Latest news with #SchoolDistrictBoardofEducation
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SJSD appoints two new administrators
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The appointments of two administrators for the 2025-26 academic year were approved by the St. Joseph School District Board of Education. Shawna Gilliland will take on the role of principal of Benton High School for the upcoming school year. Gilliland has 24 years of experience in education and most recently served as assistant principal at Central High School for the past two years. That position followed a year as an administrative intern and 21 years as a Central mathematics teacher. Along with a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Missouri Western State University, Gilliland has a Master's in Mathematics Education and a Specialist in Education Administration from Northwest Missouri State University. She is National Board Certified in Mathematics and was named the 2024-25 Northwest Region Assistant Principal of the Year. Brad Spinner was appointed to assistant principal at Central beginning in August. Spinner brings 25 years of education experience to the role. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics from Oklahoma State University. He was a teacher in Texas for four years, before moving to St. Joseph in 2004, and has spent the last 21 years teaching and coaching at Lafayette High School. He also has served as the Lafayette activities director for three years. The new administrators will assume their positions on Tuesday, July 1.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
SJSD School Board approves new administrators
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education has approved the appointments of two administrators for the 2025-2026 school year. Dr. Kati Reid has been appointed as the Director of Secondary Education, replacing Dr. Lara Gilpin, who is retiring on June 30, 2025. Reid began her career in 2009 and joined SJSD in 2010. Reid was an English teacher at the middle and high school level for 12 years. Most of her teaching career was invested in Spring Garden Middle School. She has been an assistant principal and principal at Benton High School for the past three years. Reid earned her Ed.D in Superintendency and Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Williams Woods University. She also has a Bachelor's of Science in English and a Masters of Science in Assessment from Missouri Western State University. Makayla Mekonnen has been appointed as assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year. She replaces Tom Evans, who was appointed as principal at Edison Elementary. Mekonnen began her career in SJSD in 2015. During her 10 years of education, she has held varied k-12 roles, including special education, classroom teacher and behavior interventionist. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from MWSU and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Northwest Missouri State University. Mekonnen is currently pursuing her Ed.D in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from Baker University, with anticipated completion in 2025.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Board of Education work session to address parental leave and recent board vacancy
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The St. Joseph School District Board of Education will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Troester Media Center to address issues like paid parental leave and the recent board vacancy. The deadline to file for the open position, vacated with the resignation of Rick Gehring, is May 13. The board will review policies related to filling vacancies caused by resignations. It will also review other job descriptions for the board, while addressing topics like paid parental leave for the new school year and investing in curriculum resources for various subjects. Superintendent Gabe Edgar will share a presentation on the recent School District Mission survey tonight as well. News-Press NOW will share details of the meeting later tonight.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'It's all about the kids': BOE candidate Kim Miller runs for second term
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — St. Joseph School District Board of Education candidate Kim Miller is seeking another term to serve local constituents. Miller said there are three things she wants to focus on in a second term: decreasing bullying and improving safety, increasing parental involvement and driving academic improvement. Although a big topic of discussion for voters this election season is the Proposition 2 bond measure, Miller said her focus is on the kids. "We've spent all of this time on the buildings, that we forget that the students are in those buildings and they are the ones who matter more than the buildings," Miller said. "I understand all of that, and the voters are going to decide, but when it comes to the success of our students, that supersedes everything." When it comes to decreasing bullying, Miller suggests, "enforcing clear and consistent anti-bullying policies, increasing adult supervision in high-risk areas (hallways, lunchrooms and playgrounds) and implementing mentorship programs that pair older students with younger ones. "Most of the time the board is supposed to be like an oversight to come alongside. We're not supposed to get in the weeds with the staff but to help encourage like those policies, to help get some clear and consistent policies that everyone can understand and implement," Miller said. "We get a lot of complaints, whether emails or phone calls from parents complaining. You know, 'My kid was bullied in the bathroom,' 'My child was bullied on the bus.'" When it comes to increasing parental involvement, Miller said she attended a few sessions offered by the Family Leadership Institute, which suggests ways families and school administrations can work together. "Sometimes we use family forums. It's opening the doors, 'Hey, we have, we have dinner and information for you, come on.' It encourages better relationships," Miller said. "You know, again, it's not oversight of staff. It's not getting in the way of the teaching, but it's it's allowing them privilege to be participant and investor in their children in schools." Miller is also in support of the district's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, or CSIP, which allows teachers to see where they can improve in classrooms and how to foster student improvement. "It's what's happening in the classroom, how successful they are in providing information and how well the students are taking that in and applying it," Miller said. "So I think that's why and it's comparable. These also show how we rate along with other districts similar in size." You can learn more about each candidate running for the St. Joseph School Board every Tuesday through the end of March.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bond project update, open enrollment top list at school board work session
The St. Joseph School District Board of Education will meet for its monthly work session at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at the Troester Media Center. Some items up for discussion are updates for the ongoing district bond project that's covering costs for repairs at multiple facilities. Additionally, SJSD Superintendent Gabe Edgar will explain the possible implementation of House Bill 711, which was approved by the Missouri House of Representatives earlier this month. The bill would allow "open enrollment" in terms of establishing transfer procedures to non-resident districts for students in public schools. The bill could become effective for the 2026-2027 school year if approved by the Senate. Also up for discussion is the process of adding a second section of Hillyard's Health Services program, a physical therapy assistant for the 2025-2026 school year, childcare for parenting students, paid parental leave for staff and workforce housing. News-Press NOW will update this story.
