Former Campus Supervisor Becomes Teachers Assistant

Known as Coach Simmons to the student body, former campus supervisor Jordan Simmons is now a student teacher at the school.

Simmons held multiple roles in education, including special education and Academy paraprofessional, ISS supervisor, in addition to his current role a student teacher working to complete his K-12 physical education teaching certification.

He will student-teach for 12 weeks with PE teacher Daryl Williams and four weeks at Bell Prairie Elementary School.

“I am working with the entire physical education department,” Simmons said. “I am working with coach Rampy, coach Bennet, coach Wilson.”

Williams said that as Simmons’ supervising teacher, he ensured Simmons was up to date on school policy, checked his lesson plans, evaluated his work and mentored. Williams said Simmons was doing well in the role and showed certain strengths.

“He’s really good at building

Simmons said the change was inspired by a desire to find a stable career in education and influenced by the positive perception of teaching he developed over the years.

“I’ve developed a love for education throughout my years in the high school,” Simmons said.

“I decided to go ahead and get my teacher certification.” in the field.

Simmons said that his transition to this role went more smoothly because the location was one where students knew him.

“I’ve been fortunate enough I get to do my student teaching where students who are familiar with me and know my expectations and how I go about things,” Simmons said.

Senior Deon Burtin had Simmons as a basketball coach as well as a student teacher. Burtin said the energy Simmons brought to the court was different from what he brought to the classroom.

“As a coach he’s more rowdy,” Burton said. “ He has more energy.

“I’m learning the lay of the land,” Simmons said. “How to engage with students, how to command a classroom, things of that nature.”

In addition to learning applicable skills, Simmons also said he had been inspired by seeing the educators around him.

“Seeing how they engage and the respect they have for students and their peers is driving me to want to be a part of that,” Simmons said.

Simmons planned to finish his two-year program at Northwest Missouri State University and find a teaching role by the upcoming fall.

Written by Elyse Bredfeldt Graphics

by Grace Winkler Photo by Alex Bermudez

With themes revolving around kindness, junior Em White entered an art contest for SevenDays, a local organization dedicated to increasing

White was one of eight winners out of 34 applicants. Contestants designed eight buttons in the categories of Love, Discover, Others, Connect, You, Go, Onward and SevenDays. The themes each had to do with the overall message of the organization.

White had expressed interest in joining art competitions before.

“I’ve helped her with other competitions before, but she approached me looking for another, so I did some research and learned about the

Junior Wins Art Contest

SevenDays contest,” art teacher Callie Juhl said.

When creating her art, White said she looked for inspiration from peers. White wanted to create pieces that could encapsulate how she felt about the themes.

“I thought about what those themes meant to me and looked like in my community and how I want those to look in my designs,” White said.

Every button being connected by kindness allowed her to find creative ways to interpret and portray that in her designs. White's hours spent and effort throughout her eight day creative journey were not in vain. The button she entered for the “Others” category won.

However, that category wasn’t the one she set out to win. When creating the Discover button she felt the most free with her art and the meaning found in it.

“Discovery was my favorite because it was how I like to draw the most,” White said. “I got to have fun with my art, and I feel like that shows.”

Em looked to take what she learned and build upon it in her next art competition.

Written by Joe Smith Graphics by Grace Winkler