O’Neal Elementary Principal Dr. Amy Dill earned the 2022 Missouri Association of School Librarians Award for School Administrators today, April 11, during the organization’s spring conference at Osage Beach.

The statewide honor recognizes a school leader who has made a significant contribution toward furthering the role of its school library media center. Dill is the first Poplar Bluff administrator to receive the award, according to the MASL list of recipients dating back to 1982.

“My library program is better because Dr. Dill allows me to attend meetings, sit on committees and share information with my colleagues,” stated O’Neal librarian Ashley Robertson in her nomination. “My students benefit from teacher/librarian collaboration.”

Robertson is a member of multiple committees, participates in discussions during teacher collaboration days and receives briefings from grade levels meetings, she explained. Being involved in the Professional Learning Community allows her to support teachers and cover particular topics during library, plus work with the reading intervention specialist to help ensure Robertson's instruction is data-driven.

Dill further pushes Robertson to “think outside of the box and try new things,” the librarian wrote, providing such examples as: participating in an embryology program, partnering with conservationists to lead Earth Day activities and housing a library pet in order to spark student interest in different genres of books.

Patty Robertson, R-I assistant superintendent of curriculum, shared how Dill has served as a mentor for Ashley Robertson, who is still early in her career at Poplar Bluff, helping to create a growth plan that establishes goals and allows for opportunities to network with her association.

“I am in awe of [Dill’s] ability to juggle all of the needs of staff and students on her campus, while keeping high expectations for academic achievement,” said Patty Robertson in a letter of recommendation. “… She believes that the primary goal of elementary school is to teach students to read and to develop a love for reading during their foundational years.”

Growing up, her mother Carole Canady was a librarian and Dill can remember visiting the library after school to read and do homework. Her husband, R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, was a school library media specialist for the first decade of their marriage, and she recalls bringing her daughters Caroline and Maura to the library on Saturdays to help shelve books, instilling a love for reading at a young age.

Amy Dill referred to the library as the heart of a school. She notes: “It is a place where students that struggle with academics can find a book of their own interest and reading level. It is a place for advanced students to research their own interests and expand their knowledge base.”

Prior to taking the helm at O’Neal in 2016, Amy Dill served variously as a director of a special education cooperative, elementary principal, coordinator of special services and school counselor in Houston, Mo. The first act of her tenure in public education was spent as a regular classroom and special education teacher, starting out at Macks Creek.

“The staff and students at O’Neal love and appreciate Dr. [Amy] Dill as she takes on her role as an administrator with a servant leadership approach,” said Gabe Thompson, O’Neal counselor. “She is the first to get here in the mornings and the last to leave.”

“There’s nothing more powerful than a kid with a dream,” said third grader Reagan Sparkman to help kick off the 9th annual Leadership Day on Friday, April 8, at Eugene Field.

A group of city officials, church leaders, business professionals, nonprofits, High School Student Council and educators from across the region attended the student-led showcase, featuring speeches and musical performances highlighting service projects of elementary teams, as well as goals tracked and met throughout the school year.

A special touch at this year’s event—themed ‘A million dreams’—PBHS seniors who were a part of the elementary school’s first Leadership Day in 2014 spoke about how the Leader in Me initiative set the tone for their educational journeys. LIM, under which Eugene Field achieved Lighthouse Status six years ago, is based on Stephen Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Lauren Webb of the Class of 2022 attributed her ability to plan as well as her involvement in numerous extra-curricular activities to the program. “If you don’t put yourself out there and be comfortable and be who you are, then what are you doing,” asked classmate Brileigh Cates, who noted she is presently in the running to be valedictorian.

The son of Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor, Chase, who was also in fourth grade during the inaugural showcase, delivered a video message since he was busy playing in a Mules Baseball tournament in Oklahoma. His favorite habit is to be proactive, he said, pointing out: “I’m just always optimistic, and I always try to have a positive attitude about things and just try to block out the negatives.”

Each elementary student is assigned to a leadership team. Some of the projects completed this year, presenters shared, included designing bandanas for Hearts for Rescue dogs and doubling their Math-A-Thon goal, bringing in over $2,200 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In addition to individual goals, students track school-wide objectives known as Wildly Important Goals (WIGs). Student Wayne Price explained how the second grade has worked toward meeting 280 goals so far. “Our school is full of goal-setters who enjoy celebrating successes,” he said.

Chase Henry, grade three, revealed how in the fall he learned he has Type 1 Diabetes and used the habits to take control of his health by beginning with the end in mind, and practicing discretion. His friend, Jeremiah Gipson, is in charge of escorting him to the nurse’s office when his blood sugar gets low. “I care about Chase and don’t mind helping out,” Jeremiah said.

Before the guests toured classrooms, the staff surprised Jennifer Taylor by naming her the school’s Leader of the Year. Last month, Jennifer Taylor was recognized as one of 11 2022 Missouri Distinguished Principal Honorees by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. Under her tutelage, eight educators have transitioned to administrative posts across the region, and Jennifer Taylor has additionally mentored three principals within the R-I school district.

Eugene Field was listed in October as No. 8 in U.S. News & World Report’s ‘Best Elementary Schools’ out of over 1,000 ranked statewide based on Missouri Assessment Program scores in the context of socioeconomic demographics. Last year, the elementary was one of only two in the state, both in Poplar Bluff, to be named National ESEA distinguished schools for closing the achievement gap among student groups out of 1,300 Missouri Title 1 education institutions.

“Her achievements go far beyond our walls… She has changed me and all her staff for the better with her loving compassion for her school community,” reading interventionist Pam Heaton stated. “The influence of a great principal can never be erased.”

Above: The GLEEders close out the 9th annual Leadership Day with a rendition of “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack.

Below: Eugene Field reading interventionist Pam Heaton presents Principal Jennifer Taylor with the Leader of the Year award, a program tradition, on Friday, April 8.

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The Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center culinary arts program held its second annual Senior Showcase on Thursday, March 31, serving between 80-100 guests from several student-created menus.

The upperclassmen were tasked with conceptualizing a restaurant from the ground up, according to Chef Brandon Moon, TCC culinary arts instructor. The students chose a concept, food theme, name, logo, menu and recipes, then researched ingredient costs to make bite-sized portions for all the visitors, he explained.

“It helps them have a better understanding of how to put a menu together that both meets the customer’s standards and brings in enough income to support a business,” Moon said. “It also gives them good experience for what it’s like to work a job for a full day. If you’re gonna be in the restaurant business, you have to be able to stand on your feet, communicate and have time-management skills.”

A couple of students chose European pub style themes, another two selected Southern comfort foods and the remainder prepared deli menus. The event, sponsored by Ozark Federal Credit Union, served to showcase to families and patrons what students have learned while working to obtain their ProStart certification. Juniors were assigned to assist seniors with food prep.

“So many times they get assignments that they are not passionate about,” Moon continued. “What I really like about this is they get to decide what it is they like and what they think will be successful, because while you can have good at-home Super Bowl food, you have to determine what commercial products are actually gonna sell.”

Operating the mock restaurant Kayla’s Country Kitchen, Puxico senior Kayla Holt said that her macaroni and cheese and banana pudding seemed to be a hit, based on compliments received. She thought maybe her chicken and dumplings would be most notable.

In her reflection paper, she wrote that while everyone has different tastes, she generally found people to be open-minded. Kayla admitted that her biggest challenge was the deadline and organization. “All in all, I would have enjoyed the event… but beforehand it was kind of stressful,” she stated.

The Senior Showcase concept replaced the previous meal of the day tradition in which seniors took turns creating a menu for the public during Mules Café days. Moon has goals to continue to advance the program, including following up on the event by pairing students at local restaurants so they can observe how functioning businesses operate with similar cuisine.

He hopes that at the future culinary arts center, in planning stages on the TCC campus, he will be able to attract industry leaders to the showcase to scout prospective employees. Another possibility, Moon said, would be to combine the event with open houses for the other career and technical education programs.

Above: Board vice president Ken Davis visits Kayla Holt’s mock restaurant during the Senior Showcase.

Below: Culinary arts student Makhala Overton serves guests from her original menu in the restaurant she envisioned called Pinky Girl.

PBHS, in conjunction with the Technical Career Center, will be hosting a hiring event from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 4, in an effort to allow outgoing students with resumes to interview for open positions in the community. Employers interested in having representation at the annual event are asked to fill out the form linked here. For more information, call the TCC at 573-785-2248 or email charleskinsey@pb.k12.mo.us.

On Wednesday, April 6, the DAR reported about our statewide School of Character award; and our band’s exemplary ratings during a district festival.

On Thursday, April 7, KWOC also reported about the School of Character award PBHS StuCo received.

On Friday, April 8, the DAR reported about Leadership Day; and recognized our administrators for earning statewide awards last month through MAESP.

KWOC reported about our Environment Club’s non-native/invasive tree removal efforts.