New teachers, staff on board at Dardanelle Middle School

LITTLE ROCK — The 2008-09 school year brought many new faces to Dardanelle Middle School, including several new teachers.

"We've had a lot of stability over the years, but this year we've had some changes," said Avis Cotton, principal. "We have a new school secretary, six new teachers and two new paraprofessionals. Several of the new staff members are former students. That's very rewarding."

Cotton said the current building that houses the middle school was built in 1986 for sixth, seventh and eighth grades. "As a result of growth, sixth grade moved to Dardanelle Elementary School at the beginning of the 2002-03 school year," said Cotton, who has spent the last 37 years in the field of education. "We have had steady growth."

Julie Stokes was hired as the school secretary this year following the retirement of Ann Claypool after 33 years.

Stokes and her husband, Keith, live in Dardanelle, where they owned a hog farm for 12 years. They now take care of Tusk, the University of Arkansas' live mascot.

They have two children - son Chip, who is a graduate of Dardanelle High School and attends the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and daughter Abbey, who is a freshman at Dardanelle High School.

Stokes was secretary at Dardanelle Primary School for five years before accepting the job of secretary at the middle school. "I love it," Stokes said when asked how she liked her new job. "I absolutely love it. It's a very different atmosphere from the elementary school."

New teachers at Dardanelle Middle School include:

◊Chelsie Griffin, who teaches eighth-grade science and is the coach for the middle school's cheerleaders.

A graduate of Marion High School, Griffin holds a bachelor of science in education degree from the University of Central Arkansas. "Everything is going well here," she said. "It's more than I could ask for. The staff, the administration, the kids : it's a great place to be."

Griffin is engaged to Jake King of Heber Springs, who is working on a degree in parks and recreation at Arkansas Tech University.

◊Stacy Johnson, who teaches eighth-grade language arts.

A graduate of Dardanelle High School, Johnson said, "I love teaching here. I'm absolutely loving it.

"I didn't know as a eighth-grader here that I would even be a teacher, let alone a teacher here," she said. "I've seen both sides of it.

"Something led me to the middle level (of teaching)," she said. "I like the independence (students show) at that age. You can talk to them like an adult.

"I subbed in all different grades," she said. "I am where I want to be. I love these students so much. I'm tickled to be back here."

Her parents, Annette and Mike Cossey, were born and raised in Dardanelle and are graduates of Dardanelle High School, as is her husband and high school sweetheart, Chris Johnson. The Johnsons have two daughters, Madyson, 4, and Mika, 1.

◊Amanda Minor, who teaches seventh-grade band.

A graduate of Southside High School in Fort Smith, Minor holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Arkansas Tech University. This is her first year to teach. She also playsthe flute, and did so while at Tech.

"It's great," she said when asked about her teaching job. "I'm really enjoying it."

Minor's husband, Dewain Minor, is youth director at the Ard Community Baptist Church.

◊Stacy Myers, who teaches career orientation and coaches the crosscountry team.

A graduate of Dardanelle High School, Myers said, "I love getting to teach at my old school. I love being back in the community and being able to contribute to that community."

She is a daughter of Eddie and Susan Davis of Dardanelle. Myers and her husband, Chris, have two sons, Bailey, who is in fifth grade, and Braydon, who is in second grade.

Myers received her bachelor of science in education degree from Arkansas Tech University. While in school, she was on the track and cross-country teams. "I'm a distance runner," she said.

◊Cory Sturdivant, who teaches business education and is assistant junior high school football coach and assistant high school soccer coach.

Originally from Alma, he is a graduate of Ozark High School and Arkansas Tech University. He taught one year in Paris and one in Alma before coming to Dardanelle Middle School.

"I love it here," he said. "I have a big extended family here including Russell Sturdivant, who is the assistant boys basketball coach."

◊Shawn Walter, who teaches study skills/remediation. He is also head track coach for Dardanelle Junior High School and Dardanelle High School and is head junior high football coach.

A graduate of Greenbrier High School, Walter received his bachelor of science in education degree fromArkansas Tech University. He coached at Russellville Junior High School for three years before accepting the job at Dardanelle Middle School.

"I'm enjoying being here very much," Walter said.

Walter and his wife, Kim, who is the counselor at Dardanelle Primary School, have two children, Cole, 7, and Bethani, 3.

"Dardanelle Middle School is a great place to be," Walter said. "I'm glad to be a part of it."

New paraprofessionals at Dardanelle Middle School include:

◊Candice Lee, a 2000 graduate of Dardanelle High School with a degree in journalism from Arkansas Tech University. As a paraprofessional at DMS, she helps in the computer and technology classes. "Even though I have my degree in journalism, I've always been interested in computers and technology," she said. "I have some big shoes to fill. (The former teacher, Cookie Millard, retired this summer after 24 years.)"

Lee is a daughter of Myra Everette of Dardanelle, who is a special education teacher at Dardanelle High School, and Bobby Everette of Nashville. Lee and her husband, Roy, have been married for three years.

◊Anita Witt, who is a 1987 graduate of Dardanelle High School and a licensed cosmetologist. She attended Arkansas Tech University and studied child development working with special needs children. At Dardanelle Middle School, she assists the special education teacher who has seven students in a self-contained classroom.

She and her husband, Jimmy Witt, have two children, Jesse, 6, and Parker 11, both students in the Dardanelle School District. She is a daughter of James and Bonnie Keys, also of Dardanelle.