The St. Joseph School District Foundation announced the Teacher of the Year Finalists Thursday, March 17, 2016: Stacia Studer, eighth grade communications arts teacher at Bode Middle School; Cindy Faucett, sixth grade teacher at Eugene Field Elementary; and Janell Becerra, music teacher at Eugene Field.

 

The Teacher of the Year Award, sponsored by Bender’s Home Care, is awarded annually to a deserving SJSD teacher. Teachers of the Year are skilled and dedicated teachers who have taught at least three years in the district and plan to continue teaching in the future; have the respect and admiration of students, parents, and colleagues; play an active role in the community (serve/lead in civic, religious, or humanitarian activities); and who are poised, articulate, and meet people easily.

 

The Teacher of the Year is chosen for the upcoming school year (2016 – 2017). A selection committee chooses the finalists in March, and announces a winner at the annual Tribute to Teachers and Staff event, which will be held on April 28, 2016. The current Teacher of the Year, Tina Shaginaw from Lafayette High School, serves on the selection committee.

 

Finalists were surprised Thursday morning by the selection committee, principals and other members of the SJSD community with roses, a balloon and the award information. Studer was surprised in her classroom in front of her students and teaching partner.

 

Since Field had two finalists, the school threw a surprise assembly for the whole school. “We are so honored to have two Teacher of the Year finalists at Field this year,” said Field Principal Joni Owens. “We have amazing teachers, and Cindy and Janell are both very deserving recipients. It is a blessing to have such excellent educators at our school.”

 

Stacia Studer, Bode Middle School, Eighth Grade Communication Arts

 

Stacia Studer has been a teacher for fourteen years, all but one of them at Bode Middle School. The other year was spent as an instructional coach at Truman Middle School. Studer is a graduate of Lafayette High School, Missouri Western State University and William Woods University. She is currently working on her specialist degree from Arkansas State University.

 

“This award is not about me,” said Studer. “This award is about the mentors that my instructional leaders placed around me to grow and challenge me as an educator. This award is about my students; each one of them has shaped the educator I am today. My principal, Roberta Dias, is an amazing leader, and she places students in my classroom that I forever hold in my heart.”

 

“Stacia Studer is one of a kind, a contagious positive spirt, a passionate learner, teacher, mentor and leader,” said Bode Principal Roberta Dias. “Students crave her reflective thinking, her passion for learning and her compassion for others. In the classroom, Stacia is the ultimate example, modeling her thinking about a piece of rich text with students, sharing her own examples of writing, even poems, and continually encouraging students to become great readers and writers. Stacia not only has high expectations for her students and herself, she is a fantastic leader for the Bode communication arts team. She has mentored several new teachers, presented at several conferences and shared her love of learning with staff, students and parents. She is resourceful, passionate and driven. Stacia isn’t just about teaching reading and writing; her goal is to help others unwrap their own gift of reading and writing and develop a love for learning. Stacia is an excellent choice for the SJSD Teacher of the Year Award.”

 

Cindy Faucett, Eugene Field Elementary, Sixth Grade

 

Cindy Faucett has been teaching sixth grade at Eugene Field for eight years. “Working with sixth graders has been an absolute joy,” said Faucett. “I love my school and my job!”

 

“I am very proud of Cindy for being chosen as a finalist for this award,” said Joni Owens, Field Principal. “Mrs. Faucett always lets students know they matter and are important. She feels her students need a sense of safety and respect in their learning environment. Her classroom is their classroom. She believes strongly in creating an environment where classmates feel like they are family. This is evident in how she shows her students that she cares about them, their futures, feelings, and successes. Shared and supported risk-taking is part of the culture in her sixth grade class. Students know they are held accountable, but with a safety net to support them if they stumble.”

 

Janell Becerra, Eugene Field Elementary, Elementary Music

 

Janell Becerra has been an elementary music teacher for thirteen years, ten in the St. Joseph School District, with the last six at Eugene Field. “It is truly an honor to have been nominated for this award,” said Becerra, “Let alone to be a finalist, when there are so many talented teachers in this district.”

 

“Janell is a very deserving candidate for the Teacher of the Year,” said Joni Owens, Field Principal. “Her philosophy revolves around children, passion, expectations and procedures. In her room, with any class, she has one common focus – that the students are not just learning about subject matter, but about learning and life. She is a caring teacher that believes she needs to know each student individually so that she knows what makes them excel. Despite their ability, background, or situation, Janell ensures they learn. Mrs. Becerra knows not all students will grow up to be professional musicians, but should feel they have the ability to participate in community music or support any organization by being an appreciative member of the audience.”

Bumble Bee Foods is recalling 31,579 cases of canned Chunk Light tuna due to the potential for life-threatening illness if consumed.

The company said due to process deviations in a co-pack facility not owned by Bumble Bee the deviations were part of the commercial sterilizations process that could result in contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens, which could lead to life-threatening illness if consumed.

Bumble said currently there have been no reports of illness associated with the products so far.

The cases that are included in the recall were produced in February 2016 and distributed nationally.

The products subject to this recall are marked with a can code that starts with a “T” (example: TOA2BSCAFB) and have the following “best by” dates: CLICK HERE.

Consumers are advised to throw away the recalled product. Consumers looking for more information on reimbursement or whom have questions about the recall may contact Bumble Bee at (888) 820-1947 between the hours of 9am and 6pm EST seven days a week.

A statewide tornado drill postponed earlier this week is now scheduled Thursday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

Severe weather sirens will sound at that time, and you are urged to use that time to practice taking cover in your designated shelter.

March 14-18 is Severe Weather Awareness Week as a reminder that severe weather can strike at any time in Missouri, making it important for everyone to have a plan to quickly go to their most secure shelter available.

At 1:30pm Thursday, NOAA weather radios will alert listeners that the tornado drill has begun. Outdoor warning sirens will also sound across Missouri. Officials say the statewide tornado drill is an excellent opportunity for Missourians to practice their sheltering plans and ensure readiness in case of a severe weather emergency. The statewide drill provides schools, businesses and families with an opportunity to test their planning and readiness to be able to quickly seek appropriate shelter in case of a real severe weather emergency.

Schools, businesses and families are all encouraged to participate in the statewide tornado drill. Schools are encouraged to use the tornado drill as an educational tool for students by incorporating tornado facts and meteorological information and safety tips into their lesson plans.

The National Weather Service St. Louis Forecast Office has compiled information about weather threats and the safety measures to take in response at its Severe Weather Awareness Week site. Visit http://www.crh.noaa.gov.

A motorcyclist from Texas was killed in a fiery head-on crash with a semi in Brown County Kansas just before 3:00 p.m. Wednesday.

A crash report from the Kansas Highway Patrol indicates 77-year-old Arnold Lee Sherrell of Dripping Springs, Texas tried to pass one semi along U.S. Highway 75 about two miles south of Sabetha.  He crashed his Harley Davidson into another tractor trailer in oncoming traffic.

That vehicle left the roadway and caught fire.  The driver, Tonya Vogt of Columbus, Ohio was taken to Sabetha Community Hospital for treatment of possible injuries.

 

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department said the man wanted as a person of interest in connection with an incident Tuesday at a Taco Bell is now in custody.

The department has been searching for Leonard T. Barr since Tuesday afternoon, as of 4 p.m. Wednesday Barr was in custody.

As we previously reported, deputies responded to the Taco Bell across from Hy-Vee around 10:15 a.m. in reference to a report of a stolen vehicle in the drive thru.

“The officers attempted to stop the vehicle which was in the drive thru, at which time the suspect began ramming the patrol vehicles forward and reverse,” said Col. Bill Puett. “The suspect attempted to ram one of the officers at which time the officer defended himself and fired rounds at the vehicle.”

The suspect was able to get away from deputies in the stolen vehicle which was later found unoccupied.

Cpl. Sarah Hardin with the sheriff’s department said charges in this case will be forwarded on to the prosecutor’s office for consideration.

Humboldt Elementary principal Jaimee Lawrence was recently named Exemplary New Principal by the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals.

The District said this recognition is given to principals in their second or third year as a principal. According to the MAESP website, “Honorees demonstrate exemplary performance in the demonstration of skills that reflect the best in educational leadership.” Lawrence, who became the Humboldt principal in fall 2014, is in her second year as principal there.

“Jaimee is well deserving of this honor,” said Brian Shindorf, SJSD Director of Elementary Education. “She is an exceptional new principal and a valued St. Joseph School District leader.”

Lawrence taught at Humboldt from 2000 – 2009 before becoming their Administrative Intern. Lawrence served as Administrative Intern at Humboldt, Coleman, Edison and Lindbergh between 2009 and 2014, before becoming Humboldt principal in 2014. She was named MAESP Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year in 2012.

Lawrence graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1999, with a BS in Elementary Education and Learning Disabilities, and received her Partial ESOL Certification in 2005 from Southeast Missouri State University. She has her Masters of Arts in Education from Baker University (2009), and completed her Education Specialist in Administration from William Woods University in 2011.