Area schools welcome new teachers

Pattonsburg R-2

Valerie Parman will teach junior high math. Mrs. Parman was born and raised in Winston and graduated from its high school. She received her B.S. degree in accounting and business education, and math certification for grades 5-9 at Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville. Her husband Vernon is employed at Tnemec Paint, Inc., in Kansas City. They have two children, Samantha, a freshman at Pattonsburg, and Carl, a seventh grader at Winston.

Amy Mefferd will teach 7-12 English. Mrs. Mefferd was born and raised at Hamilton and graduated high school from Hamilton R-2. She received her B.S.ED. at Missouri Western State College. She previously taught at Pattonsburg. She and her husband Brian have twins, Aiden and Maddisson, 16 months.

Jessica Wyatt will teach fifth and sixth grade science. She was born and raised at Coffey, and graduated from South Harrison R-2 High School. She received her B.A. in elementary education and early childhood from Graceland University. Mrs. Wyatt student taught at North Daviess. Her husband Wayne is self-employed. They have one son, Billy, 2 ½.

Leslie Price will teach fourth grade. She was born and raised at Marysville, Kan., and graduated from its high school. Mrs. Price received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in elementary administration, special ed, from Northwest Missouri State University. She student taught at North Nodaway. Her husband Brennen works for the Missouri Department of Transportation in Bethany.

Winston R-6

Christopher “Kip” Vieth will teach instrumental/elementary music. Mr. Vieth was born and raised in St. Joseph. He graduated from Central High School. He received his B.S. in Ed (instrumental K-12) at Missouri Western State University. He previously taught at Liberty public schools. He and his wife Heather have two children, Gavyn, 2, and Addison, 2 ½ months. Heather is employed at Liberty Hospital.

Kimberly Gaunt will teach fifth grade. Kimberly went to college at Graceland University. She received her B.A. in elementary education. She student taught at Laredo.

Bob Grant will teach art for K-12. Mr. Grant was born and rased at Hamilton and graduated from Penney High School there. He received his B.S. in Ed. elementary and secondary. He previously taught at Hamilton, Polo and for the state. He and his wife Sharon have three children, Erin, 28, Ashly, 26, and Dylan 22. Sharon works at the Chillicothe Correctional Center.

Casey Arambula will be the high school counselor. Casey was born in St. Joseph and graduated from Benton High School. She went to college at the University of Missouri-Columbia for her undergraduate degree and Northwest Missouri State University for graduate degree. She has a B.S. in parks, recreation and tourism and received her degree in guidance and counseling through Northwest Missouri State University. She was previously employed at Benton High School. She and her husband Javier have two children, Xavier, 4, and Eliana, 1.

Brian Robinson will serve as new superintendent. He was born and raised in Lucerne and graduated from high school at Putnam County. He went to college at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He received his specialist in administration. Mr. Robinson previously taught at Eldon, Trenton and Pleasant View. He and his wife Bridget have three children, Abigail, 7, Thomas, 4, and Isabel, 7 months.

Marissa Graves will teach second grade. She was born and raised at Chula and graduated from Chillicothe High School. She went to college at Missouri Western State University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and is certified in early childhood education. She student taught at Lake Contrary Elementary School in St. Joseph.

Gallatin R-5

Technology coordinator will be Lori McLaughlin. She was born and raised in Indianola, Iowa. She went to college at the American Institute of Business. She previously worked at Hamilton R-2. She and her husband John have been married 25 years and have two children, Allison, 24, and Kelsey, 18.

Markay August will teach English 4 and Speech (dual enrollment). Mrs. August was born and raised in Gallatin and graduated from GHS. She attended Lindenwood College where she received her B.S. in secondary education, English and speech, and Central Missouri State University where she received her masters in curriculum and instruction and psychology of the adult learner. She previously taught at Gallatin. She and her husband Dan live at Lake Viking.

High school math/ISS will be taught by Jean Dustman. Ms. Dustman was born and raised in Jameson and graduated from its high school. She received her B.S. in math from Truman State and her masters in administration from Northwest Missouri State University. She previously taught high school math at Trenton R-9, and was administrator for six years at Laredo.

Monica Riley will be Title 1 aide. Mrs. Riley was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Dowling Catholic High School. She went to St. Mary’s and Grandview College. She and her husband Steven have four children, Tyler, 17, is a senior at GHS, Meredith, 10, is a fifth grader at GHS, Savannah, 8, is a third grader at GHS, Addison, 4, is in preschool at Learning Time Preschool. Steven is employed with AVI systems as an engineer.

Doug Michael will teach 7-9 grade science. Mr. Michael was born in the Jamesport/Gallatin area. He graduated from Northwestern R-1 at Mendon. He received his B.A. in biology from William Jewell College at Liberty. He previously taught at Bevier, Tri-County at Jamesport and Cameron. He and his wife Angel have four children, Andrew, 12, Caleb, 11, Hayley, 9, and Maddison, 6. Angel is a teacher at North Daviess High School.

Tara Fugate will teach fifth grade. Mrs. Fugate was born in Sumter, S.C., and moved around growing up because her father was in the Air Force. She graduated from Raymore-Peculiar High School. She went to college at Northwest Missouri State University and received a B.S. degree in special education and elementary education. She previously taught at Cameron R-1. She student taught at Covel D. Searcy elementary. Her husband IB Fugate III is employed at Covel D. Searcy.

North Daviess R-3

Tammy Dustman will teach third and fourth grade. Mrs. Dustman was born in Milan and raised in Galt. She graduated from Trenton High School. She received an associate of applied science degree in secretarial science and a B.A. in elementary education from Graceland University and North Central Missouri College. Mrs. Dustman previously taught at Grundy R-5 for four years and Laredo R-7 for one year. She and her husband Brent have two children, Brooke, 11, and Tori, 2. Brent works at Conagra Foods.

Preschool will be taught by Meredith Doty. Mrs. Doty was born in Maryville and raised in McFall. She graduated from Pattonsburg High School. She received her B.S. from Missouri Western State University for kindergarten through eight grade, and her master’s degree from Northwest Missouri State University for early childhood. Mrs. Doty also received certification in gifted education for K-12. A retired teacher, she previously taught at Pattonsburg for one year and Bethany for 30 years. Her husband Stan is a self-employed carpenter and taxidermist. They have three children, Heather, 35, Christopher, 27, and Megan 23, and three grandchildren.

Patrick McDonald will teach math for 7-12 grades. Mr. McDonald was born and raised south of San Diego, Calif. He graduated from S.F.B. Morse High School in San Diego. He received his B.S. degree from West Virginia University and an MBA from Seton Hall, N.D. He obtained certification through ABCTE, Alternative Path. Mr. McDonald substituted at various schools in the area. He and his wife Christine have one son, Patrick, 38, who lives in Fallbrook, Calif. They have four grandchildren, Nathan, Jacob, Megan and Jared.

Michael Smith will teach music for K-12. Mr. Smith was born in Bryan, Texas, and raised mostly in the Clarinda, Iowa, area. He graduated from high school at Clarinda. He attended college at Iowa Western (Clarinda), and Northwest Missouri State University at Maryville. Mr. Smith received a B.S.ED. He previously taught at West Nodaway R-1 and Stover. He and his wife Mary have two children, Andrew, 27, and Hannah, 24.

Cheryl Cornett will be the elementary principal. Ms. Cornett was born and raised in Coffey and graduated from its high school. She received her undergraduate degree at Missouri Western State University and her graduate degree at Northwest Missouri State University. Her degrees include a B.S. in elementary education, and an M.S. in administration (elementary principal), and education specialist (superintendent.) She has 25 years experience, including 14 years at Pattonsburg, 11 years at Cameron, two years at Excelsior Springs, and one year at King City.