendon Blackburn as a middle school football coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year
O. Resignation of Jayci Cosens as a middle school second session intramural coach, 8th grade boys’ basketball coach, and intramural track coach at the end of the 2019-20 school year
P. Resignation of Steve Williams, middle school boys’ assistant basketball coach, at the end of the 2019-20 school year
Q. Employment of Kaitlin Arnold as a Winfield Scott first grade teacher for the 2020-21 school year
Fort Scott High School staff wanted a way to recognize the senior class on the night of their original graduation date, Jeff DeLaTorre, athletics/activities director said.
To honor the FSHSClass of 2020 on that evening, Saturday, May 16, staff members have planned a”Senior Cruise Night”.
Students in vehicles will follow a lead car around the city starting and ending at the high school. Vehicles must be street legal, he said.
Students are invited to wear their cap and gown on the cruise.
” We saw that some other schools around the area were doing something similar to this so we thought it would be a good way to recognize them,” DeLaTorre said.
A parent or family member is encouraged to drive the vehicle on the cruise so their 2020 senior can fully enjoy the event, he said.
Students who have not picked up their cap and gown yet, can still do so, DeLaTorre said.
The car cruise will drive around points in Fort Scott that have been a part of the students’ educational journey.
Senior class members in years past have gone to their former elementary and middle schools for a walk-through the halls which honors them.
So the cruise night route will go to each of the district’s schools, sort of a trip down memory lane.
” We chose this route for a couple of reasons,” DeLaTorre said. “One, we wanted to spread it out so people could be present along the route and still practice social distancing.”
“But the significance of going by Eugene Ware Elementary, Fort Scott Middle School, and Winfield Scott Elementary was to kind of take the place of the traditional ‘Senior Walk-Through’ that the senior class usually gets to do at the end of the year. They usually walk the halls of each of these buildings one more time and the students and teachers congratulate them. The Class of 2020 won’t get to do that so we thought we would include the schools in the Senior Cruise.”
On May 16, the seniors will follow a route that will be led by School Resource Officer Mike Trim.
Senior students are asked to arrive at the high school by 6:45 p.m.
The event will start at 7:00 p.m.
The line up will be starting in the southwest corner of the FSHS front parking lot, and the line will proceed to the east, on the south side of the high school and will weave into the east parking lot.
Here is the route:
-Start at the southwest corner of FSHS
-turn north on Main Street and go to 6th Street
-turn west on 6th and go to National Avenue. Turn north on National
-stay on National until Wall, turn east
– stay on Wall until Margrave, turn south
– at 3rd Street turn east (in front of Eugene Ware)
– at Broadway turn south
– at 6th turn west until Margrave, then turn south
– at 10th turn east and head up to middle school
– turn south on Sheppard and then turn west on 12th
– at Margrave turn south until East National
– follow East National until National. Head north and then turn west on 12th
– take 12th to Crawford and turn north, then turn west on 10th
– follow 10th (in front of Winfield Scott) to Horton
– At Horton turn north and go to 6th and continue east on 6th
– At National turn south. At 9th turn east and cruise ends at 9th and Main in front of high school
The route is highlighted in yellow in this map submitted by FSHS Activities Director Jeff DeLaTorre.
“Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize our senior students,” DeLaTorre said.
Here are some important items to remember for this event:
– All social distancing guidelines must be followed. Seniors will need to stay in their vehicles before, during, and after the event.
– One senior student per vehicle (unless it is siblings).
For the high school senior to be able to enjoy the experience more, it is encouraged that a parent or family member to drive the vehicle for them.
– Community members are asked to be present along the route to recognize the senior students but are asked to stay in their vehicles to practice social distancing.
If you live along the route you are invited to come out on your porch or front yard to show your support.
– This is not a parade!
All traffic rules and laws must be followed, including stop signs, stoplights, etc.
Also, because it is not a parade all vehicles must be street legal.
