When Cheryl Cornett signed on to be the Pattonsburg superintendent, her 23-year career as a teacher came full circle.
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Cheryl was born and raised in Coffey and graduated from its high school. She spent her whole life in Coffey until she got married. Her maiden name is Scott and growing up, she was known as one of two sets of Scott twins. Her parents were Bob and Ruby. Her father is deceased, her mother lives in Cameron. Her twin sister is Carol Burton. Her twin brothers are Neil and Noel.
On the same day her son Rob started kindergarten at Pattonsburg R-2, Cheryl began as Pattonsburg’s “lunch lady.”
“I think I was more scared than he was on the first day of school,” she said.
She was a little “backward” she said when she started as an aide who did lunch duty and collected lunch money, but added: “I liked the job and it was a great deal of fun.”
The superintendent in 1979, Gene Walker, told Cheryl that if she had 60 hours of college to her credit, he’d hire her for a remedial reading job that had just opened up.
As it was, Cheryl had been attending college.
“A friend of mine had just lost a child,” she said. “She needed to do something to help her with that grief. She asked if I wanted to go to college with her. I didn’t think it would hurt me to go back to school, and she needed somebody. It was like it was meant to be.”
Cheryl got the required hours and was hired for the job of remedial reading paraprofessional at R-2 in 1980. It was around about then that she decided she could probably be a teacher. After getting her undergraduate degree in 1984, she taught one year at King City. She returned to Pattonsburg where she remained for the next nine years. She worked six years as a paraprofessional, then took a year off to student teach and finish her degree.
Cheryl received her undergraduate degree and bachelor of science degree in elementary education at MWSC in St. Joseph. She attended NWMSU at Maryville for her master’s degree in elementary education and also her specialist in education with superintendency.
“I was going to school at nights and during the summer, plus working at school, raising the kids and my husband,” she joked. “Actually, my husband has always been my best supporter.”
Her last two years at Pattonsburg were as half-time principal and half-time Title One teacher.
Then Cheryl took a position at Cameron. She worked there for 11 years as assistant principal, principal, reading coach and curriculum coordinator.
“I felt like I was ready for a change,” she said of her reason for taking a position at Excelsior Springs. “I wanted to see how a bigger school district operated, how they did things. It was an opportunity to learn and get input from other people.”
She has been the assistant principal at Excelsior Springs for the past couple of years.
“Now it’s back to Pattons- burg,” she said. “I started there and I’ll probably finish there.”
This will mark Cheryl’s 23rd year in teaching. Not counting the six she spent as “lunch lady.”
“Those first six years were a good foundation, good training,” she said. “It taught me a lot about schools and education.”
Cheryl and her husband Larry live on a farm south of Pattonsburg. Larry works at Fordyce Equipment in Bethany and also tends their livestock and crop farm.
They have two children. Their son Rob and his wife Lisa have three children, Gunnar, Addi and Brooklyn. They live in Platte City. Their daughter Valerie Leazenby and her husband John also have three children, Olivia, Nathan and Alec. They live in Cameron.
“I’m excited to be back in Pattonsburg,” said Cheryl. “It’s a new challenge and I look forward to being back home.”
Cheryl said her personal goals will be to come to know the staff and get acquainted and involved with the community again. Her professional goals are to continue the high level of student achievement at Pattonsburg and implement the goals set for the school district.
“I’ve come full circle,” she said. “In1977, Pattonsburg took a chance on me and in 2007 they’re taking a chance with me again. I like the community. I’m proud of the school, and I have a great deal of respect for the school. I’m glad be a part of it again.”