Cristin (Darragh) Ashcraft was hired as a certified library media specialist this fall for the Hennessey Elementary School at the district board’s May 10 meeting.

The 1989 Hennessey High School grad lives in Bison and has worked in library management and education for 22 years.

She earned her bachelor’s in elementary education at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1995 and her master’s in instructional media from UCO in 2002.

Ashcraft is nationally-board certified in library media/early childhood through young adulthood and is state certified in these three areas: library media specialist (PK-12), elementary education (1-8) and language arts middle school endorsement (6-8).

Ashcraft’s Work Experience

This past year she has been a library media specialist for the Enid Public Schools at Garfield Elementary School, was deputy director of library services for the Enid/Garfield County Library 2019- 20; library media district specialist, EPS at Waller Middle School, 2008-19, and a library media specialist at four elementary schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools, 1999-2008.

Before she was hired in a unanimous vote, HES Principal Barry Crosswhite told the board the school would be “lucky” to have her because she has extensive experience and work in digital media and audiovisual production.

Ashcraft was the Enid Public School’s lead library media district specialist, 2015-19, and named Garfield County Teacher of the Year in 2014. She has presented at the Oklahoma Governor’s STEM Summit, 2016; International Society of Technology in Education (2015 with student presenters) and 2016 (with co-presenter), Enid Public School’s Technology Conference, each year since 2013 and Oklahoma Technology Association/ Encyclomedia conference each year since 2013.

She also planned, coordinated, and directed three TED (Technology/Entertainment/Design) youth events at Waller Middle School, 2015-18.

Athletic Trainer’s Job is Now Contract With OKC Hospital Kylee Warne is no longer

Kylee Warne is no longer the school’s athletic trainer.

The school will now have a yearly contract for her services with SSM Health Bone & Joint Hospital at St. Anthony in Oklahoma City.

The contract is for $40,000 a year and Warne’s annual salary was $47,574 plus $3,500 a year for extra-duty pay on the coaching schedule.

The contract approval was a 3-1 decision with new board member David Tillman casting the no vote.

Tillman questioned the need for a contract.

Newly-hired Superintendent Jason Sternberger said, “She came to me and asked for it. She wants her hours more flexible. She doesn’t want to be here at 8 o’clock every day.”

Tillman asked if Warne would only come to home games and meets.

Sternberger said that was on the “priority” coverage in the contract.

“She loves Hennessey and wants to stay here,” Sternberger said. “She will be here every day for practices.”

The five-page contract states that any changes in her availability will be made at the discretion of the athletic trainer “and the coach.”

“Doesn’t she also teach in the classroom?” asked Tillman.

Sternberger said “yes.”

When Warne joined the HPS staff in July 2019 as the athletic trainer and middle school science teacher, she lived in Oklahoma City.

Re-hirings

Certified personnel rehired for 2021-22 and their 2020-21 positions (according to school’s website, recent coaching assignments or hiring information) are: Lee Linsenmeyer (social studies and softball), Hayley Martin (day care teacher) and David Redue (seventh grade geography and football).

Temporary contracts were also renewed for these certified employees: Renee Curry (student information administrator), Adam Ray (band director), Evan Sprayberry (football and boys track) and Korey Walker (special ed, football, wrestling).

Eight Resignations

Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods announced these resignations of teachers and others: Jose Solis (maintenance director); Jessica Melendy (third grade), Ragen Newman (second grade); Frances Streck (high school science and assistant girls high school basketball coach), Autumn Blackburn (aide), Ellen Fly (day care) and Sharon Worden and Carrie Rhamy (paraprofessionals).

Woods said the eight resignations were due to various reasons including taking other jobs.

Extra Duty Summer Personnel Hirings

Due to Solis’s resignation, these extra duty May-June stipends were approved: Transportation Director Gary Beaman was approved for $1,000 for head custodian duties and $500 to Ruth Frank as assistant to head custodian.

Approved extra-duty pay at $20 an hour as Summer Reading Sufficiency teachers were: Chelsey McArthur, Kaityn Norton, Shavonne Heidlage, Flo Conway, Amy Hochstrasser, Katie Matthews and Barry Crosswhite.

Hired at $10 an hour as May 10-June 30 support personnel were Aaron Guzman, Humberto Velasco, Ronny Robles and Uriel Munoz.

Also hired were Erin Wulffenstein at $10.60 an hour and Maria Fierro at $11.50 an hour.

At the Meeting

Members of the board present were Matousek, Vice President Luke Lough, Clerk Patrick Griffin and David Tillman. Absent was board member Cristopher Choate.

Also at the board table were Timberly Jech, office manager/board minutes clerk and Woods.

Staff in the audience were Principals Stacey Mack (early childhood) and Barry Crosswhite (elementary); Todd Cameron, computer network administrator; Rae Fuksa, HMS math teacher; Jack Quirk, photographer, and Sternberger.

Also in the audience were Amber Koehn, Kathi Reilly (See May 19 edition for story) and her husband, Barry Reilly.