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Vol. 14 No. 10
Welcome back to The eMule! Below is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
| Dr. Ivy named first statewide Principal of the Year for PBHS | |
Poplar Bluff High School’s first female principal in history has become the district’s first-ever statewide secondary Principal of the Year.
Dr. Valerie Ivy was named the 2026 Dr. Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year, officials of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals announced Tuesday, Jan. 20, before the entire staff at PB Connect, an internal professional development workshop Ivy helped found.
“This accolade reflects exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment, serving as a shining example of one of the dedicated educators you have here at Poplar Bluff,” proclaimed Dr. John Boyd, Jr. of Ste. Genevieve, MoASSP president-elect and past Missouri High School Principal of the Year.
Ivy was formally recognized as Principal of the Year for the Southeast region of the organization in September at a conference in Columbia, after being similarly surprised during a student body assembly last school year. Of a potential 1,300 secondary principals served by MoASSP, Ivy advanced as one of the top eight high school principals representing the Show-Me State.
As part of her nomination submission, Ivy is credited by colleagues, a parent representative, and a student for helping expand course offerings, promoting inclusivity, maintaining high visibility, involving stakeholders in key decision-making, and enhancing school safety both physically and emotionally.
“Through these strategies—collaboration, professional growth, tiered supports, restorative practices and expanded academic pathways—I am leading our school toward creating an inclusive, rigorous educational experience that prepares our students to succeed in a global, technology-driven economy,” Ivy wrote in response to a series of accompanying essays.
Ivy is in her ninth year serving as an administrator at her alma mater, first as assistant principal, and then head principal beginning in 2022, the year she earned her doctorate in education leadership from William Woods University in Fulton. Her tenure at Poplar Bluff Schools started in 2004, teaching at the former 5th & 6th Grade Center before she accepted a promotion a decade later to serve district-wide as instructional technology facilitator.
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Above: Dr. Valerie Ivy (center) receives surprise recognition from Drs. John Boyd, Jr. and Jamie LaMonds on behalf of MoASSP prior to the keynote address during the 11th annual PB Connect on Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Poplar Bluff High School.
Below: Dr. Valerie Ivy is photographed with husband Jamie and daughter Emmaleigh after being announced the 2026 Missouri High School Principal of the Year before the entire R-I staff last month in the PBHS gymnasium.
| Educators apply best practices acquired during annual PB Connect | |
The Poplar Bluff School District hosted its 11th annual PB Connect, featuring 140 professional development breakout sessions led by 85 presenters for faculty and staff to choose from.
The internal workshop kicked off with a keynote address from George Couros, a Florida-based education leader and author, best known for his work "The Innovator's Mindset," published around a decade ago.
“How do we help our kids find pathways to success that are meaningful to them,” was the central question Couros posed to more than 600 in attendance on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the Poplar Bluff High School gymnasium.
Couros challenged the audience to continue striving for innovation despite the alarming rate of change, reminding them that change has always been the constant in education. "Change is also an opportunity to do something amazing,” he pointed out.
“If you’re doing new stuff just because it’s new, but it doesn’t work for kids, you shouldn’t be doing it,” Couros advised, later adding: "Technology will never replace great teachers, but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational."
PB Connect began as Tech Camp during the 2014/15 school year under the one-to-one laptop initiative and expanded district-wide within a couple of years, ultimately opening to classified staff, covering a broader spectrum of topics vetted by building ambassadors.
In addition to staff members sharing best practices, guest presenters included content specialists from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, school partners from FCC Behavioral Health touching on social-emotional learning, and MOREnet officials discussing artificial intelligence.
“It’s not just how to use AI, but when it's appropriate in the school setting, since people are still a little uncertain," noted instructional coach Gretchen Pendley, who co-organized the event for the second time with colleague Pam Davis.
Following the conference, the duo shared that Junior High teacher Christopher Pense used the knowledge he gained from an AI session to create a weather game for classrooms in the Science Department to track data. Pense opened the database to neighboring districts and he has reportedly already had students from other states using it.
“I’m proud that Poplar Bluff finds this day important, especially for educators to be able to start using right away in January so they don’t fall into the third quarter slump,” Davis said.
A total of 135 door prizes were given out to attendees including classroom and office supplies, plus gift cards to local businesses. Numerous community partners helped make the event possible, including returning top sponsors Acrisure and FCC Behavioral Health, along with Kraft Miles & Tatum, Switcher Residential Care, and more.
Above: Before staff members break off into workshop sessions during PB Connect last month at PBHS, keynote speaker George Couros shares his story.
Below: Debbie Lands, principal and special education director for the Kelso School District, presents on the subject of women in leadership.
Click here to take a trip down memory lane and view our running album from over the years!
| December Athletes of the Month named | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Addy Valenzuela and Dallas Williams of Poplar Bluff High School the December Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Dallas, a senior basketball player, had averaged 21 points, six rebounds and two assists per game, as of this award recognition. He has also been named a member of the Poplar Bluff ShowDown and Kaminsky Classic All-Tournament teams.
“Dallas continues to grow as an athlete and a person,” stated Will Durden, his coach. “He is hardworking and is developing his leadership qualities.”
Addy, also a senior basketball player, had averaged 33 percent from the 3-point line, 67 percent in free throws, and led the team in defensive steals with 22 and defensive deflections with 33, as of this presentation. She has set an example for her team by putting in the extra work in order to improve, according to her coach, Soley Dugas.
“Addy is our primary ball handler and our primary shooter. Both of these roles require trust from coaches to lead and execute,” Dugas explained. “She has also logged the most extra reps in the past two seasons by consistently showing up early to practice and before games as well as staying after practice to work on her shooting and other skills.”
Above: Addy Valenzuela and Dallas Williams are presented the AOM awards by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president, on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at PBHS.
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Mr. Snowman
PBHS will host its annual Mr. Snowman male beauty pageant from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at Kay Porter Theater.
Valentine’s Day
Please arrange for any planned Valentine's Day deliveries to take place by 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, instead of Friday, Feb. 13, due to the shortened school day. Reminder: No balloons allowed on buses.
Presidents’ Day
An early dismissal day for teacher collaboration day is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13. Click here for dismissal times by building. School will be dismissed on Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of Presidents’ Day and will resume for students on Tuesday, Feb. 17.
School Board
The regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Education will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, in the Administrative Building: 1110 N. Westwood Blvd.
HoCo
PBHS Basketball Homecoming has been rescheduled for Friday, Feb. 20. Additional details forthcoming.
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On Thursday, Jan. 15, KBSI Fox23 reported about Eugene Field’s Blessing Box.
Kait8 also reported about our popular Nickey Street Blessing Box.
On Friday, Jan. 16, KWOC reported about our Foundation’s innovative grants approved.
The DAR reported a feature about R-I Athletic Director Joe Brown.
On Monday, Jan. 19, the DAR featured our AD on its podcast; and provided coverage of Wheatley’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day program, featuring Coach Brown as keynote.
On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the DAR reported about our new Blessing Box.
On Friday, Jan. 23, KBSI Fox23 reported about Dr. Ivy earning the 2026 Dr. Jim L. King High School Principal of the Year award.
On Sunday, Jan. 25, the DAR reported about the Foundation approving $5,700 in teacher grants (with a contingency in place for more).
On Monday, Jan. 26, the Southeast Missourian reported about Dr. Valerie Ivy being named Missouri High School Principal of the Year.
KWOC also reported about Dr. Ivy’s statewide honor, the first such award in PBHS history.
The DAR additionally recognized Dr. Ivy; and reported about PBHS drama teacher Nick McDaniel becoming a published playwright (Note: Since this report, McDaniel has been notified that Heuer Publishing will be picking up a second original play of his, “In-Laws and Outlaws.”)
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