Poplar Bluff Middle School will see a new assistant principal for the 2021-22 school year, though it’s one intimately familiar with the school and its students.
“I am super excited. It’s something that I have looked forward to doing,” said Shelly Ridens, who was hired by the R-1 board to fill the assistant principal position during its Feb. 25 meeting.
“I am beyond excited to be able to continue to be in the district, as well as be in the building that I’m very familiar with,” she said. “Middle school is where my heart is. I’ve done all my work in fourth and fifth and sixth grade, so this is kind of home to me.”
“We’re very excited to have her. She’s been with this district many years, been with this building many years,” said middle school principal Dr. Josh Teeter. “She’s data-driven, and she’s on board with revamping discipline tools and helping educate the whole child.”
Ridens will fill the position vacated after the retirement of Angie Jackson in December. Currently, former Poplar Bluff Junior High School principal Bob Case is taking that role.
Ridens is a Poplar Bluff native, graduating from the high school in 1996.
“I went to Three Rivers and Southeast Missouri State, and then I got my Master’s at William Woods University,” said Ridens.
She returned to Poplar Bluff after school, she said, because “I love this town.”
A 19-year teaching veteran, Riders has been with the Poplar Bluff School District for the last 14 years, first as a fifth grade ELA teacher and currently as a fourth and fifth grade reading interventionist.
While Ridens earned her Master’s degree several years ago, she wasn’t quite ready to make the move into administration at the time.
“I’ve actually had the degree for several years, but I knew I wasn’t ready to pursue that until probably the last five years,” she said.
Ridens said she has “worked very hard” to continue her education, with the goal of “moving from the classroom to helping students, to now helping students via teachers.
“That benefit more in the end is how I feel. I can help teachers help 25 students instead of just helping one classroom. We’re going to see more progress,” Ridens said.
Moving into administration, Ridens said, brings with it “some sadness” about leaving the classroom.
“You miss that bond because those are your babies, but now I feel like I can have a whole building full of those,” Ridens said. “It’s hard to leave the classroom, but knowing you have a bigger journey ahead is satisfying as well.”
Other actions by the board during its closed session include approval of certified personnel retirements, effective at the end of the current school year, for Mark Barousse, physical education teacher and head track coach at Poplar Bluff High School; Susan Chronister, cosmetology instructor at the Technical Career Center; Maj. Gregory Crites, senior JROTC instructor at the high school; Carmen Hoggard, health occupations instructor at the Technical Career Center; Sheryl Talkington, director of health services district-wide; Lori Tibbs, 4-year-old teacher at the Early Childhood Center; Pamela Waller, special education teacher at the Early Childhood Center; and Regina Williams, guidance counselor at the high school.
Certified resignations, effective at the end of the current school year, include Angelia Beaton, science teacher at the high school; Yalonda Livingston, special education teacher at the Early Childhood Center; and Sandy Pike, head trap shooting coach at the senior and junior high schools.