Carthage R-9 Board hires 15 teachers, accepts four resignations

(From the Carthage R-9 School District)

Due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Carthage R-9 Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, April 20, 2020, 6:00 pm via Zoom.

Virtually present were Board members Jeff Jones, Lee Elliff Pound, Niki Cloud, Bill Lasley, Tony Diggs, and Elizabeth Streich. Wayne Jones attended the meeting by phone.

Jeff Jones led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda for the purpose of approving the meeting agenda, minutes of previous meeting, payment of bills, financial report, amendments to FY20 budget, date for Board reorganization meeting, resignations, and employment of certified, support, and substitute staff.







Proposed student 2020-2021 handbook changes, proposed policy updates, and a Carthage R-9 School Foundation update were provided as well in the Consent Agenda.

The Carthage R-9 School Foundation reported it is still currently in the process of selecting scholarship recipients. Due to COVID-19, some changes have been made.

This year’s Academic Awards Night will be held as a virtual ceremony via YouTube playlist.

The Boylan Art Exhibitor Showcase and art portion of the Boylan Art and Writing Contest has been cancelled.

Entry into next year’s 2021 Boylan Art Contest will be open to this year’s graduating seniors. The Boylan Writing Contest is currently offered. Submissions must be submitted electronically to Mrs. Crystal Brown, Carthage R-9 Foundation Director at browncr@carthagetigers.org. Deadline is June 5, 2020.







The Board approved the following personnel actions:

Employment (effective for the 2020-2021 school year)

Administrative Staff: 

Ashley Jones Communications Director

Certified Staff (effective for the 2020-21 school year):

Tammi Brinkhoff Special Education Junior High

Christina Coberley Second Grade Fairview

Abigail Decker Fourth Grade Intermediate Center

Julia Derfelt Instructional Coach Fairview

Shannon Elias Fifth Grade Intermediate Center

Chad Jones Manufacturing/Industrial Trades Tech South

Melissa Langston Sixth Grade Sixth Grade Center

David Meinershagen EL Fairview

Jessica McDonald District Counseling Specialist

Tiffany Rea Kindergarten Fairview

Michaela Scott Fifth Grade/Dual Language Intermediate Center

Karissa Sparlin Third Grade Fairview

Mariah Stilabower First Grade Columbian

Josh VanSlyke Math Junior High

Amanda Walker Business Tech South

Support Staff: 

Brian Brinkhoff SPED Paraprofessional Junior High

Zakary English Summer Maintenance

Robert McConnell, Jr. Custodian High School

Katherine Nat Homebound Instruction

Substitute Support Staff:

Tammy Klenklen Substitute Cook

Resignations (effective at the end of 2019-2020 school year):

Kacie Cooper Language Arts High School

Robyn McDowell Title 1 Reading (.50 FTE) Mark Twain

Brian Obermann Project Lead The Way Jr. High

Elizabeth Robertson Theatre High School

Transfers / Reassignments 

Kendace Bien Project Lead the Way Junior High (Former Science-Junior High)

Lindsay Mikhail Project Lead the Way High School