Thanks to all of our volunteers

National Volunteer Week comes to a close today. I’m fortunate enough to spend plenty of time in our schools every week where I get to see the positive difference volunteers make for students.

I wanted to share two more notes of thanks from staff at our schools.

From Nicole Kimbrough, Holland Elementary principal:

Margaret Lockmiller, “Miss Margaret,” is here almost every day, serving students and helping in first grade. She is a like a stand-in grandmother to the students and supports the teacher in any way that she can. Mrs. Carol Lohmeyer is here on a weekly basis to support the work in our other first grade classroom. She does a variety of activities, including a weekly Book Bag program which helps students become more fluent readers.

From Barbie Lyons, Pershing Elementary/Middle School volunteer coordinator:

Shannon Nagy is a parent of a Pershing seventh grader. She volunteers her time not only with multiple PTSA responsibilities and goes beyond that as well. Shannon is in charge of our watchdog program and works several times a month in our school office answering phones and assisting the secretaries.

Renee Gammon and Ann Neu are two very special volunteers that Pershing is lucky to have. Both ladies had students here years ago, students who are now college-aged. Because of their fond memories at Pershing and their desire to volunteer, they have been faithfully spending many hours in the Pershing school office helping wherever needed.

I want to thank everyone who gives their time on behalf of Springfield’s children. Your selfless dedication builds strong school communities which foster student success.

If you haven’t yet volunteered to help out your neighborhood school, I strongly encourage you to do so. I promise that you’ll find it to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. So will the kids you meet.

Contact our Partners In Education office at 523-0021 to get started.

Meet the new Parkview principal

I'm pleased to announce that Springfield Public Schools has selected Eric Ramsey as the new principal for Parkview High School. He is a veteran educator with eight years’ experience as a high school assistant principal. He comes to SPS from Willard High School where he currently serves as assistant principal.

Mr. Ramsey will be a great addition to our staff. He brings with him extensive leadership experience and a reputation for developing relationships with students, staff and patrons.

Ramsey has 14 years of experience in teaching and/or coaching which spans education levels K-16. He has earned his Masters of Science in Educational Administration and Specialist in Education Administration degrees and will begin working toward an Educational Doctoral Degree this summer.

Earlier in his career, Ramsey coached multiple varsity sports including three years as head football coach at Willard High School. Previously, he taught health and physical education at Winnetonka High School, 7th and 8th grade science at Stockton Middle School, elementary physical education at Campbell and York elementary schools, and served as an adjunct professor for Missouri State University.

I also want to thank Chance Wistrom for his excellent work as principal at Parkview over these last few years. Chance is leaving SPS to become the superintendent in Miller, MO. They're getting a great leader for their district, and I wish Chance all the best.

We've also named four new assistant principals for 2010-2011.

Kelly Jacobs will be the new assistant principal at Pleasant View Elementary and Middle School. She comes to Pleasant View after serving as an instructional specialist for the district since 2007. From 1999-2007, Jacobs was a teacher at McBride Elementary School.

Robert Kroll will be the new assistant principal at Pershing Elementary and Middle School. He has taught science since 2003 at Reed Middle School.

Stacye Manlove will be the new assistant principal at Hickory Hills Elementary and Middle School. She is currently assistant to the principal at Disney and Wanda Gray elementary schools. Manlove has been employed by SPS since 1998 at Sherwood, Doling, Twain, Rountree, Jeffries, and McBride elementary schools, serving as classroom teacher and librarian.

Tammy Quinn is a 20-year veteran educator with 14 years experience with SPS. She will be the new assistant principal at Glendale High School. She currently serves as coordinator of site interventions at Kickapoo High School where she has managed those responsibilities for the past three years. Prior to her current responsibilities, Quinn taught communication arts, speech, and drama, along with spending four years as a STARR teacher with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Dads volunteering in our schools and a special recognition for one long-time volunteer

As you know, I’ve been sharing some stories about the impact volunteers have at our schools on my blog this week in celebration of National Volunteer Week. Today, I want to tell you about a really interesting program at several district schools called Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students).

The National Center for Fathering has an initiative promoting the involvement of dads at school, helping foster positive male role models for students within the school setting. Watch D.O.G.S. dads spend time in their children’s schools performing a variety of roles, including welcoming kids to school in the morning to mentoring students. Gerry Lee, our board president, has been a Watch D.O.G.S. dad at Wilder Elementary.

Also, congratulations to Edna Arbeitman, a volunteer at Field Elementary for receiving the Silent Hero award. For 14 years, Edna has been a volunteer at the school, working full-time in the office. The Silent Hero award was developed by Ralph Slavens, a former legislator, and was designed to recognize individuals who are involved in the community, give of their time and contribute in numerous ways without public recognition of their efforts. Field held a ceremony in Edna’s honor last Friday. 

Recognizing Springfield's faith-based community for their volunteer efforts in our schools

This week is National Volunteer Week. To celebrate and say thanks to all of our volunteers I’m sharing some stories about the impact volunteers have in our schools.

Springfield has a supportive faith-based community, and local churches have taken a leading role in partnering with schools.

Here’s Danielle Carson, the volunteer coordinator at York Elementary, discussing one of the partnerships their school has with a Springfield church.

We have volunteers from Wesley United Methodist that come on Wednesdays to greet the students in the morning. I believe it makes a difference to these kids to see someone other than staff that are smiling and welcoming them to school. All of our volunteers are amazing, and I am excited to show then how much all appreciate them.

A dozen or more volunteers from Christ Episcopal Church descend on Bissett Elementary each week to read to children and work with classroom teachers. Volunteers from the church help with the events that promote parent participation in the school community. That includes Fall Festival Day, an event created and hosted by Christ Episcopal Church for families to enjoy a day of fun together.

Bissett first graders got the opportunity in the fall to see Springfield Little Theatre’s performance of Alice in Wonderland, thanks to the generosity of church members. Partner efforts such as this enhance the educational experience for children, getting them further engaged in the learning process.

Our schools are truly blessed to have such strong links with Springfield’s faith community.

If you or your church would like to get involved at a neighborhood school, just give us a call at 523-0021.

National Volunteer Week

Every day parents, grandparents, co-workers, church members and neighbors give their time on behalf of Springfield’s school children. They open doors and greet kids on their way into the building. They chaperone field trips, help out with Algebra, mentor students, make props for the school play and all kinds of other things that give our buildings their spirit of community.

This week is Volunteer Appreciation Week. Please join me in thanking the hundreds of people who take time out of their own schedules to make our schools a better place.

This week, I’ll be sharing some stories about volunteers and their impact from principals and other staff members at our schools. I would also invite you to contribute stories about the difference volunteers make at your school or tell us about your experience as a volunteer.

To start, here’s Janet Austin, volunteer coordinator at Sunshine Elementary, saying thanks to a very special volunteer at their school.

Sunshine has an OUTSTANDING volunteer named Dixie Sleight! Dixie has been a volunteer at our school for several years and goes above and beyond every time she walks through the door. She is a retired professional with extensive experience working with children in various settings, including hospitals. She has regularly scheduled days that she comes to Sunshine and last month Dixie logged 17 hours with us. She is also a volunteer at the Dickerson Park Zoo, conducting presentations, programs and tours. Ms. Sleight is such a valuable asset to our school in many different ways. She read with individual students and small groups. She provides help to students needing special assistance. She is always willing to assist teachers in any way possible by making copies or performing whatever tasks are needed. She has done so many special things for our school; they are too numerous to include in a short paragraph! We are very fortunate to have Dixie Sleight as a volunteer at our school!

If you or your organization would like to get involved at a neighborhood school, just give us a call at 523-0021.

2010-2011 Teacher of the Year finalist: Linda McFarland

Here's the fifth 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year finalist, Linda McFarland. Linda is a communication arts teacher at Carver Middle School.



All five finalists will be honored at the Teacher Appreciation Banquet on Monday, April 19. The winner will be announced that night as well.

2010-2011 Teacher of the Year finalist: Abby Lowe

The next 2010-2011 Teacher of the Year finalist I want to introduce you to is Abby Lowe, a kindergarten teacher at Harrison Elementary.

Here's Abby.