(From the Carthage R-9 Board of Education)The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in special session on Thursday, February 5, 2026, 5:45 pm, at the Carthage R-9 Administration Office. Present were Board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Mr. Jeff Jones, and Ms. Maria Sanchez. Dr. Mark Westhoff and Mr. Patrick Scott were absent. Ms. Niki Cloud led the Pledge of Allegiance. The board members approved the agenda.
Dr. Holley Goodnight, Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented to the Board information regarding the contract for the Carthage Farm/Technical Center site. Dr. Goodnight stated Ehrsam
Construction LLC meets all the bid requirements and specifications for the project.
The Board met in closed session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss personnel matters in compliance with Section 610.021 (3) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.
In closed session the Board approved the following personnel action:
Approved the employment of certified, support, and substitute staff as presented contingent upon
receiving a clear criminal record check from the Missouri Highway Patrol and Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and a clear check of the Adult Abuse/Neglect Registry maintained by the Missouri
Department of Social Services for all employees new to the district:
Certified Hire
Kyra Feesler, 4th Grade Teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center – Ms. Feesler is an aspiring elementary educator recently completing a Bachelor of Science in Education at Missouri Southern State University. She has hands-on experience as a substitute teacher and student teacher in Joplin Schools. In addition to Elementary Education, she holds a K-12 English Language Learners certification.
Debra Lawler, Science Teacher, Carthage Junior High School – Ms. Lawler is an experienced science educator with many years of teaching across middle school, high school, and higher education settings, including international experience at Morrison Academy in Taiwan. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, a Bachelor’s degree in Science Education, and a Master of Arts in TESOL, and is certified in Missouri in science and ESOL.
Emily Lee, 4th Grade Teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center – Ms. Lee is an elementary educator currently teaching fourth grade in Diamond, Missouri. She holds an Associate of Arts in Elementary Education from Crowder College and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Missouri State University, where she has been recognized on the Dean’s List.
Kristi Pearson, Elementary Music Teacher, Steadley Elementary/Sixth Grade Center – Mrs. Pearson is an experienced elementary music educator who taught music in the District at Mark Twain and the Sixth Grade Center from 2022–2025. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Pittsburg State University and will finish her Masters of Arts in Elementary Education this Spring.
Support Hire
Gage Howerton, custodian, Carthage Junior High School
Hannah Eby, bus aide
Carson Huston, bus aide
Donna Power, accompanist (part-time), Carthage Junior High School
Ixsa Loredo, custodian, Carthage High School
Substitute Hire
John Burgi
Amelia Conkright
Taylor Bredeson
Kylee Burke
Certified Transfer
Aaron Boucher, sixth grade PLTW science teacher, Sixth Grade Center
Kyle Cochran-Selvey, fifth grade teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center
Crystal Krause, fourth grade teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center
Lacy Sheckles, fifth grade teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center
Anthony Hance, assistant principal, Sixth Grade Center
Brittany Thompson, assistant principal, Columbian Elementary
Bobbi Murrell, assistant principal, Steadley Elementary
Don Cox, assistant principal, Carthage Intermediate Center
Support Transfer
Kaleb Sprague, custodian, Fairview Elementary School
Abbi Dobbins, nurse
Support Modification
Raylyn Furrh, cook, Carthage Intermediate Center
Jessica Alvarado, school nurse
Substitute Modification
Laurie Williams, substitute nurse
Certified Resignation
Luis Tovar, fifth grade dual-language teacher, Carthage Intermediate Center
Brooke Ehlers, third grade teacher, Fairview Elementary
Jo Ellen Branstetter, practical nursing instructor, Carthage Technical Center North
Support Resignation
Sky Ladd, accompanist (part-time) Carthage Junior High School
Support Retirement
Larry Fox, custodian, Carthage High School
Substitute Resignation
Laura Lane
***
Work Session
The Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in a work session on Thursday, February 5, 2026, 6:14 pm,
at the Carthage R-9 Administration Office. Present were board members Ms. Niki Cloud, Mr. Ryan
Collier, Mrs. Lora Phelps, Mr. Jeff Jones, and Ms. Maria Sanchez. Dr. Mark Westhoff and Mr. Patrick
Scott were absent. The board members approved the agenda.
Dr. Matt Huntley, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, provided the Board an update on the
English Language Learners and Dual Language program. Ms. Natalie Cowley, Director of Language
Programs attended via Zoom.
Mr. Dan Hill, Director of Facilities, provided the board a facility update on the Administration Office,
Welcome Center, and Maintenance Building.
The administrators and board members conducted a facility tour of the Administration Office, Welcome Center, and Maintenance Building.
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