Area schools welcome new teachers

Gallatin High School
Joyce Cox will serve as junior-senior high counselor. Mrs. Cox was born and raised in Chillicothe and graduated from high school there. She received her B.S. in secondary English from Missouri Western State University, and her master’s in guidance and counseling from Northwest Missouri State University. Mrs. Cox was previously counselor at Chillicothe and Hamilton. She and her husband, Dennis, who works at the Gallatin Publishing Co., have two grown children.
Toni Cox will serve as elementary principal at Searcy Elementary. Mrs. Cox lived in Gallatin from the time she was 10 years old and graduated from Gallatin High School in 1984. She received her education degree from Northwest Missouri State University in 1990. She also has a master’s in administration and an education specialist degree, both from William Woods University. She taught elementary school at Jamesport for eight years. She then served as elementary principal at Jamesport for seven years. She has been the middle school principal at Trenton for the past two years. She and her husband David have three daughters, Savannah, 14, Kaley, 11, and Megan, 6.
Jeremy Slaughter will be teaching social studies and serve as boy’s head varsity basketball coach. Mr. Slaughter was born and raised in Bethany and graduated from South Harrison High School. He received his B.S. degree in history from Missouri Western State University. Mr. Slaughter previously taught at Drexel. His wife, Kimberly, works for Arthur J. Gallager in Kansas City. They have three children, Brittany, 10, Ivee, 7, and Samuel, 6.
Mandi Hemry will teach speech and language therapy. Mrs. Hemry was born and raised in Gallatin and graduated from the Gallatin R-5 High School in 1994. She received her B.H.S. in communication sciences and disorders at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and her master’s degree in speech/language pathology at the University of Memphis. She had a private practice in the Daviess County area, mostly working with Tri-County and Winston school districts. She also worked for United Cerebral Palsy in St. Joseph and for Children’s Mercy Hospital in the hearing-speech department in Kansas City. She and her husband, Mark, have two children, Claire, 4, and Brett, 2.
Casey Cole will teach physical education and serve as head varsity girls softball coach. Mrs. Cole was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, and graduated from high school there. She received a double major in physical education/health with coaching endorsement and athletic training from Graceland University. She substitute taught at Mt. Ayr, Iowa, BCLUW in Conrad, Iowa, Central Decatur in Leon, Iowa, and Marshalltown, Iowa.
Nichelle Cameron will teach high school special education. Mrs. Cameron was born and raised in Gallatin and graduated from GHS in 1987. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education/learning disabilities from Northwest Missouri State University. She taught for 16 years at Gilman City. Her husband, Charley, works for the St. Joseph Post Office. They have two children, Kylie, a seventh grader, is 12, and Harris, a fourth grader, is 9.
Sixth grade will be taught by Vilma Holt. Mrs. Holt was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisc., and graduated from high school there. She received her degree in elementary education from Graceland University. She previously taught at Laredo R-7. Her husband, Steve, works at Small Business Development Center in Chillicothe. They have three grandchildren, Steven, 11, Jodi, 17, and Sonya, 18. They also host a foreign exchange student from Germany, Kevin Thomschke, 16.
North Daviess R-3
Deva Arlene Lanning will be teaching third and fourth grade. She was born and raised in Cainsville and graduated from its high school. Mrs. Lanning received her B.A. in elementary education from Southwest Baptist University at Bolivar. She received a master’s degree in elementary education from Southeast Indiana University, New Albany, Ind. Mrs. Lanning previously taught at Cainsville, Spickard, Christian Academy of Louisville, and Stratmoor Preschool Education Center. She and her husband, Gary, have two children, Crystal, 21, and Joshua, 20. Gary is pastor of Ridgeway Baptist Church.
Fifth and sixth grade will be taught by Nichole Robertson. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Robertson then moved to Gilman City. She graduated from North Daviess, and then received her degree in elementary education from Graceland University. Mrs. Robertson previously taught 7-12 English for three years at Tri-County. Her husband, Brent, is a mechanic for UPS Freight. Their children are Jessica Robertson, 17, Dennis Robertson, 15, Tiffany Lewis, 14, and Savannah Lewis, 11.
Kimberly Terhune will be teaching preschool and Title I. She was born and raised in Chillicothe and graduated from high school there. Mrs. Terhune received her degree in elementary education from Graceland University. She student taught at Gilman City. Her husband, Michael, is a diesel mechanic for PAR Electric.
Special education will be taught by Suzanne Slaughter. Born and raised in Bethany, Mrs. Slaughter graduated from high school at South Harrison. She received her master’s in special education from Northwest Missouri State University. She has previously taught at Excelsior Springs and Kansas City.
Elmer Jackson will be teaching K-12 music at the elementary school in Coffey and the high school in Jameson. Mr. Jackson was born and raised in St. Louis. He graduated from Vashon High School in St. Louis. Mr. Jackson graduated from Central Missouri State University with a degree in law enforcement. He received his degree in music education from Park University. He student taught at the Parkville School District. He was previously employed as a teacher in the Slater School District, Northwest Nodaway at Ravenwood; and the Kansas City School District. He and his wife, Rebecca Dianna, live in Gilman City. They have five children, Brad Wenrick, 22, Erica Jackson, 21, Jennifer Jackson, 20, Steven Hagen, 17, and Tiffany Hagen, 14.
Chuck Reece will be teaching agriculture and will be the new FFA advisor. Born in Butler, Mr. Reece graduated from Butler High School. He received his B.S. in agriculture education from the University of Central Missouri. He student taught at Lakeland High School in Deepwater. His wife, Jennifer, is a rehabilitation specialist for the Department of Mental Health.
Chemistry and eight grade science will be taught by Chris Gannan. Mrs. Gannan was born and raised in Kansas City and graduated from Raytown High School. She received her B.S. degree in science education from Northwest Missouri State University. Mrs. Gannan previously taught at Pattonsburg High School. Her husband, Cecil, works for Watkins Roofing. They have one son, Jeremy, 25.
David Michael will be teaching seventh through twelfth grade math. Born in Trenton and raised in Daviess County, Mr. Michael is a graduate of Gilman City High School. He received his degree in German and math education from William Jewell College. He served as superintendent at Winston, and as principal at Winston, Jamesport, Mendon and California. He also taught at Gallatin and Graham. His wife, Kayla, works in ad composition at the Gallatin Publishing Company. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Wendell Burns will serve as counselor at R-3. Mr. Burns was born and raised in Jameson and graduated from its high school. He received his B.S. Ed. degree in physical education and health from Central Missouri State University. He previously taught at Gilman City, Winston and Pattonsburg. His wife, Mary, is policy and procedure coordinator at Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron. They have two children, Jami Burns and Camden Atkinson.
Pattonsburg R-2
Cheryl Cornett began as R-2’s superintendent early this year. Mrs. Cornett was born and raised in Coffey and graduated from its high school. She began as Pattonsburg’s “lunch lady” and was later hired for the job of remedial reading paraprofessional at R-2 in 1980.  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. Mrs. Cornett 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. 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. She then accepted a position at Excelsior Springs. 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.
Johnnie Silkett will serve as R-2’s high school principal. Mr. Silkett was born and raised in King City. He graduated from King City R-1. He received his degree in history/education from Missouri Western State College and his degree in education leadership from Northwest Missouri State University. Mr. Silkett was high school principal at King City R-1 for the last five years. His wife, Michelle, is an English teacher at Maysville. They have three children, Kayli, 13, Zane, 10, and Mia, 6.
Serving as elementary principal at R-2 will be Holly Brady. Mrs. Brady was born and raised at Ravenwood. She graduated from Northeast Nodaway High School. She received her B.S. in education with a minor in early childhood from Northwest Missouri State University, and her master’s in administration from the University of Missoui in Kansas City. Mrs. Brady previously taught first and fifth grades for two years at Savannah, and second grade for two years at Excelsior Springs. Her husband, Jeremy, works for the Untied States Department of Agriculture in Maryville. They have two sons, Jordan, 4, and Rylan, 1.
Social science 7-12 will be taught by Dan Dreesen. Mr. Dreesen was born and raised in Sheldon, Iowa. He graduated from Sheldon Community High school. He received his degree in social science from Northwest Missoui State University. He previously taught at South Holt, Springfield Hillcrest, Mt. View – Birch Tree. His wife, Kristi, teaches English at Lawson Middle School. They have two children, Tim, 11, and Jeff, 10.
Karri Schell will teach high school FACS and FCCLA. Born and raised in Gilman City, Mrs. Schell graduate from high school there. She received her degree in general studies from North Central Missouri College at Trenton, her degree in massage therapy from Vatterott, and is currently attending Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.
Marjorie Humes will teach seventh grade math and language arts, pre algebra and exploratory reading. Mrs. Humes was born in King City and raised in King City and Stanbery. She graduated from King City R-1. She received her degree in elementary education/early childhood from Culver-Stockton College in Canton. She student taught at Gorin R-3 and taught in King City the last 2 ½ years. Her husband, Robby, works for Gage’s Grain and Fertilizer in Bethany. They have no children, but do have two dogs and two house cats.
Kristin Adele Yates will teach fifth grade. Mrs. Yates was born in Fletcher and graduated from Grandview R-2 School District at Ware. She received her degree in elementary education from Missouri Baptist University. She student taught at DeSoto Elementary and Hillsboro Elementary. Her husband, Daniel, is associate pastor and minister of youth and children at First Baptist Church of Bethany.
Winston R-6
Meghan Francis will teach third grade at Winston R-6. Mrs. Francis was born and raised in Louisiana, MO, and graduated from high school there. She received her degree in elementary education from Missouri Baptist University. She student taught at Louisiana Elementary and Bowling Green Intermediate School. Her husband, Adam, works for the state. They have one daughter, Molly, 21 months.