Published: June 10, 2009 10:39 pm      

Duncan Board of Education continues end-of-year tradition

DUNCAN — While a significant number of people might have been hired in May, the Duncan Board of Education hired a few more teachers and altered the contracts of some employees during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

In all, 35 people were hired for the various faculty and staff positions. The employment decision was made following a 40-minute executive session.

Superintendent Sherry Labyer said, “It’s my pleasure and privilege to recommend these people and changes in contracts.”

Many of the teachers hired during the meeting were employed with

Duncan Public Schools for the 208-09 school year on temporary contracts. When entering their second year with Duncan schools, the board had to make their contracts regular.

Some of the teachers rehired on regular contracts include Eme Sanders, pre-kindergarten teacher at Irving; Tammy Field, English teacher at Duncan High School; Haley Orso, English teacher at DHS; Amanda Yates, Spanish teacher at DHS; Shep Pamplin, drama teacher at DHS; Lillian Thomas, family and consumer sciences teacher at DHS; Soni Parsons, art teacher at DHS; Amanda Lard, language arts teacher at Duncan Middle School; Angela Leu, language arts teacher at DMS; Susan Scott, sixth-grade Title I transitional coach at DMS; Amy Armstrong, teacher at Woodrow Wilson; Shellie Thornton, Title I supplemental teacher at Woodrow Wilson; Kyle McPherson, teacher at Plato; and Sarah Ivey, art and English teacher at EDGE Academy.

Several employees were hired as support staff. They include Gene Shearer, custodian at Will Rogers; Tim Yancy, licensed electrician; Mike Anderson, groundskeeper; and Clint Cleveland, bus mechanic.

For some faculty members, contracts had additional months added. Several teachers went from 9-month contracts to 10-month contracts. These teachers included Jennifer Parker, pre-kindergarten to 12th grade special education instructional coach; Rodney Calhoun, secondary instructional coach; Cassie Berthold, elementary instructional coach; Jennifer Lovelace, elementary instructional coach; Kerri Brings, elementary instructional coach; Sandy Ferguson, elementary instructional coach; Carol Phipps, Title I reading coach; Dana Jackson, Title I reading coach; Koree Wilkerson, Title I reading coach; and Kathy Johnson, Title I reading coach.

Additionally, several new employees were hired. They included Shaylin Buben as a DMS seventh-grade science teacher; John Strickland as a DMS seventh-grade social studies teacher; Kimberly Mays as a DMS seventh-grade mathematics teacher; Aaron Minor as a pre-kindergarten physical education teacher; and Chris Baker as a custodian at Mark Twain for four hours a day. These staff members were hired on temporary contracts.