The Poplar Bluff R-I School District approved retirements, resignations and new hirings during the closed session of their Feb. 17 meeting.
Certified personnel and supplemental duty employees retiring were Debbie Allen, psychological examiner at the Central Office Special Services Department; Patrick Carda, physical education teacher at O’Neal and Oak Grove elementary schools; and Tennessee Dazey, special education teacher at Poplar Bluff Middle School. Resignations were Gabrielle Bullock, teacher at Oak Grove Elementary; Amy Courtney, teacher at O’Neal Elementary; Luann Elledge, Elementary Counseling Department head and testing coordinator for the R-I district; Katlin Mansfield, teacher at PBMS; and Frankie Moe, basic skills teacher at the Technical Career Center. All retirements and resignations are effective at the end of the 2021-2022 year except for Moe’s, which is effective June 30.
Those hired as certified personnel or supplemental duty employees were Kristie Robinson as principal of Oak Grove Elementary, Regina Blalock as special education teacher at PBMS, Hope Conover as ACT coach at Poplar Bluff High School, Hilary Lawson as teacher at PBMS, Cassie LeGrand as teacher at PBMS, Ashley Long Griffin at mathematics teacher at PBHS, Amy Mitchell as teacher at Eugene Field Elementary, Krista Muphy as teacher at PBMS, Audrey Olivas-Zuniga as special education teacher at O’Neal Elementary, David Prater as social studies teacher at PBHS and Erica Vaughn agricultural education teacher and FFA sponsor at PBHS. Employments are effective at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.
Classified personnel retirements were Kimberly Geringer, computer technician in the IT department; Bobby Joe Miller, maintenance worker in the maintenance department; and Mary Annette Wells, paraprofessional at O’Neal Elementary. Resignations were Olivia Crites, paraprofessional at the kindergarten center; Michelle Crutchfield, special services clerk at Central Office; Rebecca Edwards, companion aide at O’Neal Elementary; Donna Fisher, custodian at the Early Childhood Center; Iris Johnson, medical assistant at PBMS; Jentsy Philpot, medical assistant at PBMS; Katherine Ray, secretary at TCC; and Dontriniece Wright, companion aide at Oak Grove Elementary. Retirements and resignations are effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Classified personnel employments were Michael Burson as paraprofessional at PBMS, Krystle Daves as health aide at PBHS, Stephanie Griffin as administrative office assistant at Central Office, Walter Jackson as custodian at Poplar Bluff Junior High, Nicole Seabrooks as medical assistant for the district, Megan Tanner as companion aide at O’Neal Elementary and Marty Wallace as bus driver in the Transportation Department.
The board approved the employment of Lillie Pettypool, Brittany Brasser, Payton Spradley, Autumn Wawak, Clarissa Lee, Kayla Sanderson, Demi Wisdom, Chryl Cole, Yasmine McGuire, Trever Lewis and Emalee Dobbs as substitute teachers.
The board also approved contract renewals for administrators and principals in the 2022-2023 school year.