Eight new teachers were hired for the 2019-20 school year by the Hennessey Board of Education members Monday night. The hirings came after Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods announced the resignations of nine other employees during his monthly report, then a 30-minute executive session to discuss the hirings.

Board members present for the monthly meeting were President Patrick Griffin, Clerk Luke Lough, Joe Garrison and Cristopher Choate. Absent was Vice President Dr. James M. Matousek.

RESIGNATIONS

Stacy Cline, elementary/ middle school counselor;  Kathy Luetjen , elementary reading coach; Rick Luetjen, head football coach; Megan Karsten, high school Spanish/softball coach; Ryan McKee, high school science/ athletic trainer/assistant coach; Cole Smith, high school history teacher/assistant football coach;  Ana Ortiz, cook, and Mahala Jones and Courtney Robar, elementary school aides.  

NEW TEACHERS

Teachers hired for the 2019-20 school year on temporary contracts:

High School English Language Arts – Jenna Tarrant of Hennessey is a May OSU graduate with a bachelor’s in  secondary education English. 2019 Burns Awards for Excellence in English Education, member Phi Kappa Phi. 2014 HHS grad. Student teacher, Perry Junior High, English, language arts, creative writing, Jan.-May 2019; Work/study intern, OSU Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, May-December 2018; sales associate, Stillwater Hobby Lobby, May-July 2018.

Middle School English Language Arts – Nathaniel Parker, Benkelman, Neb., earned a master’s of education from NWOSU, Alva in 2012; OSU, bachelor’s, English, 2008, and OSU, bachelor’s, ag education, 2005. English teacher, 7-12, Dundy County Stratton Public Schools, Benkelman, 2016-19; English 9-12, Hennessey Public Schools, 2008-16. Certifications: 5-12 English, 5-8 Science, Speech/Drama, Agriculture, K-12 Physical Education and Driver’s Ed.

Middle School Social Studies — Brady N. Johnson, Ada, is attending UCO studying physical education/ health; general studies associate’s degree from Redlands Community College, 2016; 2014 Latta High grad, Ada. Student teacher, Chisholm Elementary, Edmond, Jan.-May 2019; athletic assistant, Edmond Memorial High, Nov. 2016-current; played college baseball, 2014-16. Phi Theta Kappa at Red-lands, UCO Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Team Member; Officer of UCO Physical Education Members Club.

High School Alternative Education — Craig Hubbard, Yukon. Master’s in education, Concordia College, Neb. 1997; bachelor’s, History, Mid-America Nazarene University, 1994, USA Weightlifting Sports Perormance/Strength and Conditioning Coach Certificate, 2008. Eight years US Army/National Guard (1997-05); 24 years football coaching (21 collegiate, three high school). Most recent positions, 2016-present, Yukon High School, defensive coordinator and US government instructor; Southern Nazarene University, interim head coach, July-Dec., 2015; SNU, DC and Associate Head coach and linebackers, Feb. 2006-June 2015, Mid-America Nazarene University, Olathe, Kan., DC, and LBs, 2002-06.

First Grade – Emily Bellinger. General studies candidate, May 2019, NWOSU; associate, general studies and associate, nursing pre-baccalaureate, 2017; Buffalo High School, 2014. Student Oklahoma Education Association, vice president of publications and graphic design officer, 2017-current; Conserving Our Ranger Environment media officer, 2017-current. Bilingual English/Spanish, CPR and First Aid certified.

Fifth Grade – Kayla Cecil, Hennessey. Bachelor’s degrees in elementary education and early childhood education, NWOSU, 2016; associate’s degrees in science and business administration, NOC, 2012. Certified in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Glen-wood Elementary, Enid, first grade, 2017-present and fifth grade, 2016-17; Summerhill Children’s House, Enid, 2015-17, elementary-age class. STEAMmakers Camp, STEAM Lab Committee (2018-present), OERB Little Tikes Workshop, Literacy First and Words Their Way, Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute, Professional Learning Community, The Mandt System Training part 1.

Middle /High School Literacy  – Ragen Newman, Drummond. Bachelor’s, early childhood education, Pre-K-third grade, NWOSU, 2013. Second grade teacher, GlenwoodElementary,Enid, Aug. 2015-present; Kindergarten, Glenwood, Aug. 2013-May 2015; Internship, Prairie View Elementary/ Monroe Elementary, Enid, Jan.-May, 2013. Literacy First K-Third, Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute, Daily 5+ Behavior Strategies Workshop and Great Expectations.

Middle School History/ Coach –  Lee R. Linsenmeyer II, Stillwater. Bachelor’s, OSU, 1992; associate of science, 1989, NOC. Certified: Physical Ed/Health, K-12; Athletic Coaching, K-12; Social Studies, 6-8; U.S. History/Oklahoma History/Government/Economics, 6-12. Blackwell Public Schools, Government, girls weight training and head HS coach fast and slow-pitch, 2017-current; Enid Public Schools, MS Geography/US History, 2016-17; Bethel, History, Head HS softball, 2015-16; owner business/oilfield related, 2014-15; Guthrie, History, HS softball, 2011-14; Enid, 2003-11; Mulhall-Orlando, 2001-03; OSU Basketball Camps, instructor/counselor, 1999-06; Stroud, 1999-00; Perkins-Tryon, 1998-99; Stillwater, 1997-98.

SUMMER STAFF HIRINGS

Extra duty contract for Paul Hix May 28-June 30 for athletic director/coaching duties, $8,320.

Summer reading sufficiency teachers $20 an hour for the 2018-19 school year: Flo Conway, Kaitlyn Norton, Lissette Sosa, Gerri Russell, Chelsey McArthur, Allyssa Knight, Hayley Martin and Taylor Black.

Summer school teacher Marie Parish $20 an hour.

Cooks for the summer food program: Rita Hunts-berger  $11.25 per hour, Yumira Torres $10.10 per hour, Patty Shaw 10.25 an hour.

Summer custodians for May 14-June 30: Maria Fierro $10.75 an hour and Erin Wulffenstein $10.10 an hour.

Summer help for May 13-June 30: Sebastion Fierro and Aaron Guzman $8 an hour each.

SEATING IN THE DOME

Board members gave the OK to a redesign change with Interkal of Kalamazoo, Mich. for $332,661 in seating at The Dome. All of the 1,711 seats will have back rests (including bleacher seating) and certain sections will also have armrests, the superintendent said.

The item was approved under new business. Woods said he only received the contract change in an email that morning.

CHORUS TRIP OK’D

A proposed March 13-17, 2021, trip to Boston and New York City by choral students was approved by the board. The trip includes airfare, hotel accommodations, guided tours and activities, breakfast and dinner, overnight security, etc. Students and their family may make monthly payments to cover costs.

SENIORS GET THEIR

CHROMEBOOKS

The board agreed that seniors who have paid the equivalent of four years of maintenance with fees of $80 may keep their used Chromebooks supplied by the school. The tech staff said this will “avoid a backlog of valueless technology and to  dispose of Chrome-books in the most advantageous manner to Hennessey Public Schools.”