School and Community Winter 2024

Jaclyn Adams School district: Fort Osage R-1 Grade level/subject: Kindergarten Years teaching: 21 Roles in MSTA: President for Fort Osage CTA, secretary for the regional board Why did you get involved with MSTA? To be

students’ success when they earn the Seal of Biliteracy, especially when they are not native speakers. What is one of your goals for 2024? I hope to continue supporting students and teachers, encouraging everyone to be lifelong learners.

Sara Hedge School district: Rolla 31 Grade level/subject: Second grade Years teaching: 21 Roles in MSTA: South Central Region Board president 2023-24 Why did you get involved with MSTA?

a voice for our staff and all MSTA members. What has been a recent win for you? Life has presented many open doors this year. I am very excited for my new role as secretary on our regional board. This year, I took over as president of MSTA for the Fort Osage School District - I have enjoyed being a voice for others and helping them in their journey. I look forward to the many other opportunities MSTA will bring to my career. What is one of your goals for 2024? To be better than I was the day before.

As a college student, I was a member of SMSTA as required by my university. During my first year of teaching, I became active within the district CTA and learned more about MSTA. I soon stepped up as a delegate for our building and later took on leadership roles within the CTA. Joining the region board has been very rewarding and such an eye-opening experience. I encourage all new teachers to become involved quickly and learn more about the role MSTA plays within our careers. What has been a recent win for you? My most recent “win” is having former students say how they want their own children to be in my classroom to experience a year with me. I taught upper elementary at the start of my career, and those kids now have students in my building - I hope I get to have a few of those kiddos over the next few years! Once my kid, always my kid! What is one of your goals for 2024? My goal for 2024 is to continue prioritizing my obligations. As an educator, I always want to help everyone in every way. It has taken several years for me to realize that I am better at doing a few things great, rather than doing everything in a minimal manner. Prioritize everything: faith, family, friends and career. The order changes daily, but it helps me focus on what is most important.

Terri Casto School district: McDonald County R-1 Grade level/subject: Seventh/eighth grade math and algebra Years teaching: 20 Roles in MSTA: Building representative, vice president, president (currently)

Why did you get involved with MSTA? I knew that I needed to have liability insurance, and in my first year our building representative told me that I “needed” to come to the meeting. At that meeting, he said that he was no longer going to be the building representative because he was giving me the position and it would look great on a resume. I have been part of the leadership in some way ever since then and have served as president of our CTA for about 10 years now. What has been a recent win for you? My biggest recent win is that I have fully recovered from having a hemorrhagic stroke/brain bleed last year around this time. I forget a few things now and then when I don’t write them down, but I am quickly learning that is normal. An MSTA-related win is that our CTA has voted to approve a budget

S&C WINTER 2024 | 23