The end of Monday’s meeting of the Kingfisher Board of Education brought with it a big void in the district’s teaching staff.

Board members unanimously — and almost with a synchronized groan — accepted the resignation of Lynn Barnett.

An educator for 38 years, Barnett has been the director of Yellowjacket Academy, the district’s alternative education program, for 20 years.

Also resigning was Ruthie Bengs, a longtime alter-native education assistant right alongside Barnett.

“It is with mixed emotions that I submit this letter of resignation,” Barnett wrote to Supt. Jason Sternberger. “I am retiring and am eager to spend more time with my family. I hope that giving my notice early will allow you to find the right person to be the director of Yellowjacket Academy.”

Sternberger said, with the help of Bengs, Barnett’s impact on the district has been immeasurable.

“They reach a group of kids that’s very important,” Sternberger said. “They’ve changed a lot of lives in their time here.”

Barnett said she enjoyed working in the alternative education program.

“While the job has been challenging at times, watching 200 students accomplish their goal of graduating from high school lets me know that I was able to make a difference.

“While it saddens me to end a 38-year career in teaching, I am looking forward to new adventures. Kingfisher Public Schools will always have a special place in my heart.”

The board also accepted resignations from second grade teacher Madison Siebert and special education paraprofessional Bianca Thomas.

Siebert is in her third year at Kingfisher, but said she wants to pursue a teaching job closer to family.

The district will also open up the position of the English-language arts teacher in the eighth grade.

That’s because the person who currently holds the position, Sheila Redwine, was approved as the district’s reading specialist on Monday.

Creating that position was one of the steps the district took after the release of the Oklahoma School Report Cards late last year.

Administrators rooted most deficiencies in scoring at reading comprehension.

Combatting that, especially in the earlier grades, would be beneficial, they told board members at an earlier meeting.

The district also has new cheer coaches at the high school and junior high level.

Coaching the high school group will be Canna Reagan.

She was a one-time cheer coach at Deer Creek High School.

KHS graduate Madison Farrell will coach the junior high squad and her mother, Stephanie Farrell, will be the junior high sponsor.

Lori Burns, the former KHS cheer coach who led the program to three state championships, was hired as the tumbling coach for middle and high school cheer teams.

Also hired was Coye Altizer, who will work in the maintenance department.