School and Community Winter 2024

What has been a recent win for you? Co-founding Missouri Priority One, a grassroots organization that brings value to all educators by prioritizing public education through increasing teacher salaries, the recruitment and retention of highly qualified educators and changing the views and perception of public education. Teachers advocating for teachers! What is one of your goals for 2024? One goal I have for 2024 is supporting teachers beyond southwest Missouri and representing educators at the state and national level. My passion is being an advocate for each and every teacher because they are making a difference in each and every child.

What is one of your goals for 2024? I switched from being a first grade teacher to taking on a new role as our school’s Title I reading teacher. My goal is to help my students become more CONFIDENT readers and teach them strategies to improve their reading skills.

Gary Biddlecome School district: Carl Junction R-1 Grade level/subject: High school health Years teaching: 29 Roles in MSTA: I have been the building representative, CTA president and treasurer. Why did you get involved with MSTA? I was

Della Bell-Freeman School district: Spokane R-7

encouraged by veteran teachers who advised me that a good way to help other teachers was to get involved in MSTA. This was a huge inspiration to me with how MSTA lobbies for teachers in Jefferson City. MSTA has teachers’ backs and that makes me proud to be a member. What has been a recent win for you? We started a teacher scholarship at Carl Junction for those who are trying to get their master’s degree in education. What is one of your goals for 2024? I would like to see teacher salaries increased at Carl Junction. I will continue to represent classroom teachers in the district and give them a shoulder to lean on.

Years teaching: This is year 32. 15 years teaching and 17 years in administration. Roles in MSTA: State Board of Directors; Legislative Impact Committee; SMSTA Board Liaison; Finance and Audit Committee;

Northeast Executive Board Member; Northeast Public Relations, Legislative and Executive Committees; Regional president-elect and president; Moberly Community Teachers Association president, membership chair and American Education Week chair Why did you get involved with MSTA? I became involved as a new teacher based on recommendations from my mentor and respected colleagues. I quickly found that MSTA aligns with my beliefs and priorities. Additionally, MSTA is “grow your own” when it comes to leadership - I was given many opportunities to lead at the local, regional and state levels, which has contributed to me becoming a district level public school leader. What has been a recent win for you? A recent win within my school district has been the passing of a bond issue to improve our facilities. The bond issue and resulting facility upgrades will positively impact students and staff for years to come, and I am both proud and blessed to be a part of that work. What is one of your goals for 2024? Because I am choosing to retire this year, my hope for 2024 is to find joy in my work each day. Education is (and always has been) challenging work, so it is imperative to look for the good and that starts with the students we serve.

Julie Thomas School district: Dallas County R-1 Grade level/subject: Eighth grade ELA Years teaching: 13 Roles in MSTA: Current president at Dallas County; southwest region Credentials Committee member; former secretary, treasurer and Scholarship Committee

member at Macks Creek Why did you get involved with MSTA? I joined SMSTA in college and MSTA during my first year in the classroom. I saw the need to have someone advocate for and support teachers. Teachers face many challenges, and we cannot do it alone. I love being able to support my colleagues and advocate for changes that benefit us all. What has been a recent win for you? I was able to arrange for Kirk Smalley from Stand for the Silent to come and present at my school. I introduced him to one of my friends who had also lost her son to suicide, and he has agreed to partner with our organization, the Beau Fournier Memorial Fund, to help us provide school supplies to all students in our school district! What is one of your goals for 2024? To focus on my family. My 5-year-old son is growing up so fast and I want to cherish every moment with him and my husband.

Andrea Martin School district: Miami R-1 Grade level/subject: Title I reading Years teaching: 13 Roles in MSTA: CTA vice president and CTA president Why did you get involved with MSTA?

I come from a family of teachers who informed me about the importance of joining MSTA and the many benefits that they offer. I became a member of MSTA my first year teaching and kept consistent membership ever since, because I value the support that MSTA provides. I adamantly encourage other teachers to get involved and join MSTA. What has been a recent win for you? Last year, I started my own after school STEM club for first through sixth graders. We meet once a month to perform various science experiments. I had a successful attendance last year, so I was able to continue the club this year and hopefully for future years to come.

Nancy Ipock School district: Willard R-2 Grade level/subject: High school Spanish Years teaching: 50 Why did you get involved with MSTA? It is important to be part of and have the support of a like-minded group of educators with a

focus on local issues. What has been a recent win for you? Feeling like I am part of my

22 | WINTER 2024 S&C