Springfield Public Schools News Release

News From Springfield Public Schools

Communications Department

1359 E. St. Louis Street

Springfield, MO  65802

417-523-INFO 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 28, 2017

  • SPS announces two new leaders
  • Former Falcon returns to the nest
  • Middle school athletics/activities score a win
  • Seniors get send-off with end-of-year activities
  • A symphony of talents will be on display May 3
SPS announces two new leaders
Springfield Public Schools has named two individuals to fill leadership positions in the district. Christy Davis will be the new associate director of special services, early childhood special education, and Curt Ivey will be the new assistant principal at Jarrett Middle School.
 
Davis has worked for SPS for 15 years.  During her tenure, she has served as a kindergarten and Wonder Years teacher, instructional coach and most recently as assistant director of early childhood. She earned  a master's degree in administration form Missouri State University and is currently working toward earning a doctorate in educational leadership at Southwest Baptist University.
 
"Christy possesses the skills needed to advance our efforts in providing an engaging, relevant and personal learning experience for all students. She brings a strong instructional focus, proven leadership skills and a commitment to the vision and strategic plan for early childhood at SPS," explained Dr. Mike Dawson, chief learning officer.
 
Ivey comes to SPS from Branson Public Schools, where he has worked since 2008. During his 13 years in education, he has worked as a high school social studies teacher. He earned his master's degree in educational leadership from William Woods University and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University. 
 
"Curt has demonstrated the ability to establish positive relationships with students and staff and to model the importance of collaboration and inclusion in a secondary education environment," Dawson said. "We look forward to him joining our learning team."
 
Pending board approval and background checks, Davis and Ivey will assume their new roles July 1, 2017.

Former Falcon returns to the nest
Tricia Marsh is returning to Glendale High School beginning with the 2017-2018 school year; this time as the head girls basketball coach. Marsh is familiar with the Glendale community having served as junior varsity coach, assistant varsity coach and freshman coach at GHS from 1994-1999. Additional SPS experience includes coaching at Hickory Hills and Pipkin middle schools, and Parkview and Central high schools.
 
Currently working at Aurora High School as a physical education and health teacher, head girls basketball coach and junior high boys track coach, Marsh earned collegiate coaching experience as an assistant basketball coach at Drury University and associate head women's basketball coach at Missouri State University.
 
Marsh received her bachelor's degree from Missouri S & T and a master's degree from Drury University.
 
"Trish's previous ties to Springfield Public Schools coupled with the university level coaching experience she returns with, made her a great selection to lead our lady Falcons," shared Randy Stange, director of student athletics and activities.
 
Marsh's appointment is pending background check and board approval.

Middle school athletics/activities score a win
On April 25, the Board of Education allocated nearly $500,000 to expand extra-curricular activities and increase participation and engagement at all middle schools. This will be accomplished by implementing the following three strategies at each middle school:
 
1.  Participation Through The Engagement Program
 
Research indicates that student involvement in extracurricular activities improves social development, eases the transition from elementary to middle school, improves GPA and attendance, lowers disciplinary infractions, fosters passion and boosts self-confidence.  To increase student participation and engagement, school staff will create new activity groups/clubs/organizations designed to appeal to the special and diverse interest of sixth through eighth grade students at each school. Interests will be determined based on a student survey to be conducted in early Fall 2017.
 
2. MSHSAA Participation
 
Middle school athletics will join the Missouri State High School Activities Association which will provide:
  • Increased scheduling options to meet diverse school needs across the district including increasing the number of contests and participating in competitions that are leveled based on schools of similar size, ability level and participation rates
  • Alignment with a set of bylaws that all member schools comply with across Missouri
  • Alignment of SPS' sports seasons with regional schools (for more details, please see the Fact Sheet located on the District Athletic webpage). This will mean that football, volleyball, and boys & girls cross country seasons will occur in the Fall of 2017
  • Development of high school programs by increased participation and allowing our coaches to draw comparisons of skill and talent levels between SPS students/teams and regional schools
 
Please note:  In compliance with academic eligibility criteria, MSHSAA has clarified that any seventh-grade student who fails more than one class during the fourth quarter of the 2016-2017 school year will not be eligible to participate in interscholastic activities during the first quarter of the 2017-2018 school year. Sixth- graders transitioning to seventh grade and eighth-graders transitioning to ninth grade are given a clean slate, however, MSHSAA does not exempt athletes from grade standards when a district officially begins with them.  View academic criteria on page 42 of the MSHSAA handbook.
 
3.  Athletic Option Expansion
 
Athletic opportunities will be expanded with the addition of cross country and archery as competitive opportunities for girls and boys beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
 
If your child is interested in participating in these activities next school year, please review the  Fact Sheet for important information.

Seniors get send-off with end-of-year activities
Seniors are invited to attend a number of end-of-year activities at their high school, including baccalaureate, commencement, Project Graduation and more. See how the Class of 2017 is celebrating. View the districtwide schedule.

A symphony of talents will be on display
Fifth-grade musicians will perform at an All-City fifth-grade orchestra concert at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 3. The public event will be held at Glendale High School and is hosted by the Springfield Public Schools music department.
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