The South Callaway R-II School District recognized long-time employees and retiring personnel at its school board meeting Wednesday night.
High school science teacher Greg Buschjost is retiring after 32 years of teaching. He spent 18 years at South Callaway and the 14 years prior in the Cole R-II School District. Pam Downey, special services reading and math teacher, is retiring after 22 years at South Callaway. Janet Frazier, a custodian in the district, is retiring after nine years at South Callaway. Guidance counselor Robbie Peterson is retiring after 14 years at South Callaway. She is currently the guidance counselor for fifth through eighth grade. Kris Porter, P.E. teacher at the district's early childhood learning center, is retiring after 27 years at South Callaway. After 30 years working in the maintenance department at South Callaway, Carl Stieferman is retiring. And, the K-8 library media specialist, Charlotte Wynn, is retiring after 31 years at South Callaway.
The following were recognized for ten years of service in the district:
•Diane Coleman, food services in the middle school;
•Donnie DeBrodie, director of transportation and safety;
•Danitra Kirk, food services in the middle school;
•Angie Kropf, FACS teacher in the high school;
•Carrie McDonald, high school science teacher;
•Kathie Schebaum, middle school special services teacher;
•Michelle Shaw, food services in the early childhood learning center; and
•Kathryn Zimmerman, elementary school instructional coach.
Additionally, Anne Day, a bus driver in the district, was recognized for 15 years of service.
And, the following were recognized for 20 years of service in the district:
•Twila Collier, middle school math teacher,
•Teresa Culwell, bus driver;
•Pam Downey, Title I reading and math teacher in the early childhood learning center;
•Gretchen Hanna, Title I reading and math teacher in the elementary school;
•Sylvia Horstman, middle school custodian;
•Alice McFarlane, director of food services; and
•Becky Shoffit, secretary in the transportation department.
Angie Trammell, special services psychological examiner, was recognized for 25 years in the district and Stieferman, maintenance, was recognized for his 30 years at South Callaway.
In other news, a group of the district's instructional coaches gave a presentation to the board of education Wednesday night.
Mary Van Orden, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, thanked the board and district administration.
"You're support and the principals' support of the instructional coaches this year has made a huge difference," Van Orden said.
Two years ago, the district put iPads in the hands of all of its students. And last August, the district added instructional coaches, which are essentially teachers teaching teachers. The coaches still teach some classes, but most of their time is spent in a curriculum and technology support capacity.
The district decided to add the positions, Van Orden said, to better utilize technology in the classrooms. She previously told the Fulton Sun that iPads are more than a "substitute for paper and pencil' in classroom and the instructional coaches aid teachers in that effort.
Superintendent Kevin Hillman told the board he appreciates teachers in the district taking on the challenge of better integrating technology in their classrooms this year.
"That's not easy," Hillman said.
He added that he is exacted about some of the things the district is doing academically with technology. Instructional coaches have presented to the board throughout the school year to show off various project-based learning units students have completed. They gave the board an end-of-the-year overview Wednesday night. The again shared with the board, for new board members, the purpose of the instructional coaches and what roles they each have had in their individual building in the district.