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You've got eMule!
Vol. 11 No. 7
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| Poplar Bluff partners with MSU to help staff gain teacher certifications |  | |
Poplar Bluff has created its own pipeline of teachers by offering paraprofessionals an opportunity to receive a certification in special education at little to no cost, while continuing to earn a salary.
The R-I district was awarded a $10,000 ‘Grow Your Own’ grant, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education informed school officials in April. In a partnership with the Missouri State University College of Education, teacher retention and recruitment funds are being applied toward a stipend so existing Poplar Bluff educators can lead the classes after the school day.
“For the employees, it’s a flexible way to continue their education and move into a field where they can better themselves financially, and advance within the Poplar Bluff school system,” explained Mike Owen, R-I assistant superintendent of personnel. “As far as the district goes, everybody knows teachers are in short supply. And for the students, there will be less turnover because you typically have to quit your job to go back to school."
Employees enrolled in the program earn their K-12 mild/moderate cross-categorical SPED certification in 2-3 years, depending on previous coursework, with flexible credit hours offered after school, online or over the summer. The student teaching portion is completed on the job.
“I like the idea of having our paras, who work closely with our kids and already have a relationship established, then move into the teaching role,” stated Mindy Garrett, R-I director of special education. “It only makes for a stronger learning environment.”
Grant applications to receive up to a 100 percent discount for program participation are available through MSU, along with financial aid under the federal Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) program, as well as Missouri Fast Track. There are also two Accelerated Masters in Education program options for participants seeking to advance laterally on the salary index.
“This is an amazing partnership that will help our community grow our own teachers,” Owen’s predecessor Dr. Fara Jones wrote in the grant proposal in January. The R-I district will have to seek additional grant opportunities in order to sustain the program, depending on continued interest from personnel, otherwise finance the program out of balances based on its return on investment.
Once an initial teaching certification is obtained, Owen noted that it is easier to test into other subject areas. The first cohort, whom he referred to as “pioneers,” range from 25 years in their career to not too far removed from graduating high school.
LaRonda Mack, who assists in the Life Skills classroom at Junior High, plus leads the Multicultural elective under a supervising faculty member, said she is “appreciative of the opportunity” and pursuing the program because of the encouragement of both her colleagues and loved ones. When the additional workload gets overwhelming on top of her homebound duties in the evenings, she said she reminds herself that “it’s free.”
Hannah Tuttle, 20, earned her associate from Three Rivers College this spring and planned to transfer to Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, but enrolled in Pathways for Paras instead to accelerate her career path. She accepted a paraprofessional job in an eighth grade classroom in the meantime in order to qualify.
“I would say that this program allows me to gain work experience while taking college courses,” Tuttle reflected. “Overall this has been an extremely beneficial opportunity for me as it helps relieve the financial burden of paying for college and helps me get my degree faster.”
Above: Pictured during an introductory meeting in August at the Kay Porter Theater are (left to right) Justin Knapp, Michele Steffan, LaRonda Mack, Hannah Tuttle, Lalena Vaughn, Jasmine Terry-Deloney, Amy Counts and Jennifer Lee. Not pictured are cohort members Amanda Davis, Jeremy Dawe and Victoria Hadley.
| CRC underwrites new curriculum for elementary school counselors |  | |
Poplar Bluff counselors, over grades K-3, have their own curriculum for the first time in recent memory supplied along with a $500 implementation stipend per school building by the Butler County Community Resource Council.
PeaceBuilders, a science-based, research-validated professional development program, was funded via a $174,000 MEGA Grant from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and will complement the restorative practice model the district implemented this year.
“The elementary counselors plan to use this curriculum in conjunction with the restorative practices for kids who would have otherwise been stuck in ISS [in-school suspension], writing sentences or doing busy work,” explained Gabe Thompson, O’Neal principal. “We hope that it will help improve our school climate and impact our kids in a positive way.”
Oak Grove Principal Kristie Robinson initially reached out to her former elementary school colleague Abby Hanner, who now serves as a CRC prevention specialist, about whether any funding might be available to establish a “calm room” for students to center themselves. Robinson described the timing as “serendipitous,” as Hanner was seeking ways to help improve adolescent behaviors in the community with grant money awarded.
“We have things in place for older students to prevent substance misuse, but identifying younger students [exhibiting] risk factors – not so much,” said Hanner, who serves on the We Can Be Drug Free Coalition. “I knew the need from working at the school to teach self-regulating behaviors.”
Over the summer, Hanner approached R-I Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Patty Robertson, who arranged a meeting with elementary school counselors to brainstorm how to effectively apply the funding to reach students identified. In September, the Board of Education approved the PeaceBuilders curriculum, based on several guiding principles such as “righting wrongs” that parallel the district’s new restorative justice rooms.
At the end of last school year, the BOE approved the addition of 10 restorative support instructor positions with a $292,000 Teacher Retention Grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, made possible under the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief program.
The funds also covered alternatives to suspension training for the new classified staff members, along with principals, counselors and intensive needs teachers led by consultant Kelvin Oliver in advance of the present school year. “ISS is punitive in that students serve their time, whereas the restorative approach helps them process why,” explained Robertson adding that, if successful, the curriculum may expand to upper grade levels.
The district was paying $228,000 on existing ISS programs, including the salaries of three school employees and five substitute teachers, according to former R-I assistant superintendent of personnel Dr. Fara Jones, the author of the grant in December. If the BOE elects to continue the pilot program, the expenditure is estimated to be a $50,000 budget increase, including the two additional positions, according to information provided to the BOE in May.
“Research shows that suspending and expelling students does not help students improve behavior, address underlying causes of resistant behavior, or make schools safer,” wrote Jones, who has since accepted a position as deputy superintendent of Perryville. Jones further cited the work of researcher Laura McClure in the successful proposal: “Instead of using punishment to influence the way students behave, restorative approaches address the underlying reasons for students’ hurtful behavior and nurture their intrinsic desire to treat others with care and respect.”
Above: Pictured during the monthly coalition meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the CRC are (left to right) Patty Robertson, Brooke Weaver, Tabitha Parsons, Kali Dawes, Gabe Thompson, Abby Hanner, Bryson Merriott, Rebeca Pacheco, Leslie Maples, Mariah Long, Judy Moss, Darla Nunn and Allison Austill.
| MSTA surprises Poplar Bluff educators with $500 in grants |  | |
The Missouri School Teachers Association recently awarded five $100 classroom project grants to Poplar Bluff faculty members out of 64 applications and 30 awarded in total within the Southeast region, according to officials.
The successful recipients, who are active members of MSTA, included Poplar Bluff High School business instructor Crystal Huddleston, sixth grade teacher Charlene Mills of the Middle School, and second grade educators DeDe Ross of Lake Road, Cheri Sparkman of Eugene Field and Carey Wilkerson of Oak Grove.
With the funding, Wilkerson plans to order decodable phonics books for students learning to read; Sparkman will buy Stikbots, Play-Doh, LEGO Minifigures, construction paper and other green screen supplies to create stop motion videos; Ross will acquire large, digital protractor tools so students can apply measurements and design blueprints; Mills will purchase two LED microscopes to enhance lessons on the different types of cells; and Huddleston will invest in a classroom set of Monopoly boards for her accounting class to create ledgers recording transactions that result in an exchange of cash.
The MSTA is a grassroots, independent, professional organization committed to educating the state’s children by protecting, supporting and informing over 47,000 Missouri educators and other professionals, according to the website. Middle School instructor Karmen Carson has served as president of the Poplar Bluff chapter since 2009.
Above: Pictured with Shaelynn Nordwald, MSTA member service coordinator for the Southeast Region, are teachers (clockwise from upper left) DeDe Ross, Cheri Sparkman, Carey Wilkerson, Crystal Huddleston and Charlene Millis.
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Football Playoffs
The Poplar Bluff Mules will host Fox in the MSHSAA Class 5, District 1 quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, at Mules Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Non-school age children may attend at no cost.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Chartwells, in collaboration with the school district, will host its annual Community Thanksgiving from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at PBHS. Please enjoy a full-course meal and entertainment, free of charge!
Collect the Caps
The PBHS Beta Club is collecting teal bottle caps on Dr. Pepper products through Jan. 31, 2023, 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 in 50-gallon barrels at the 3209 Oak Grove Road 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. Last year, the student organization won $6,000 through the contest, and $2,500 in 2019.
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On Monday, Oct. 10, KWOC reported about crossing arm cameras being installed on district buses to enhance the safety of students.
The DAR reported about Emaly Clyburn of PBHS being named a state leadership representative for National Beta, and recognized other club members qualifying for nationals.
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Fox23 reported about the Rotary Club sponsoring the Good Habits Store at Lake Road for a decade.
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, KWOC reported about the Montgomery Foundation donating another $5K in equipment to our robotics program.
The DAR reported about Olivia Thetford and Rhyan Waddell of PBHS qualifying to compete in the state tournament during the inaugural season of our Mules Girl Golf program.
On Thursday, Oct. 13, KWOC advanced our annual Veterans Day parade at the Middle School.
On Saturday, Oct. 15, the DAR reported about Fishing University visiting PBHS as part of a local filming to air on the Outdoor Channel.
On Wednesday, Oct. 19, the DAR reported about a generous pottery equipment donation to our art program by the Stengers.
On Friday, Oct. 21, the DAR reported about our Bright Futures reboot event.
KWOC reported additional information about National School Bus Safety Week.
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