The Waynesville R-VI School District is pleased to welcome over 60 new certified personnel to the district.
About half of the new teachers come from other school districts, bringing with them experience and knowledge gained during prior assignments. The other half are about to begin their teaching career. The district held a three-day in-service program recently to welcome them to the district, to familiarize them with the district (and some of the features that makes the district unique), to familiarize them with their buildings and staff, and to discuss some of the special programs available within the district.
Superintendent Judene Blackburn stressed that nothing was more important to the district than that these new teachers would be successful during this first year and throughout their careers. She encouraged the new teachers to reach out to administrators for assistance, noting that we have a wonderful, caring support staff and system. She encouraged them to become involved in the community and, while this is not always possible with the pressures of a new career, involvement would help them in their own success.
Waynesville High School has the largest number of new teachers at 18. Cory Ace is a language arts teacher in his first teaching assignment. Virginia (Ginny) Box will teach business at the high school, and Krystal Downing will teach Spanish. Amanda Engelke will start her teaching career in the field of social studies. Engelke came to Waynesville because of the district's reputation for excellence, and looks forward to this first year to help her to become a better teacher. Michael Gow will teach language arts, and Will Harris will teach health and life skills. Harris is originally from Dixon, and is happy to be returning to the area. First Sergeant Scott Hildenbrandt starts his teaching career in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and is looking forward to watching his cadets mature into better citizens. Travena Hostetler comes from Lampe and will teach in learning disabilities. Hostetler joins the Waynesville district to be closer to her hometown, and also because of the unique opportunities and challenges that the district possesses. Greg (Brock) Hussey will teach special education and Daniel Kania will teach social studies. Ronni Jeter has the unique task of teaching art at both the high school and middle school. Jeter grew up in the Laquey area, and her husband, Rick, is also a teacher in the district. Olga McFadden starts her teaching career teaching German at the high school. Angela Montgomery is also starting her teaching career at Waynesville, but teaches French. Montgomery hails from Warrensburg and is looking forward to meeting her first students. Anastasia Prothro comes from Evening Shade, and will teach language arts. Having taught in smaller districts, Prothro thinks it will be exciting and challenging to move to a larger, more diverse district. Deborah Sanchez comes from California and was drawn to Waynesville by its fantastic reputation. Deborah will teach math. Also teaching math this next year will be Kristy Sicard and Seth Sowers. Sicard is from Lebanon, and after teaching summer school the last two years she fell in love with the district. Sowers comes from Rolla, and this is his first teaching position. Elizabeth Zollman is starting her teaching career at Waynesville, and will be teaching science (chemistry and biology). Zollman is from the Waynesville area and both her mother and father were teachers and administrators in the district (now retired).
Waynesville Middle School has eight new teachers this coming year. Jennifer Brown is a Waynesville native and will begin her teaching career teaching in learning disabilities. Brown comes from a family of educators, and is looking forward to this first year in the Waynesville district. Cyndee Cavole will teach music, and Tiffany Ell will start her teaching career by teaching family and consumer science. Amy Heberling will teach seventh grade language arts. Ana Lozano grew up in New Jersey, and will teach seventh grade science. Lozano says that the military brought her to the area, and she is very glad that she and her husband chose to stay. Lozano is looking forward to getting students excited about science, and helping them to understand what a fascinating world we live in. Dean Mings will serve as a guidance counselor at the middle school. Joshua Mize will start his teaching career by teaching eighth grade social studies. Rebecca Salley is starting her teaching career by teaching in learning disabilities.
Waynesville Technical Academy has three new teachers this coming year. Rebecca Hudson is from Lebanon, and is starting her teaching career by teaching computer networking technology. Blake Payne is from Richland, and starts his teaching career by teaching construction technology. Monica Hamilton is starting her teaching career by teaching practical nursing.
Piney Ridge Center has one new teacher this year. Robert Switzer starts his teaching career teaching special education. Roubidoux Learning Center also has one new teacher this year: Katie Zeman. Zeman is from Waynesville, and is delighted to be back in the district.
Pick Elementary School has four new teachers this coming year. Kristin Deering is from Waynesville, and both parents taught in the Waynesville R-VI School District. Deering starts her teaching career in third grade, and is looking forward to her time at Pick. Telena Haneline is from Licking, and will teach first grade at Pick. Haneline started her teaching career at Waynesville and left the state with her husband, and is delighted that they have been able to return. Melissa Vernon is from Waynesville, and will start her teaching career by teaching kindergarten. Alicia Whitaker is from St. James, and will start her teaching career teaching music at Pick.
Williams School has one new teacher; Shawna Brake who will start her teaching career teaching early childhood special education. Thayer Elementary School also has one new teacher; Amanda Zepp is from Dixon and will start her teaching career by teaching second grade. Zepp had lived in Springfield and really wanted to return to the area.
East Elementary School has six new teachers. Allison Butler is from Cameron, W. Va., and her husband will be stationed here at Fort Leonard Wood. Allison is starting her teaching career by teaching kindergarten. Janet Fosdick will teach first grade. Nicole Gurley is from Steelville, and is starting her teaching career at the same school where she did her student teaching. Gurley will teach first grade and is looking forward to meeting here students and their families. Ashley Oliver is from Cheney, Kan., and will begin her teaching career by teaching first grade. Renee Perrine will teach speech, as will Kim Sutton.
Wood Elementary School has three new teachers this fall. Stephanee Schiding is from Fedonia, Kan., and is looking forward to teaching physical education to elementary school students. Tina Teller is from St. Louis and will start her education career by teaching speech at both Wood and Thayer elementary schools. Tina is looking forward to working in the Waynesville district which she believes has a more personal and caring atmosphere than the schools she looked at in the St. Louis area. Connie Nelson will teach fourth grade.
Freedom Elementary School has twelve new teachers this year. Rebecca Allen, Hillary Lewis, Kayla Steffan, Kristin Williams, and Rebecca Ewing will all teach fifth grade. Kayla Stephan is from Dunkerton, Iowa, and this will be her first year in teaching. Kristin Williams is from Cullman, Ala., and this is also her first year. Rebecca Ewing is from Louisiana, and has six years of teaching experience. Gary Ervin, Rachel Sallee, Kristen Scott, and Amanda Veasman will teach fourth grade. Gary Ervin is originally from Oklahoma, and has been teaching for three years. He has retired from the Air Force and loves to watch children learn and grow. Rachel Sallee is from Waynesville, and is just starting her teaching career. Kristin Scott is from Owensville, and both she and her husband had been stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in 2001. They have made the Waynesville area their home and look forward to the new year. Amanda Marshall will teach third grade. Rodney Quinby is from Texas and will teach sixth grade. Stephanie Stokes is starting her teaching career, and will teach sixth grade and learning disabilities.
Partridge Elementary School has four new teachers this year. Shannon Bernick will teach fourth grade. Priscilla Perez is originally from Puerto Rico, but calls Waynesville her home, and will start her career in education by teaching fourth grade. Tiffany Peterson is from Desloge and will start her career in education as a speech pathologist. Darlene Quinby is originally from Texas, and will be the district English as a Second Language instructor.