This is part of a series of new teachers in our community.
Curtis Horton is the new social studies teacher at Fort Scott High School.
Name: Curtis Horton
Affiliations Coaching football, basketball, and track.
This is part of a series of features of new teachers in our community.
Kenny Hudiburg is the new science teacher at Fort Scott High School.
Name: Kenny Hudiburg
Title: High School Science Instructor
Education: Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Science in Biology
In Science Education for the past 25 years, as Middle School and High School Science for 11 years, the Lead Biology Instructor at Fort Scott Community College for the last 14 years.
Family: Married to Dr. Michelle Hudiburg, a professor in the Department of Education at Pittsburg State University. They have three children: Josh, the oldest is a Junior at Pittsburg State University; twin daughters, Dawna and Katherine, sophomores at FSHS.
Why did you choose an education career?
“I chose to go into education because I love teaching and working with students.”
This is a part of a series featuring the new teachers in our community.
Amber Malone is a new third-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
This is part of a series of new teachers in the community.
Haley Troutman is a new third-grade teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Name: Haley Troutman
Title of Position: 3rd Grade Teacher
Education: Graduated Uniontown High School, 2010, earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science (psychology) from K-State, 2014 and is currently earning a Master of Arts in teaching K-6 at K-State, anticipated graduation is May 2019.
Age: 26
Family: Married to Stuart Troutman, three children: Molly (6), Sadie (3), and Jett (4 months).
Why did you choose education as a career:
“I chose education to impact the lives of children, encouraging them to be well-rounded, productive members of society. It is my hope to help them become the best individuals and students that they possibly can be. I love children and want my students to know that they always have a safe place in our classroom – an environment where they will be loved, nurtured, and encouraged.”
What is the first on your list of priorities for this position :
“I am looking forward to meeting all of my students and their families. Although I have already met my 3rd-grade team, I am excited to connect on a deeper level, building relationships with each of them. A priority I have for my classroom this year is implementing goal setting, both personal and academic. I anticipate an exciting year!”
This is part of a series featuring new teachers in our community.
Angella Curran is the new Fort Scott High School Speech and Debate/Forensics teacher.
Name: Angella Curran
Title of position: High School Speech and Debate/Forensics
Education: BA Communications, MA Teaching, both from Pitt State
Experience: Six years in Lamar, MO, four years in Frontenac, KS
Age: 35
Family: Son, age 13, attends PCMS
Affiliations: National Speech and Debate Association, Women Helping Women of Pittsburg, KS.
Why did you choose education as a career?
“I worked for AmeriCorps in 2004 and was placed as a tutor in an inner-city Baltimore school. I immediately connected with the students and decided that was the path I wanted to take once I returned to college.”
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“My first priority is to build relationships with students and continue building the already amazing Debate and Forensics team.”
Briana Blandamer is the new intern for FortScott.Biz. Her focus is Fort Scott Community College.
Blandamer is an FSCC sophomore business major, who is a 2017 graduate of Fredonia High School.
Blandamer wanted to intern to get writing experience, and she will use that experience when she applies to law school in the future, she said.
Ideas for features for Blandamer can be sent to [email protected].
This is part of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Dr. Heather Davis is the new biology instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Dr. Heather Davis
Title of position: Biology Instructor, Fort Scott Community College
Education: Fort Scott High School 2006, Associate of Science- Cowley College 2008, Bachelor of Science in Biology- Pittsburg State University 2010, Master of Science & Doctor of Chiropractic- Logan College 2014
Experience: No prior formal teaching experience, but extensive education and background in the sciences.
Age: 30
Family: Husband-Dr. Grant Hartman, children-Zoey (age 2) and Zeke (age 3 months), late father-Tom Davis, mother-Cindy Davis, parents-in-law- Brad and Robin Hartman, Grandparents-in-law-the late Ron Billiard and Karen Billiard.
Affiliations:
“I have been in private practice with my husband at Hartman Spine & Joint for three years practicing functional medicine, which relies extensively on knowledge of human biology, anatomy, physiology, laboratory evaluation, nutrition and performance. While I will still be practicing part time, I am excited to start my teaching career.”
Why did you choose education as a career?
“I found that in private practice, I was teaching patients one-on-one every single day, something I did not realize would happen to this extent. I finally recognized my passion for teaching and, paired with my love of science, formal teaching just made sense. It is also a way for me to be more involved in the community, develop relationships, influence more people, and be involved in something bigger.
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Ensure each and every student in my classroom develops a basic understanding of the world around them, lead more students to the sciences, and foster relationships with local high schools to enable students to work ahead.”
This is part of a series of new teachers in our community.
Alex Mason is a new Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Technician Training and Development Program instructor at Fort Scott Community College.
Name: Alex Mason
Title of position: Harley-Davidson Instructor
Education: AAS FSCC Harley-Davidson
Experience: Technician at Gail’s Harley-Davidson, Grandview MO
Age: 28
Family: Wife is Holli Mason, a daughter, Lucy. Parents are Steve and Kendell Mason.
Why did you choose education as a career?
“This is an opportunity for me to apply my skill set closer to home, so I may spend more time with my family.”
What is the first on your list of priorities for the position?
“Implementing my experience at an H-D dealership in order to help create better-prepared technicians for the field.”
The is one of a series of profiles of new teachers in our community.
Abby Stepps is a new Fifth Grade Teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
Name: Abby Stepps
Title: 5th Grade Elementary Teacher
Education: Fort Scott Community College and at Pittsburg State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education.
Experience: She began teaching in 2009 in Nevada, MO. Taught in Fort Scott in 2012 one year, then Nevada in 2013 until the present.
Family: Husband, Trent Stepps, a Fort Scott Alumni and has two “beautiful daughters.”
Why did you become an educator?
“I once had a teacher make me feel as though I could conquer the world. She made me feel important and a part of something bigger than I was. Inside her classroom, I could be myself and at the same time anyone/anything I wanted to be, she IS the reason I chose education as my career, Mrs. Scott, 4th grade, in Neosho, Missouri.”
What is first on your list of priorities for the position?
“I hope to bring a feeling of newness and rigor to the 5th-grade crew at Eugene Ware. I am very excited to be working with such great teachers! This year will be wonderful!”
