Staff Changes and New Team Members

Below is a list of all the staff taking on new responsibilities and newly hired staff members.  I have said many times, “Reed does not rebuild, we reload.”  We have several very eager and talented professionals joining the Reed Family.  Of course, none of our new staff members really seem new anymore.  They have spent numerous hours setting up their rooms and have met countless times with our returning staff members.

As with every year at this time, Dr. Jahnke and the Board Office Administration are closely monitoring the enrollment at all the schools to determine how many sections are justified.  Classes are based upon the district’s class size policy.  The goal is for all Kindergarten through Second Grade classes to have 20 or less students and Third and Fourth Grades to have 22 or less students.  In addition to students’ needs, there are many other variables that impact staffing decisions, such as classroom space and available fiscal resources.  Currently, we are planning on four sections of Kindergarten, Third, and Fourth Grades.  We are planning on five sections of Second Grade.  We started the summer expecting to have four sections of First Grade.  As a result of increased enrollment in first grade, we are closely monitoring numbers to see if a fifth section is justified.  It is not atypical for enrollment to change throughout a summer.  Regardless of the number of sections, we are prepared.

·       Mrs. Abby Imming, former Fourth Grade Teacher, will be teaching Second Grade.

·       Mrs. Kristen Thompson, former First Grade Teacher, will be a Learning Lab Reading Teacher.

·       Haley Bollwerk, former Supervisory Assistant, will be a Special School District Para Professional.

·       Ms. Alise Banks will be our ten month Administrative Assistant.  Alise earned her administrative education diploma from Hickey College and is in the process of earning her bachelors in education from Northwest Missouri State University.  Most recently she worked as an administrative assistant in the Normandy School District.  We expect a smooth transition to Reed because she had similar responsibilities in her previous position.  All of you will get to know her warm professional personality soon.                 

·       Ms. Julie Bergin will be teaching Fourth Grade.  Julie earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri.  Most recently she taught first and fourth grades at Old Bonhomme Elementary the past two years.  She taught fourth grade for one year in the Lindbergh School District before coming to the Ladue School District.  In addition to implementing strong instructional practices in the classroom, she has a passion for Character Education and technology.  Recently she earned her certification in Character Education.

·       Ms. Kristen Reando will be teaching Kindergarten.  Kristen earned her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Webster University.  Kristen comes to us from the Northwest R-1 School District where she taught Kindergarten for four years.  In addition to implementing strong instructional practices in the classroom, she has proven to be a go getter outside the classroom.  Most notable is that she has a passion for Character Education.  She was highly active at her former school by coordinating several Character Education student groups.  She also presented at the CHARACTERPlus National Conference last year.     

·       Ms. Jennifer Strub (soon to be Mrs. Hadfield) will be teaching Fourth Grade.  Jenn earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Fontbonne University.  Jenn comes to us with a wealth of teaching experience.  Most recently she taught third grade at Spoede Elementary.  She taught seven years in the Rockwood School District and two years in the Bayless School District.  She is actually no stranger to Reed.  Early in her career she taught Gifted and Enrichment at Reed for half of the year.  She was voted Teacher of the Year at Chesterfield Elementary in the Rockwood School District.  Throughout her career she has served and lead numerous building and district level committees.  Equally impressive is that she has applied and been awarded multiple grants to improve the education of her students.    

·       Mrs. Melissa Andersen will be teaching second grade.  Melissa earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education Certificate from the University of Missouri.  She also earned her masters of Education Administration from Lindenwood University.  Melissa comes to us with a wealth of teaching experience.  Melissa comes to us from the Wentzville School District where she taught third grade for seven years and was a special education inclusion teacher for three years.  She even taught at The Churchill School for one summer.  Throughout her career she has served and lead numerous building and district level committees.  Her experience has prepared her to differentiate her instruction to meet a wide variety of learners. 

·       Mrs. Laura Wilber will be a Special School District Resource Teacher.  Laura earned her bachelor’s degree in special education and cross categorical from the University of Missouri and her masters in education from Lindenwood University.  Laura has worked with Special School District the last ten years, specifically in the Webster School District.  She has a passion for Communication Arts and has been trained on a variety of reading and writing programs.  Laura has served and lead numerous building and district committees.  Most notably she has been a Data Team Leader and Behavior Coach.  

·       Mrs. Jennifer Mueller will be a Special School District School Psychologist.  Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri.  She earned her masters in Community / School Psychology and her doctorate in School Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Jennifer has worked with Special School District the last nineteen years, specifically in the Ferguson Florissant School District.  Jennifer has served and lead numerous building and district committees.  Most notably she has mentored other School Psychologists, one being Jackie Williamson, our former School Psychologist.     

Any additional teachers, Special School District Paraprofessionals, Teacher Assistants, and Supervisory Assistants will be introduced in August. 

                                         

Goodbyes

I also want to say a formal good-bye to the staff members who have announced they are leaving us since my last Principal  Dispatch.  The following staff members will be sharing the Reed spirit at other places. 

·       Kristen Allsup, Second Grade Teacher, will be staying home to be a full time mom.

·      Keale Walker, Teacher Assistant, will teach the University City School District.

·      Travis Hollowood, Teacher Assistant, will teach math in the Kansas City area.

·      Caroline Renfro, Teacher Assistant, will teach at the Biome School.

Ms. Alise Banks, Administrative Assistant

Ms. Julie Bergin, Fourth Grade

Mrs. Kristen Reando, Kindergarten

Ms. Jenn Strub (Mrs. Hadfield) Fourth Grade

Mrs. Melissa Andersen, Second Grade

Mrs. Laura Wilber, SSD Resource

Jennifer Mueller, SSD School Psychologist

Happy Place

I hope everyone is having a relaxing, fun-filled, educational summer.  This summer my wife and I were fortunate to enough to visit both of our “happy places.”  Starting with Lisa’s happy place—the beach. This place worked out especially well for my wife and daughter Marisa, who I think were both born with gills.  They could visit both the beach and a pool in the same day. The highlight for my son and I was shark fishing on a charter fishing boat.  Evan and I caught an astounding number of Black Tip Sharks—nine in total!  Don’t worry…we released them all!

I am finding that as I get older, I enjoy the outdoors more than ever before.  Lisa and I are looking forward to attending a wedding in Colorado in a few days.  Fortunately for me, we are carving out a couple of days to camp in the mountains…my happy place.  In addition to Colorado, we took a float trip, went to the top of the arch, and I took advantage of some extra time to ride my bike.         

 

Enjoy the rest of your summer and let’s be ready to come back to our other “happy place,” Reed Elementary.  I look forward to hearing about your adventures.   

Evan and Marisa with friends

Congratulations Retirees!

Retirement means a lot to me.  For a person to dedicate his/her life to a specific profession is so respectable.   This year three amazing staff members are retiring from Reed: Sandy Paino, Carolyn Zahm, and Karen Sumner.  All three of these women hold one thing in common, the ability and desire to develop strong relationships with ALL students.  We will miss them dearly, and we wish these women the very best in their retirements and in their lives ahead.

·      Sandy Paino has been Reed’s loyal Food Service Staff Member or “Lunch Lady” for the past six years and worked in Food Service before coming to Reed for eleven years.  However, she began her career as a teacher.  Sandy taught Jr. High English and Social Studies for nine years and then was the Director of Christian Education for twelve years in Indiana.  Although highly efficient in her current role, Sandy is best known for brightening everyone’s day.  A simply hello from Sandy is sure to fill your emotional cup.

·      Carolyn Zahm, Reading Specialist, has dedicated 20 years to Reed teaching students to read.  Hundreds of students have benefited from her effective teaching strategies over the years.  However, more impressive than her teaching strategies, is her supernatural ability to quickly determine what is preventing a student from meeting his/her potential.  Despite all her strengths, the one that tops them all is her desire, courage, and ability to advocate for kids.  She is quick to notify others when a student is not meeting his/her potential.

·      Karen Sumner, Special School District Resource Teacher, has taught for twenty years, nine of which have been at Reed.  Karen is drawn to and truly loves what makes each person unique.  Her passion carries over to being able to teach to students’ individual learning styles.  Even when other teachers may be struggling, Karen always seems to have the just right strategy that works for students’ academic and behavior needs.  She is Reed’s Magician, and we have been fortunate to have her work her magic for years.

Sandy Paino

Carolyn Zahm

Karen Sumner

Sometimes “Last” is Best…When it Involves Names

Dear Parents,

I noticed that our awesome custodian is called Mr. Rick by students and parents but most of the other teachers are called by their last name. I asked Mr. Rick what his last name was and he said, "Dent" and I asked him why he wasn't called by his last name.  He thought about it and said, "I don't know." So some friends and I started a campaign to call Mr. Rick by his last name, Mr. Dent. We are hoping that you will help us make this change by talking about it with your kids.

Thank you,

David Ciorba, 4th Grade