Kingfisher Public Schools is losing a former teacher of the year, but is gaining one from another district.

Kara Brueggen was among the staff members whose resignations were accepted Wednesday night during a special meeting of the Kingfisher Board of Education.

An elementary teacher here for a dozen years, Brueggen was named the KPS teacher of the year for 2023-24 after first earning the honor for Gilmour Elementary.

In her resignation letter, Brueggen said her tenure with KPS was “a rewarding and memorable experience.”

“I have always given students 100% of my knowledge, attention and energy to help them to excel in their education,” said Brueggen, who was a first grade teacher for two years and most recently taught kindergarten for 10 years.

“I have grown as an individual and learned much from the individuals within this institution,” she continued. “I have enjoyed working alongside the teachers and staff at Gilmour Elementary and forming professional and friendly relationships along the way.”

She has accepted a second grade position within the Piedmont school district.

“I”m super excited for a new adventure,” said Brueggen, a Dover High School graduate who taught at her alma mater for four years before coming to Kingfisher.

Brueggen also serves as the Gilmour site director for the Rising STARS program and said she will continue in that role until the program concludes on June 19.

Brueggen’s resignation was one of a handful on the evening, leaving the district with the need to fill key roles.

Also resigning are Ken Thompson, an English teacher at KHS; Derek Patterson, math teacher and football and golf coach; Keaton Callins, history teacher and football and basketball coach; and Lynn Barnett, alternative education; Humberto Mejia Arellano, a teacher’s aide at the upper elementary.

Thompson has been with the district for five years and Patterson, a KHS alum, has been back at his alma mater for eight years.

Barnett, a former longtime director of Yellowjacket Academy who retired, but came back to teach there this year, is again stepping away “to spend time with my family and grandchildren.”

Callins and Mejia have taken positions at other school districts.

In response, the board took Superintendent Andy Evans’ recommendation to open the following positions: English/coaching; math/coaching; teacher(s) for self-contained at KUE and at Gilmour; teacher at Gilmour; English as second language (ESL); summer maintenance; and bus driver.

The board also approved seven hires at the meeting, some of whom are familiar faces.

Among them was Rachel Franks, who will teach music at the elementary level.

She will replace Teresa Greco, a music teacher here for eight years who resigned to take a similar position in Edmond.

Franks was Rachel Murphey when she graduated from KHS.

She has taught music at Hennessey for the last nine years and was named the HPS district teacher of the year for 2022-23.

When she received that honor, Hennessey Elementary Principal Barry Crosswhite called Franks “the heartbeat of our school.”

“She has high expectations for her students to learn, and behave, and pushes them to be their best and holds them accountable,” Crosswhite said. “Students who cause trouble in other classrooms don’t misbehave in music… You can’t teach people what she has. Either you have it, or you don’t.”

Whitney Johnson is re-joining the KPS staff.

Johnson is going to teach seventh grade English.

Also hired Wednesday were:

• McKenzie Eppenbach, who will teach STEM forensics and help with cheer;

• Madylin Meier, fifth grade Engligh;

• Tiffany Paul, junior high and high schools Spanish and softball coach;

• Kelley Connel, onehalf day Take Flight teacher; • Brian Archer, P.E. or social studies and coaching duties for girls golf, junior high basketball and football.

( Ed. note: For more on Wednesday’s meeting, see our May 28 edition.)