The members of the Maries R-1 School Board and the school’s administrators were enthusiastic when they rehired district staff during the March board meeting.

Board President Vicki Bade commented that a large percentage of the staff they rehired that evening have been working at the district for more than five years.

Maries R-1 Elementary School Principal Shanda Snodgrass went first. The board offered the following R-1 teachers with a tenure contract for another year: Miranda Bock who has seven years of service at Maries R-1, Rachel Williams seven years, Mandy Mickem seven years, Amber Schell 14 years, Rachel Johnson eight years, Sara Campbell nine years, Kristy Helton 12 years, Anita Phipps 13 years, Malinda Howard 13 years, Ellie Glick 16 years, and Jennifer Freeman 23 years.

The board voted to approve Melanie Swarthout as a tenured teacher. She has five years of service with the school district.

The board rehired the following elementary teachers: Jennifer Massman with one year of service to Maries R-1, Jessica Colliver one year, Blake Bard three and a half years, Chandler Harker four years, Rebekah Weidinger four years, and Alyssa Smith four years. Shayla Willoughby with three years, whose name was put forward by High School Principal Ian Murray, also was approved for rehire by the board. 

Snodgrass said in the elementary building, teachers have a combined total of 235.5 years of experience with a combined total of 163.5 years experience at Maries R-1.

High School Principal Ian Murray was next. He recommended the school board offer contracts to the following R-1 teachers with tenure: Sara Schwartze six years, Lesly Creamer eight years, Kim Obenauer eight years, Deborah Starkey 10 years, Ken Willardson 10 years, Joe Edwards 11 years, Natalie Martin 15 years, Pat Bresnahan 16 years, Deana Thompson 17 years, Dave Martin 19 years, Ray Spiller 19 years, Alesia Lake 21 years, and Angie Combs 27 years.

Teachers who are retiring include Mike Shelton and John Kinkead. 

Murray “strongly recommended” the board approve tenure and offer a contract to Mike Byington and they did.

The board rehired and offered contracts to Corey Nicholson with two years of service to Maries R-1, Tom Evers three years, and Chelsea Minick four years.

Special Education/Service Director Joe Edwards recommended the board rehire Misty Willoughby, the 6-12 special education teacher, and Anita Phipps, the K-5 special education teacher, which they did.

The special education non-certified staff who will be returning for the next school year include paraprofessionals Lawanda Pritchett, Teresa Hogshooter, Beth Edwards, Carrie Kleffner, and Diane Matson, and secretary Robyn Hollis. Debbie Wagner is retiring. 

Snodgrass said all of the staff hired that evening have 366.5 years of teaching experience, and 297.5 (76 percent) of them have been at Maries R-1 School District.