Mid-Prairie honors retiring educators

By Molly Roberts
Posted 5/10/22

The Mid-Prairie School Board recognized and honored five retiring educators at their regular meeting on Monday, May 9. Superintendent Mark Schneider presented each retiree with a plaque commemorating …

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Mid-Prairie honors retiring educators

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The Mid-Prairie School Board recognized and honored five retiring educators at their regular meeting on Monday, May 9. Superintendent Mark Schneider presented each retiree with a plaque commemorating their years of service.

Marian Marley

Marley served the district for seven years as a high school science teacher.

“Marian has been a wonderful science teacher for us at the high school,” Schneider said. “She was a late hire because we were looking for someone and unable to find someone, and she just came in did amazing work from day one. She has done a wonderful job and she will be missed.”

Jane Blieu

Blieu served the district for 13 years, including her most recent position as a middle school paraprofessional. Schneider told her “You are the hardest working employee in the district. You have done just about everything.”

“Jane, I just want to say that I appreciate your heart for the special education kids, I can see it here in the district, but also on a personal level with my sister-in-law,” said Special Education Director Amy Shalla. “You’ve gone such good work and you will be greatly missed.”

Terri Duwa

Duwa served this district as a paraprofessional for 20 years, most recently at the high school. High school principal Chuck Banks praised her amazing connection with every child in every classroom, who know that she is always there to support them.

“In the district, you’ve done at lot of things in the high school, as far as the different kids you’ve worked with, but you really helped start the Beyond program and worked really hard with those kids to help them be where they need to be,” said Shalla.

Norman Brooks

Brooks taught instrumental music at the middle school for 24 years, serving as the 5th grade band teacher, and also started the lead the band program for the Home School Assistance Program, which started with just a couple students and grew into a program with over 40 kids participating.

“Both my daughters did 5th grade band and when I would walk down the hallway to wait for them to be done, I would hear the squeaks and noise and think ‘How does he do that for an hour and a half every week?’,” said school board member Denise Chittick. “You were also so positive and encouraging and it truly meant a lot.”

Beth Spenler

Spenler served the district for 30 years in a variety of positions, including as a Special Education/Title 1 teacher at the middle school and east elementary.

“You had [my daughter] as a first grader and you were so good for her,” said board member Gabrielle Frederick. “You had high expectations for her but at the end of the day, she knew that you loved her and really cared about her. It’s a big deal when kids come home and talk about their teachers like that. You made an impact and it’s really important. Thank you.”

“I’ve known you for a long time and we’ve worked together for a long time,” said Shalla. “I appreciate your support and your mentoring. You’ve been moved around in this district probably more than most people to lots of different positions. Some of them were good fits and some weren’t, but you stayed and you stuck it out for Mid-Prairie and for the kids who are here. I think that is a huge testament to who you are. You’ve made differences in kids’ lives and that’s what it’s all about.”

In other business, the school board:

• Approved contracts with Carl A. Nelson & Company and Shive Hattery, which will allow the firms to begin design and engineering for the district’s upcoming construction projects.

• Approved principal and Home School Assistance Program compensation for the 2022-23 school year.

• Passed a resolution fixing the date of sale, approving electronic bidding procedures and approving the official statement to allow the district to sell bonds to fund the upcoming construction projects for the district.

• Reached a decision to extend an offer to the chosen candidate for the district’s new superintendent by 5-2 vote, with Jed Seward and Jake Snider dissenting. School board president Jeremy Pickard said the name of the candidate will be announced in the coming weeks.