Ashdown School District Welcomes Students and New Staff Members
It’s back to business on all campuses of Ashdown School District, but the excitement is still there as students reunite with friends and teachers and classes begin in earnest. New in the district is the installation of the AAIMS initiative for Advanced Placement courses in language arts, math and science, sponsored by the Bill Gates Foundation and Exxon-Mobile, among others. Also, with the assistance of stimulus funds, all teachers received Dell laptops loaded with all the essentials for use in the classroom and training on some new programs to be utilized.
Thirteen new staff members have been welcomed to the district and are already contributing to the success of this new year.
New kindergarten teacher at Margaret Daniel Primary, Stephanie Haarmeyer earned her BSE at SAU and has four years of previous teaching experience in Horatio and DeQueen. Stephanie likes cooking, scrapbooking, camping, fishing, reading, and spending time with husband Kent and son Brady. She started the new year “excited about meeting all my students.”
C. D. Franks Elementary welcomes second grade math and science teacher Marsha Mueller. Marsha, an alumnus of Ashdown Schools, has substituted in the district for the past eight years and now has her BSIS from TAMU-Texarkana. Marsha is the daughter of Earl Murchison and the late Jean Murchison, and she and husband Craig have a son Rollie. She enjoys reading, working in her yard, and family camping trips. Marsha hopes “to create an environment where my students love to learn.”
L. F. Henderson Intermediate School welcomes two new teachers on their campus – Alicia McCormack in fourth grade and Tabitha Jones in fifth grade. Alicia earned a BS degree at TAMU-Texarkana and taught in the Texarkana Arkansas School District. She is teaching fourth grade science at LFH. Alicia, along with her two children, five-year-old Jaxxson and three-year-old Lindsey, loves family activities, church, softball, and education. She believes that “if everyone works together, this will be a very fun and exciting school year.”
Fifth grade language arts teacher Tabitha Jones earned her BSE from Henderson State University and her Master’s in Education in Curriculum Instruction Assessment from Walden University. She has two previous years of experience in teaching physical education, health, and reading strategies. Her parents are Robbye and Barbara Westfall of Nashville, Arkansas, and she is married to Justin Jones of Mineral Springs. Tabitha likes reading, writing, animals, and any outdoor activities.
Ashdown Junior High is pleased to welcome several new teachers to their campus. One is technically not “new” to AJHS, since she actually taught and coached there for 24 years! However, she has returned from retirement to teach art classes at junior high. Jeanne Mize Vaughan is a pleasingly familiar face on campus and also an alumnus of the Ashdown School District. She earned her BSE at Henderson and has coached girls’ athletics and taught art and P.E. at AJHS. Jeanne loves music, sports, decorating, crafts, photography, and animals, as attested by the fact that she has ten dogs and her 16-year-old cat Yeller. She states that she “hopes to keep students interested in art so that each finds ways to continue creating artwork throughout life.” We look forward to seeing Jeanne with her camera at local sporting events.
Nick Evans will teach eighth grade history at AJHS and assist in coaching at AHS. He holds a BA in history from HSU and is working on his Masters in Teaching. He has one year of previous experience at Lake Hamilton High School, is single, and enjoys sports, cooking (and eating!), and travel.
Eliza Simmons is teaching seventh grade English at AJHS after five years of teaching experience in Mineral Springs. Her BBA is from HSU and her MAT is from UALR. Eliza is married to AJHS agri teacher Terry Simmons and has a son Cade and a step-daughter Lexi. She says that she is happy to be with the Ashdown School District and expects “a productive and exciting year.”
AJHS and AHS together welcome a couple to their staff. Emily and Matthew Huckabey are proving to be great additions to the band and music programs on both campuses. Emily is the new choir instructor at both AJHS and AHS and assists with the AJHS band. Matthew is the director for the AJHS band, teaches Music Appreciation at AJHS, and assists with the AHS Purple Pride Marching Band program. Both earned Bachelors of Music Education degrees from Missouri State University and have previous teaching experience in Missouri. Emily was 5th-12th band and choir instructor at Galena, Missouri, and Matthew taught 8th grade music at Shell Knob, Missouri, and 5th – 12th band and choir in Pleasant Hope, Missouri. They miss their dog Annabelle who is having to stay with “her grandparents” until they get settled in here.
Also new to AHS are four other staff members. The special education department welcomes Angela Byrum as a resource and co-teacher in social studies, math, biology, science, and algebraic connections. Angela received an AA from CCCUA and a BSE from SAU. She grew up in Texarkana, AR, and lives in Lockesburg with husband Willie. Angela has a 14-year-old son Matthew and a 13-year-old daughter Karla. Angela likes researching her family tree and enjoys bowling, Sudoku, arts & crafts, quilting, reading, and painting. She says, “My vision as a special education teacher is to provide the opportunity for them all to achieve their educational goals, as well as for them to learn major life skills that will enable them to become productive members of our community.”
Lisa Carver, an alumnus of AHS, teaches 10th grade English and journalism and came to us from New Boston High School where she taught for four years. Her BSIS is from TAMU-Texarkana. She and husband Donald have been married for 23 years and have a son, Landon – age 20, and a daughter, Karah – age 18. Lisa loves reading, visiting with family and friends, watching movies, growing flowers, and singing along with the radio. Lisa’s philosophy is “Every year is an adventure!” She says she is “especially grateful to be teaching and serving in my own community.”
Ninth grade English teacher Jennifer Parker comes to AHS after five years of teaching experience in Hot Springs and two years in Texarkana Arkansas School District. She has a BA and MAT from HSU. Jennifer enjoys her two daughters, Molly – age 6, and Natalie – age 1, as well as reading and “The Arts.” Jennifer not only wants to teach but says she also wants “to learn so much from my co-workers and students” and feels “blessed to have been given the opportunity to work here.”
Coach Gene Strode comes to AHS with three years of coaching experience at Nashville and then two years at Foreman. He will also be teaching World Geography/Economics and American government. Gene and his wife Jana have two daughters, Lexi – 11 and Caleigh – 4, and two sons, Colton – 10 and Colt – 8. Coach Strode enjoys golf, NASCAR, camping, and his family. His goal is “to be the best teacher for my students.”
New faculty members for the Ashdown School District are: (front - left to right) Matthew Huckabey, Emily Huckabey, Jennifer Parker, Marsha Mueller, Stephanie Haarmeyer, Jeanne Vaughan, (back row) Nick Adams, Alicia McCormack, Tabitha Jones, Eliza Simmons, Angela Byrum, Lisa Carver, and Gene Strode
Jamie Fleming (AHS Class of 08) helps out at AHS Open House by serving up free popcorn. Sixth grader Kaylon Hawkins introduces her mom Kay Jackson to math teacher Karen Elmore at AJHS Meet the Teacher Night.
AJHS business ed. teacher Shauna Tipton visits with parents and students on Meet the Teacher Night. (front - left to right) Aaron Mitchell (7th grade), Hunter Mulholland (6th grade), Emily Mulholland (7th grade), (back) Angela Mitchell, Shauna Tipton, and Angela Mulholland
Sophomore Rodney Stovall with mom Cheryl listens "enthusiastically" to instructions for the upcoming school year during the AHS Open House. rodney was only "playing" for the camera and really is looking forward to this year.