Gallatin R-5 starts school on Wednesday, Aug. 17. New teachers are pictured, left to right, Jessica Fitzgerald, Tammy Kliewer, Kent Obico, Amanda Eiberger, Justin Collins, Jennifer Youtsey, Dustin Pearson, Brittney Ghidoni, Carly Boyd.
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Jessica Fitzgerald (Ms. Fitz), Cameron, will teach fourth grade. Ms. Fitzgerald was born in Spokane, Wash., and raised in Lake Elsinore, Calif. She graduated from Lake Elsinore High School. She attended college at Trenton and Graceland and received her degree in elementary education and 5-9 language arts. She taught the last seven years at Mirabile. She has four boys.
Tammy Kliewer, 37, Cameron, will teach 7-12 grade art at the junior and senior high school. She was born and raised in Milford, Neb., and graduated from Milford High School. She then graduated from Peru State College with a B.S. degree in K-12 art education. She is also currently finishing her master’s of science degree in education with an emphasis on curriculum and instruction. She previously taught at Mark Twain Junior-Senior High School for the past three years. Her husband John is a teacher and head football coach at Cameron High School. They have two children, John, 12, and Sara, 10.
Kent Obico will teach sixth grade math and science. Mr. Obico was born and raised in Kansas City and graduated from Park Hill South High School in Riverside. He attended college at Northwest Missouri State University and received at B.S. Ed. in elementary education and an M.S. in educational leadership. He previously taught at Tri-County R-7 in Jamesport.
Amanda Eiberger will teach high school special education. She was born and raised in King City and graduated from King City High School. She graduated from the University of Missouri in Columbia with a B.S. degree in agricultural education and then from Columbia College in Columbia with a master’s of arts in teaching. She previously taught at Moberly School District, 5th grade special education. Her fiancé, Phillip Durbin, is a loan officer at BTC Bank.
Justin Collins, 33, Trenton, will teach special education for grades 9-12. Born and raised in Garland, Tex., Mr. Collins graduated from high school there. He played basketball at Missouri Western State University and received a business degree. He will receive his master’s degree in the fall from Northwest. He has also begun as a specialist in superintendence classes. He previously taught at Princeton R-5 for the last five years. He married Lesli Collins this July 30. She is the women’s assistant basketball coach at North Central Missouri.
Jenny Youtsey, 31, Altamont, will teach preschool. Born and raised in Altamont, Ms. Youtsey graduated from Gallatin High School in 2004. She went to North Central Missouri College and then transferred to Northwest Missouri State University. She received an associate of arts and science degree in 2006, and B.S. degree in 2008 in child and family studies. She taught seven years at Lighthouse Learning Center in Gallatin as a preschool teacher’s aid.
Dustin Pearson, 26, Gallatin, will teach special education for grades 7 and 8. Mr. Pearson was born and raised in Liberty and graduated from its high school in 2009. He received his B.S. degree in special science education from Northwest Missouri State University. He previously taught at Kearney R-2 School District, where he was varsity and junior varsity assistant baseball coach and assistant eight grade football coach.
Brittney Ghidoni, 29, Gallatin, will teach English for grades 10-11. Ms. Ghidoni was born in Nebraska and raised in Gallatin where she graduated from high school. She received a B.S. degree in secondary English education from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She previously taught at Tri-County in Jamesport for five years. She taught middle school and high school English. Her husband, Jason, works for Cintas in St. Joseph. They have one child, Kolbi, 2.
Carly Boyd, 25, Gallatin, will serve as a paraprofessional/library for grades K-6. Born and raised in Gallatin, she graduated from R-5. She received a degree in art education and a B.S. degree in secondary education and B.F.A. in graphic design from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She previously taught at Chillicothe. She has one child, Carter, four months.