Teachers
OHS Braces as 12 Teachers Depart at the End of the School Year
By Kylee McElmurry and Cooper Jiron
Pictures by the Growler and the Yearbook Staffs
5/17/24
OHS is sad to hear that 12 teachers from the district are leaving/retiring on the last day of school.
Here are what some teachers had to say about leaving and saying some wonderful things about their teaching careers and OHS.
Special Education Teacher LoriAnn Archuleta has been teaching here for 5 years. Archuleta has created so many memories with the time she has been here.
“Selecting a single standout memory proves to be a challenging task, given the multitude of remarkable experiences I have had at OHS. Throughout my time here, I have had the privilege of creating enduring memories alongside my colleagues, students, and athletes. The invaluable moments shared with these individuals have contributed significantly to my professional growth and personal fulfillment,” Archuleta said.
Archuleta will still be teaching but much farther away.
"My plan is to continue teaching Special Education and coaching wrestling in New Mexico,” Archuleta said.
Archuleta will always be proud of everything she has accomplished.
“One of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my career in education is the invaluable opportunity to witness breakthrough moments with my students. It is truly a profound privilege to see students achieve a deeper level of understanding and insight, as they make significant advancements in their academic journeys,” Archuleta said.
Archuleta loves how OHS has affected her life.
“Never did I anticipate that my professional journey would lead me to the field of education following my graduation from college. Fast forward five years, and I find myself fully immersed in my role, cherishing the opportunity to positively impact the lives of individuals through my work,” Archuleta said.
Archuleta has sad feelings for leaving OHS but she will be missed a lot.
“I am deeply saddened by the thought of leaving OHS. The bond I have formed with my colleagues, students, and athletes has been truly invaluable. The friendship and shared experiences at OHS have enriched my professional journey in ways that I will always hold dear,” Archuleta said.
OHS Science/Girls Soccer Coach Ashley Moses has not been at OHS for 1 year as a teacher and 2 as a coach, but has loved her time here.
Moses has made so many memories since being here at OHS-like dancing in the 12 Days of Christmas dance with her coworkers.
“I am working at a law office and planning to coach soccer with a different organization,” Moses said of her post OHS plans.
Moses is proud of herself and how much she has done for OHS.
“My proudest moment was getting told by multiple athletes how much they look up to me. That makes me feel loved and like I am making a difference!” Moses said. “OHS has placed amazing young people in my life that I will forever cherish and cheer for.”
Moses is going to miss her students and athletes and promises to come back and watch them succeed.
OHS Librarian Angie Sallee has been here the longest out of the staff leaving-13 years. Sallee will still be in her same position of librarian next year at University City High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sallee’s favorite moments from this year have been all about the Special Olympics and Student Council programs.
“My proudest moment has been earning National Banner Status for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools and being named MASC Advisor of the Year in 2024,” Sallee said.
Sallee feels good about her time at OHS and the impact it has had on her life.
“The opportunity to work at OHS for 13 years has impacted my life beyond measure. I have gained many lifelong friendships which I will carry with me into the next chapter of my life,” Sallee said. “I am deeply saddened to leave OHS, especially the students who are library dwellers and those involved in activities I supervise.”
OHS art teacher Amanda Smith has been a member of the OHS staff for two years. Smith has many favorite memories, especially with her bestie and co-worker, Micheia Gutierrez.
“I have a lot of favorite memories such as Christmas Assembly, NAHS Field Trips, but most of all working with my bestie Coach G!” Smith said.
Smith will not be teaching when she leaves, she will be doing something she has never really done before-sales and marketing.
Smith is very proud of her students that make amazing art for her.
“Anytime my students create an art piece and I can see how proud they are of themselves, it makes me extremely proud.” Smith said.
OHS has greatly impacted Smith’s life.
“I am an alumni, I met my husband at OHS, my absolute best friends, it reconnected me to Coach G, I have been able to impact the youth of my community, and so much more,” Smith said.
Smith is very sad to leave her students and all they have done for her.
“I am a little sad because I will miss the students so much, but I am also proud of myself for taking a risk to try something new that I know will benefit my family and I. Once A Bulldog, Always A Bulldog!” Smith said.
OHS Band Director Derek Twombly has been a part of the band program for the last six years.
Twombly has loved everything about the band from Friday nights at football games to endless band competitions on Saturdays. Twombly is leaving to assume the role of head principal at Lone Jack High School next year.
Twombly will miss, “building relationships with students, and watching them succeed.”
Twombly described leaving as, “Bitter-Sweet. I really love my job here. The kids, parents, and staff are amazing. I am really going to miss everyone very much. I am excited for my new opportunity and the possibilities it opens up for me and my family,” Twombly said.
OHS Math Teacher/Head Tennis Coach Paul Klene hasn't been here for long, but glad to be a part of OHS.
“Coaching Tennis and making friends with faculty and students,” were some of Klene’s fondest memories from his year at OHS.
Klene will be teaching in Belton next year, but memories of tennis and track success as well as “seeing kids’ eyes light up when they have learned something challenging,” will stay with him.
“[I have] Great respect for the school and the community here,” Klene said.
OHS Drama/Theater Teacher Micheal Brown has also been here only one year He was glad to make many memories in that time.
“Getting to know and work with all the different students here at OHS. Through classes or Speech, Debate, and Seussical,” were highlights for Brown. He also enjoyed sharing qualifying for state with his Speech and Debate students.
Brown is having some family issues currently so he has a good reason why he is leaving.
“To take care of my mom and help her with her cancer treatments,” Brown said.
Brown’s life at OHS has had a huge impact on him.
“It has left me with many more meaningful memories and new friends and colleagues,” Brown said.
OHS Special Education Teacher/Head Boys Basketball and Soccer Coach Micah Lewis has worked at OHS for 3 years. .
“I would say my favorite memory was watching our players celebrating the district championship in 2023 and all of the embraces that came with that,” Lewis said when asked of his favorite memory. He also has a lot of proud moments with students including seeing students he has worked with receive their diplomas.
Teaching at OHS has taught Lewis many things.
“I think in a lot of ways I became a better father, a better educator and a better person. The amount of community support that my family received in my time here is greatly appreciated,” Lewis said.
Lewis is very sad to leave teaching and coaching basketball, but he thinks it is best for him and his family.
Lewis will be focusing on “time with my kids and seeing where the next chapter takes our little family,” moving forward.
OHS is very sad that we have these teachers leaving, but we are wishing them the best in all that they do in their careers.
OHS STAFF TAKES ON VALENTINE'S DAY
By Emma Jones
Photos by Emma Jones; edited by Growler Staff
2/14/24
Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the OHS staff each have various plans.
Jessica Wade, marketing teacher does not have much planned but will “probably eat crab legs or something her whole family likes at home.” Wade plans to have a night in because restaurants are too busy on weeknights.
While Adrine Cole, biology teacher, has a heartwarming tradition to continue.
“I always order a heart shaped pizza with my girls and we watch movies. It’s our tradition,” Cole said.
Crisa Seals, business education teacher, had an early celebration due to both of her daughters having practices on Valentine’s Day.
”We went to Tuscanos in Buckner, and it was delicious. We also got my car washed in Grain Valley and then came back home to watch Oppenheimer in our newly updated home theater system,” Seals said. “Not too thrilling but at least we got to get out without kiddos and watch a movie without waking up the youngest.”
Wendy Bross, choir instructor, will spend her day taking 12 choir students to Warrensburg to take part in the MRVC Conference Choir, where they will rehearse all day and perform later that evening.
“I guess you can say that I am giving all my Valentine's love to my students!” Bross said.
The recent Super Bowl win some teachers have had a recent change in plans. LoriAnn Archuleta, Head Girls Wrestling Coach, plans to attend the Chiefs parade before preparing her state team for their Super Bowl.
“I am going to the Chiefs parade to try to find the love of my life who I believe may play for the Kansas City Chiefs,” Archuleta said.
OHS Staff Team Takes An L
By Claire Fieth
Pictures by Gracie Harget
12/1/23
The OHS and OMS faculty teams battled until the end with the win for OMS a second year in a row.
Grant Wolfe, personal finance teacher at OHS, had one goal during the game.
“My only goal was to win,” Wolfe said. Sadly, he didn't succeed.
Derek Twombly and Ashely Moses, OHS staff members, also had goals during the game. “One get buckets. Two crush the competition. Three have fun! Neither of the first two things happened. I did have fun though!” Twombly said.
“Stay injury-free and make memories,” Moses said.
All of these teachers didn't really prepare before the game.
“I did not really prepare for the game. I shoot sometimes during basketball practice and I exercise regularly so I was in decent shape,” Wolfe said.
Twombly thought band would help him, but unfortunately it didn’t.
“Lots of band practice. Sadly, this did not help. No idea why,” Twombly said.
“I did not prepare at all. I was just ready to play and hopefully not embarrass myself,” Moses said.
Preparation or no, the staff had good reasons to participate in this year’s game.
“I played in the staff game to represent the High School and beat the middle school” Wolfe said.
Twombly played for the buckets and Moses just wanted to play for fun.
Even though all these teachers took a loss that day, they all made good memories.
“My favorite moment in the game was when Mr. Seals hit the half-court shot,” Wolfe said.
“My favorite part was getting out there and playing. Specifically, my favorite memory was when Coach Lewis jumped on Coach Doyle's shoulders on accident,” Moses said.
Walsh Wakes Up Students
By Cooper Jiron
11/30/23
Kyra Walsh, OHS Spanish I teacher, is one of many new teachers at OHS this year.
Despite being less than halfway through her first year at OHS she already has plans to start a culture club with another Spanish teacher, Brittany Brenner.
“It can kinda be whatever kids want to make out of it! Our first event we’re trying to come up with is to have culture club provide some treats for that, like some sort of Mexican hot chocolate and a baked good,” Walsh said.
Students seem to be less interested than she hoped.
“We're just trying to get the ball rolling, but at first when we tried to schedule a meeting no one showed up,” said Walsh.
Despite the setbacks, Walsh often tries to reach out to students in ways like this. Freshmen Conner Dawson and Zoey Bullock recounted
how she has a fun and energetic aura in the classroom and how she tries to make learning fun to encourage students to speak up in class.
Walsh says that she wants students to be as passionate about Spanish as she was when attending OHS. Walsh graduated in 2011.
“I want to keep students motivated - when a student shuts down and feels that it's all overwhelming and hard, that just makes it even harder. I just want to help them find motivation and enjoyment in the class,” Walsh said.
Walsh doesn't want to stop at just motivating students. She also has the goal of bolstering class sizes and the Spanish curriculum.
“My goal is to increase the class sizes. The norm is to do Spanish I and II and then quit you know? I would like to make it more like when I was here, where you would do Spanish I, II, III, and IV which was really cool.”
Walsh then reflected on her new experiences of being a teacher compared to a student at OHS.
“I like to say we're real ‘family-like’, as a staff we kinda operate like that. We all have each other's back and are there to support one another. I didn't see that as a student here but seeing that as an employee, it's eye-opening you know?”
Walsh tries to channel this familial care and familiarity to her students by showing that she is someone they can relate to and trust.
“I think the most important thing for a teacher is to be someone students can relate to and have a relationship with in a way that they feel that someone is there for them and that they’re supported - and by showing you’re a human too like when you go to a grocery store and a student is like ‘Ahh!’ like, yes I am a person.”
Regardless of the limitations and setbacks Walsh faces, she still tries to overcome them with enthusiasm and care.
The Culture Club still plans to provide treats for the cram sessions during finals week.
Shepherd Shakes Up OHS
Story by Cooper Jiron
Pictures by Emma Jones and Emma Musgrave
11/6/23
From Powerlifter to school sports coach to semi-professional football team owner, to high school principal, Robbie Shepherd’s journey to OHS is one that does not lack intrigue.
Shepherd is the 3rd new principal in the last 3 years at OHS. Despite being new to working at OHS, he is familiar with the community.
Shepherd grew up in Odessa and graduated from Odessa High School in 1998. Shepherd also isn't new to the principal position with 15 years of experience. “I was there (Osage Trails) for twelve years - before that, I was at Drexel, Missouri for three years, so I've been principal a long time, but I also taught five years before that,” Shepherd said.
During his time as a teacher, Shepherd coached and owned a semi-professional football team called the Independence Bulldogs. This eventually led to his first job as a principal.
“I needed a defensive [coach] and I called this guy. I never would've thought that he was a principal, but he was an elementary school principal at Drexel, Missouri and he said ‘Hey, we just fired our high school principal you should apply.’ I told him not interested in it but the next day the superintendent called me and convinced me to come down for an interview and halfway through she offered me the job and I was like ‘crap now what am I gonna do’,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd didn't expect to return to Odessa, saying, “When I moved away I thought I'd move away forever, so I never really expected to come back here.”
Even with the unexpected return, the transition from being at Osage to coming to Odessa was smooth. He expressed a greater sense of community compared to other school districts he has worked with. He also attributed the smoothness of the change to his assistant principal, activities director, and the student body.
One of the first problems Shepherd is having to combat is the air of distrust between faculty and students. “What I'm finding is that kids don't want to report anything, so we've had some kids who have been bullied, we've had kids who have dealt with harassment, and they won't tell me,” Shepherd said.
He elaborated on this saying parents have come to him upset and he is unaware there is a situation. “I'm good at my job, but not that good. I have to know about it to fix it,” Shepherd said.
Shepherd has tried to console this issue by cultivating a better environment for the staff, hoping it would create a better environment for students as well.
Shepherd said, “I think it starts with having a group of teachers who want to be here, a group of teachers that are here for the kids. I think if you guys feel supported and safe that helps you achieve more.”
“My wife’s a teacher, I know how much money she spends on stuff. I don't want my teachers doing that. I want to be able to buy it for them. I want to be able to support them completely, so they can be their individual self and make an impact that way,” Shepherd said.
He continued by commenting on his student side of support by appearing in the weight room, choir, PE, and other classes and trying to be visible to break the trend of office staff being cut off from students.
Shepherd's daughter, Avery Shepherd, a freshman at OHS, commented on some of these trips to her own classroom, saying, “Sometimes I feel proud, but then he does stuff that makes me feel embarrassed. He comes to my classroom and is like ‘Hi Avery!’ and I'm like ‘Leave!’”
Shepherd has obviously made an impact with his presence at OHS with dozens of students having conversations with him in the hallways or faculty expressing gratitude and admiration for him.
This is especially present in Kaitlyn Grace, OHS Assistant Principal.
“He is kind, hard-working, and reliable. He's enthusiastic, patient, and calm in any situation! All in all, Mr. Shepherd is a wonderful leader and I can't wait to see all that he accomplishes here at OHS,” Grace said.
Recently, on October 27th, Shepherd was chosen as the MASC Trails West Administrator of the Year.
Mr. Van Hoecke starting at OHS
By Gracie Harget
Photos Courtesy of Kara Smith
11/9/23
OHS has a new social studies teacher in the building. Matthew Van Hoecke teaches American history, psychology, and sociology.
Van Hoecke started taking history and psychology classes in college to fill his credits. He started to find these classes interesting and his curiosity grew. “People are interesting; the decisions we make impact not only ourselves but also everyone around us. Social studies investigates the causes and consequences of those actions,” Van Hoecke said.
Van Hoecke started his teaching career while in college at Spokane High School in Springfield. He taught a semester of psychology and government and a semester of world history and psychology at Grain Valley High School.
Van Hoecke attended Missouri State University, located in Springfield, to become a teacher.
“I started teaching because I felt that I could make a difference in students’ lives - much like I had been positively impacted by teachers of my own,” Van Hoecke said.
He decided to go to Missouri State to be surrounded by a good atmosphere and people.
While at Missouri State University, he met and graduated with another new teacher, Kara Smith. Smith said in college Van Hoecke was a good student and an awesome peer to work with.
“I knew that we could always work together on something and he would pull his weight,” Smith said.
It was a surprise when Smith found out they would be working together.
“I was excited because I knew someone I would be working with,” Smith said.
Smith and Van Hoecke have had a lot of history together.
“Mr. Van Hoecke and I went to college together, student-taught together, and now work with one another. I love working with Mr. Van Hoecke because he has great ideas and I know I can always rely on him for input. As 1st year teachers, it’s great to have someone I already know and trust,” Smith said.
Grace Takes On Administration
Kaitlyn Grace started her first year as Odessa High School Vice Principal on August 23rd of this year.
Grace has been in the education world for 6 years. She taught English for 4 years at Concordia and 2 years at Osage Trail. Grace got into education because she was inspired by her own teachers.
“I had some really great teachers that stepped up when they didn’t necessarily have to as a little kid. “So I thought you know as I got older maybe I could turn around and do that.” Grace said.
Grace said she has found the hardest part of the job is not knowing every kid’s name and face like she used to. Her goal is to “learn as much as she can and get to know the kids that she doesn’t see inside her office.”
Grace is excited to see all kids involved in activities and sports succeed.
“It goes beyond sports here, DECA is great, FBLA is great, all of the activities going on are really competitive.” Grace said. “I want to see all the kids involved with that do well.”
Grace is from Oak Grove and is not only familiar with the area, but has relatives from Odessa.
Story by Emma Jones
Previous Photo by Yearbook Staff