School and Community Winter 2024

for our yearly expenses, so it is much easier to bless our teachers and students without as many meetings and votes. What is one of your goals for 2024? My main goal for 2024 is to quit my second job at Kohl’s and remain debt free, with the exception of my car payment! Since I will be retiring in a few years, another goal is to be able to mentor a new president for our CTA organization.

a similar mindset and values were members of MSTA when I got to Festus. What has been a recent win for you? Every day that I get to come to work and make a positive impact on students and athletes is a win. Festus is an amazing school district filled with many great people - the expectations and academic achievement speak for themselves. What is one of your goals for 2024? One of my goals for 2024 is to continue helping our organization grow and to make a positive impact on our community. I look forward to working together to help our district and community be the best it can for the young people in our schools.

Amy Arnote School district: Independence 30 Grade level/subject: Elementary instructional coach Years teaching: 19 Roles in MSTA: CTA President Why did you get involved with MSTA? I have been a member of MSTA since I was

Ruby Basso School district: Lincoln County R-3 Grade level/subject: Second grade Years teaching: 18 Roles in MSTA: Treasurer of our local CTA, delegate at large and secretary for the greater St. Louis Region

in college. I love everything about MSTA and what it stands for. I believe they have the best interests of Missouri’s educators and students at heart and do their best to support and advocate for them. What has been a recent win for you? I feel like it is a win anytime I collaborate with my teachers and we all get to learn something new in our work together. It is also a win when we see student growth from something new we are trying. What is one of your goals for 2024? My goal is to continue growing as an educational leader. I am still learning to navigate my role as an instructional coach in my building. I love my job and I want to continue to be a support for my teachers, learning right alongside them.

Why did you get involved with MSTA? I started in college and was pleased with the beliefs of MSTA. Then, when I had been teaching for a few years, someone asked me to become more involved - best decision ever! What has been a recent win for you? I was accepted into the Aspire program in our district. What is one of your goals for 2024? I would like to become even further involved in MSTA.

Jaime Burger School district: Kelso C-7 Grade level/subject: Third grade Years teaching: 23

Austin Burgert School district: Festus R-6 Grade level/subject: Sixth grade world history Years teaching: 10 Roles in MSTA: CTA secretary and CTA president

Roles in MSTA: I have been a member of MSTA for 23 years and have served as president of our local CTA for the last three years. I hope to

eventually pursue a board position with MSTA as well. Why did you get involved with MSTA? I want to be a voice and advocate for teachers from small, rural districts like mine and make sure we receive fair representation when decisions about

Why did you get involved with MSTA? I was in SMSTA as a college student and then found out that many of the teachers/coaches with

24 | WINTER 2024 S&C