New teachers begin school year at Sheldon

Matthew Beatty

History seventh through 12th grade

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

I have worked as a para for the past eight years. The best part of education is seeing students overcome obstacles and become successful.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

I don't know if there has been a specific moment. I think there are a lot of moments that run together.

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

Being a first-year teacher has required a lot of work so far. I am typically in my classroom on the weekends. I also come in before and after school a lot. When you talk to people in education, they are by no means kidding when they say the first year is the most difficult.

What do you like most about your job?

I like the fact that I have the creativity to run my own classroom. Yes, there is a curriculum to follow, but I like how I have control over how I meet these expectations.

More about yourself

Hometown: Nevada, Mo.

Family

Mother lives in Nevada, Mo., father in Gladstone, Mo.

Experience

Nevada High School

Missouri Southern State University/Missouri State University

Eight years as a para for the Nevada R-5 School District.

Mendy LeVaugh

Music and Art

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

Wanted to be able to enjoy my hobby of singing and songwriting while still putting bread on the table. I enjoy children and found that I enjoyed teaching just as much!

What moment in education has been most memorable?

The most recent memorable moment was a letter that I received from a former student of mine. He was thanking me for pushing him and encouraging him to do more than he believed he could do both socially and academically.

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

I wake up before the sun wakes up and go to bed long after the sun has gone to bed. In between those times, I work with the kiddos, and work on plans for the kiddos, hang with my husband and squeeze in a bit of dinner somewhere.

What do you like most about your job?

The students and that I get to do music every day.

More about yourself

I love music and art. I just heard a deer for the first time this last week. I recently got married and am learning about country life.

Hometown

My hometown is Tonganoxie, Kan. (It's between Kansas City and Lawrence.)

Family

I'm married and have one stepdaughter. I have one brother, one sister, and a whole crew of very cool nieces and nephews.

Experience

I've taught for nine years in both private and public school settings. I've also taught private studio lessons for 22 years.

Academic and/or athletic honors, accomplishments, awards, teams while in school

I'm too old. Don't remember! I know I got a couple of things in college, but can't remember what they were called.

Civic, community or club memberships

Just moved here two months ago, so I haven't had a chance to do much of anything other than settle in.

Church affiliation

Attending in Pittsburg, Kan., and still deciding on a church home.

Hobbies

Photography, cooking, songwriting, crafts, movies

Career background

Psych Hospital as Program Director in California

Bill Review for a workman's compensation company in California

Paralegal in Kansas

Any business or other personal honors

I consider it an honor every time a parent trusts me to educate their child and supports me in that endeavor.

Shonna Shorter-Kramer

Seventh through 12th grade science teacher

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

I enjoy teaching youth and getting them to be excited about science and life.

What do you like most about your job?

I am from a small town, so I enjoy teaching in a small town. The education team and the students are friendly and the staff has high expectations of the students, and I love that about Sheldon! The labs and experiments in science class are my favorites. When a student gets excited or has that, "I understand now." moment. Biology and Chemistry are my favorites.

More about yourself

Hometown: Lockwood, Mo.

Family

I have been married 13 years. I have four grown children and one still in junior high, two grandkids, and many more who call me Mom. Two Chihuahuas, two cats, two ducks, six hens, one rooster.

Experience

Two years teaching, and 13 years doing social work in family violence and Department of mental health, and Youth Development.

Academic and/or athletic honors, awards in school

I was president of my class in high school three years, FHA (FCCLA) President two years and a Regional Representative, Volleyball three years. We played softball every year, but it wasn't in school.

Other programs in school

I went to Lamar Vo-tech and was in the Health Assistant Program, where I learned to love Biology. In college, I was a member of Child Abuse Prevention, Better Homemaker, and Sociology Club.

Civic, community or club memberships

Co-Chair Friends Helping Friends Inc. PTO, MSTA.

Church involvement

I am a Christian.

Hobbies

I love volunteering to assist people. Reading. My favorite is watching my kids play baseball and softball. On Sundays after church, my family comes for dinner, we play sand volleyball or have town team softball games.

Jennifer Prine-Smith

School counselor

What inspired you to become an educator/teacher?

It was my high school counselor who inspired me to become a counselor.

What moment in education has been most memorable?

One of the most memorable moments in education came when I had a student who, as an elementary student, could not remain in the classroom because he would become angry and physically violent toward his peers and school staff. I worked with the school staff to develop a plan that allowed him an acceptable outlet for his anger, along with teaching him skills to appropriately cope with anger.

A few years later, his mom came into my office to tell me how much better behaved her son was and to thank me for caring and working with him. While I felt that I was just doing my job, she felt that I had gone above and beyond, and I was very honored that she had taken the time to hunt me down to let me know just how much she appreciated me.

What's a typical day like for you, or as typical as it gets?

A typical day in the life of a first-year K-12 school counselor includes lesson planning, lesson planning, and more lesson planning, teaching social skills, and career development, doing a quick hygiene lesson to some middle school age students, talking to a teacher about a student he/she is concerned about, talking to another teacher with concerns about another student, returning emails, phone calls, and scheduling meetings, preparing for district/state assessments coming up, and then back to lesson planning again.

What do you like most about your job?

The thing I like most about my job is working with the seniors and helping them plan for their future.

More about yourself

Hometown: Nevada, Mo.

Family members

Husband -- Richard Smith, Daughters: JaLynn, Tasia, and Jacee.

Experience

Raymore-Peculiar School District - School Psychologist - 1 year

Hickman Mills High School & Ruskin High School - School Psychologist - 5 years

Harrisonville Elementary School - School Psychologist / Process Coordinator - 5 years

Academic and/or athletic honors, accomplishments, awards, teams while in school

Dean's List, Psychology National Honors Society, and Department of Psychology Outstand Service Award recipient.

Civic, community or club memberships

Nevada, Mo., Lions Club member and Nevada Eagles Lodge Auxiliary Member.

Church affiliation

Crossroads Church of Nevada.

Career background

My husband and I own TCB Towing & Auto Service at 1881 W Austin Blvd., in Nevada, Mo., so when I am not at school working, you may just see me out in the tow truck.