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You've got eMule!
Vol. 15 No. 2
Welcome back to The eMule! Below is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
Correction: In our previous edition, PBHS Assistant Principal Tracey Hall was inadvertently omitted from the article introducing the district’s new administrators. A Poplar Bluff native, Mrs. Hall has been employed at PBHS since 2010, with a tenure in public education spanning nearly 25 years.
| MSHP awards R-I Transportation Department Total Fleet Excellence | |
The Poplar Bluff School District’s Transportation Department has earned a Total Fleet Excellence award, the first in recent recorded history, for maintaining exceptional safety standards across its entire fleet of over 50 buses.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol presented the certificate to district representatives during the annual conference of the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation over the summer in Springfield.
“I absolutely attribute the overall success to our transportation staff—from our drivers doing pre-trip inspections to the final inspection prep leading up to the official review, with our mechanics going through each and every bus multiple times to make sure all equipment is functioning to ensure they're in safe working order for our kids," stated Jon McKinney, R-I director of student success.
The district achieved an approval rating of 92.3 percent, with 48 out of 52 buses earning a perfect score. The remaining buses that received point deductions were greenlit after minor repairs were performed on-site, McKinney reported to the Board of Education following the spring safety inspection.
The 2026 approval rating exceeds the state average by 2.36 percent. The percentage also tops last year’s score by 11.5 percent, and the district's five-year average on McKinney's watch by 8.7 percent. There has been an upward trajectory during four of those years with a single dip coinciding with a team member’s medical leave during the review period, according to McKinney.
While this is not the district’s first Total Fleet Excellence award, according to district memory, the honor signifies “the best score since at least 2019,” McKinney informed the BOE in May. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presently has eight years’ worth of data housed. Although Poplar Bluff did surpass the state average twice during this timeframe, exceeding 90 percent in 2020 and 2021, there was a bus placed out of service.
Deducts since rectified this year ranged from a small screw in a tire causing low air pressure to a rear LED brake light partially out. The motor vehicle safety inspection list encompasses nearly 100 items, covering signaling devices, the crossing control arm, the service door, handrails, emergency exits and every system in between. The 40-page school bus inspection regulations manual outlines what qualifies as a rejection and out-of-service criteria, complete with diagrams.
Of the district’s approximate 50-person transportation staff including office personnel, three bus mechanics are employed, two of whom are licensed inspectors. The MSHP conducts the annual inspection program each spring for all school buses statewide. Another inspection is required by statute to occur within 30 days of the start of school, along with unannounced spot checks throughout the year.
All bus drivers must receive at least eight hours of professional development annually through organizations such as MoAPT, the Missouri United School Insurance Council and the Transportation Security Administration, each of which Poplar Bluff has hosted for area school districts in recent years.
Currently the district's ridership is tracking over 2,000 students in the morning and afternoon, accounting for more than 40 percent of its population, most of whom are younger, according to McKinney, who received MoAPT administrator of the year honors in 2024, alongside mechanic Jason Davis, named Missouri driver of the year.
Above: (From left) Richard Hargrove, MSHP Motor Vehicle Inspection assistant director, awards Poplar Bluff bus mechanics Calvin Webb, Jason Davis and Cleaveland Willeford with the Total Fleet Excellence award in July in Springfield.
Below: Stacey Barton, MSHP Troop E chief motor vehicle inspector, issues former driver Connor Kelch an inspection slip in April at the Bus Garage.
| PBHS teacher chosen for D.C. institute after first year in classroom | |
A second-year social studies teacher was recently afforded the opportunity to travel to the nation's capital to observe real-world applications of the rule of law in order to broaden his perspective in the classroom at Poplar Bluff High School.
Tristan Gillihan, who teaches American history, was selected as part of a group of around 30 educators from across the country to learn about the judicial system firsthand from Monday through Friday, June 22-26, in the Washington metropolitan area.
The summer institute, arranged for middle and high school teachers, is sponsored by the Federal Judicial Center and the American Bar Association, which covered all expenses including flight, hotel, meals, fuel and parking.
“The courts provide another lens through which I can show my students history, with the added benefit of expanding their knowledge of their rights as American citizens and deepening their knowledge of the judicial branch of American government,” Gillihan summarized.
Gillihan applied for this professional development after becoming aware of the program in December during the Central Social Studies Summit in Columbia. Most of the fellow teachers were further advanced in their tenure, noted Gillihan, representing a wide range of urban and rural school systems.
The group spent the majority of the time at the FJC reviewing a series of historic and landmark court cases including the Sedition Act Trials of 1798, United States v. Charles J. Guiteau and Clay v. United States, then they discussed the context with a Washington historian plus the legal implications with a local judge, Gillihan shared. During the remainder of the week, the educators visited the District Court of Maryland, where they observed a case concerning immigration protections, and finally the U.S. Supreme Court to witness the justices deliver opinions on several contemporary cases.
“Being at the center of a building that holds such historical gravity was very inspiring,” Gillihan recalled of the grand finale of the visit, noting that photos inside the high court were strictly prohibited. “The entire day felt as if I was stepping directly into the history that I have been teaching, and it helped bridge the reality of the history I have been teaching into a place I was physically standing in.”
To allow for some additional sightseeing of monuments, memorials and federal buildings, Gillihan decided to extend his stay over the weekend on his own dime. He described his personal favorite stop, the Library of Congress, as "awe-inspiring." Elaborating, he said: “Whether it was depicting classic American iconography through paintings across the ceiling, the many sculptures of American heroes decorating the walls, or the striking architecture which seemed to complement every piece with remarkable intention – every inch of the room demanded to be admired.”
A graduate of the PBHS Class of 2022, Gillihan completed his undergraduate studies at Missouri State University in Springfield, where he developed his passion for history and chose teaching in order to pay it forward. With his newfound insight, he hopes to delve deeper into the inner workings of the court system and provide a broader historical context when highlighting key court cases, he reflected.
Above: Tristan Gillihan, who has entered his second year of teaching American history at PBHS, is pictured in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during a summer institute for teachers that he was invited to attend.
| PBHS teacher awarded $1,200+ grant to enhance agriculture curriculum | |
An agriculture education teacher was awarded over $1,200 through the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts to introduce stained glass soldering and landscape design into her curriculum at Poplar Bluff High School.
Darla Nunn’s grant was among six of 23 awarded to teachers in Southern Missouri during GOCSD’s 10th annual Innovation Summit in Branson held over the summer, according to Jenifer Richardson, GOCSD professional learning co-coordinator for the R-I district.
Nunn returned to teaching agriculture last school year after most recently taking a detour from the field to lead the Jobs for America’s Graduates program at Mark Twain School, and is now looking to build up her classroom resources again, particularly for students not drawn to the more conventional aspects of the career path, she stated.
“The primary objective of this innovative project is to expand traditional horticulture and agricultural science by integrating hands-on, interdisciplinary skills that connect plant science with creative design,” Nunn wrote in her successful proposal. “By introducing landscape design, students will develop practical skills in site planning, plant selection, sustainability practices and environmental stewardship, preparing them for real-world applications in both residential and commercial settings.”
With the funds, she is in the process of acquiring drafting supplies such as rulers, boards, books, garden templates and grid paper to complement her greenhouse course. She is additionally purchasing glass grinders, soldering stations and glass sheets for her agriculture students to create stained glass art.
“Incorporating stained glass soldering to Ag Science II curriculum adds a complementary artistic and technical dimension, allowing students to design and construct garden features such as decorative panels, greenhouse accents and outdoor art installations,” Nunn explained. “This fosters creativity, precision and problem-solving while reinforcing concepts like measurement, design balance and material properties.”
The GOInnovate grant program is a partnership between the GOCSD not-for-profit educational service agency and grant underwriter, Missouri Capital Asset Advantage Treasury, a financial management resource for educational institutions and municipalities.
Above: (Left to right) Dr. Rondi Vaughn, R-I assistant superintendent of curriculum; Darla Nunn, agriculture education teacher; and Dr. Valerie Ivy, PBHS principal, are presented with a check by granting officials on Thursday, July 30, in Branson.
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Fall Mum Fundraiser
The Poplar Bluff High School FFA is currently accepting orders for its annual mum fundraiser. The locally grown mums are $15 apiece, and come in white, red, yellow, orange, lilac and coral varieties – and are available for greenhouse pickup at the 3209 Oak Grove Road location. Click here to place an order. All proceeds support the student organization.
Letter Jackets
Skeeter Kell Sporting Goods representatives will be present outside of the Athletic Department office at PBHS from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23, to take letterman jacket orders. Please be prepared to make a deposit.
Collect the Caps
The Poplar Bluff Middle School Student Council and Safety Council are collecting green bottle caps on Dr. Pepper products through October for a chance to win up to $10K through the annual Collect the Caps contest, co-sponsored by Pepsi MidAmerica. The special caps are being accepted at the 1300 Victory Lane campus from the following 16&20-ounce, and 1&2-liter bottles: Diet/Cherry/Dr. Pepper, Diet/7Up, Squirt, Crisp & Clear water, and Orange/Grape/Strawberry Crush.
Veterans Day Parade
The Poplar Bluff Middle School is seeking veterans to participate in its annual Veterans Day Parade beginning at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 1300 Victory Lane. Click here to RSVP or call 573-785-5566.
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On Saturday, Aug. 22, the DAR published our 13th annual Mule Prints (scroll to the bottom to view).
On Friday, Aug. 28, KWOC advanced our Mules Football home opener.
On Saturday, Aug. 29, the DAR published our fall sports schedules.
On Tuesday, Sept. 1, the ShowMe Times reported about Tammy Raderstorf being named R-I director of special services.
On Thursday, Sept. 3, the DAR promoted the PBHS Class of 1961’s 65-year reunion at Rodgers.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, GOCSD featured Poplar Bluff Schools as its #TeacherProud Tuesday monthly spotlight. Watch our reel here.
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