This is part of a series on the schools starting the 2025 school year in our community.
Destry Brown is the superintendent of schools for Fort Scott’s School District, USD234.
“We are looking forward to another great year in Tiger Land!” he told Fort Scott Biz in an interview.
The first day of school for teachers in 2025 is August 11, with students first day of August 15.
He said student school supply lists are all posted on the district’s Facebook page.
Vaccinations are a part of the new school year in schools across the nation.
“If students have started their immunizations before school starts, we work with the families to get them completed by a deadline,” Brown said. “We have not set that deadline for this year yet. It is usually in late September. If the family claims a religious reason for not getting the immunizations, they need to contact the school nurse and complete a form stating that.”
The USD234 student enrollment is approximately the same as last year, 1,750 students in five buildings across the town.
A more accurate number will be after the first couple of weeks of school, he said.
The following are the names of the school district’s 20 new teachers and administrators assigned to each building.
Winfield Scott Elementary:
Amanda Karleskint – 2nd grade
Shana Staton – Special Education
Amanda Johnson – Music
Kendal Bowles – Special Education
Eugene Ware Elementary:
Billie Marlow – 5th Grade
Angela Christy – 3rd Grade
Fort Scott Middle School:
D.J. Brown – Principal
Trey Brown – 7th Grade Social Studies
Kiel Simas – Physical Education
Fort Scott High School:
Jeff Johnson – Principal
Josh Regan – Assistant Principal
Drew Carney – Physical Education
Aleana Erie – English
Eliya Deckinger – Counselor
Marjorie Campbell – Special Education
Chloe Whitt – Drivers’ Education and Business
Jake Durossette – Business
Johnathon Stark – Physical Education
Jesse Turner – Special Education
Kansas Renewal Institute:
Christina Ellis – Elementary
New this year are textbooks and resources for middle and high school English Language Arts classes.
“We have also added a new curriculum for teaching Social and Emotional skills for Kindergarten through 12th grade called Satchel Pulse. The counselors will be using the curriculum to teach weekly lessons to our students throughout the district.”
On the horizon is a new preschool location.
“We are awaiting the architectural drawings for the new preschool building on Horton (at the intersection of 9th Street) to be approved by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s office. As soon as those are approved, we will go out to bid on the work inside the building. In the meantime, we will be having dirt work and waterproofing done on the outside of the building.”
