Springfield Community

Springfield Community
Puts Kids First
Education is about the whole child. A child’s capacity to learn is dependent on many things, including
their health and wellness; both physical and mental.
Every year I am amazed and grateful for this community’s capacity to help us attain our goals of student
preparation, effective use of resources and teacher support. Our community’s support of the whole child
is seen in partnerships similar to Burrell Behavioral Health, that help our students and families with mental
health issues and support our counselors when those issues affect learning. Additionally, our partnership
with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile does more than just correct dental problems, it boosts our students’
self-esteem and impacts their learning and social skills.
It’s with great pride that we acknowledge community support that is critical to our students’ success. This insert introduces
you to a variety of partnerships. Some of our partners have greatly expanded their support. Mercy, Discovery Center, The
Hamels Foundation and Missouri State University have been partners with SPS for many years. Each organization made the
decision to take their partnerships to the next level with our Choice & Innovation programs. These programs will greatly impact
student preparation and the skill sets our students have when they graduate and enter higher education or the workforce.
Preparing students for the workforce is one of the areas I’ve focused on during my time at Springfield Public Schools. However,
our students cannot reach their full potential unless their basic needs are met. Partnerships provide much-needed assistance
to students, enriching their lives by meeting their needs in and out of the classroom. It’s through these programs and countless
other site-based initiatives that we continue to ensure that learning is personal at SPS.
This community has stepped up time and again to help our students, teachers and school communities thrive. A community
that supports its kids is truly a blessed and healthy community. For more information on how you can become a partner with
Springfield Public Schools, contact Lisa Langley in our Communications office, 417-523-0044.
Warm regards,
Norm Ridder, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Community provides hope, help for students
struggling with mental health
Funds made available by 2013 levy bolstered partnership with Burrell Behavioral Health
Community support of the 20-cent operating levy
increase requested by Springfield Public Schools in April
2013 directly impacted school communities. The funding
increase made it possible for SPS to hire five schoolbased clinicians (SBCs) through a working partnership
with Burrell Behavioral Health.
“I am very thankful for the levy
increase and additional funding for
school-based clinicians, as they
make a direct impact on the needs
of students and their families,”
said Dr. Scott Morrison, Twain
Elementary School counselor.
SBCs are trained mental-health
therapists who work with students
and families in the school or home
setting. Students who are currently
not receiving mental health services
and are having behavioral issues
that negatively impact their learning
or classroom environment can be referred to an SBC.
Such behaviors can include violence or aggression, low
academic achievement, disruptive classroom behavior,
difficulties at home, multiple disciplinary referrals,
truancy, anxiety, depression or trauma.
“Burrell takes on the role of the actual clinician and
all involved with regards to HIPAA, liability, professional
licensure and other matters involved with master’s
level licensed counselors,” said Rhonda Mammen,
SPS manager of counseling services. “So, the SBC is
employed by Burrell, but housed within Springfield Public
Schools.”
The program began accepting referrals in November
2013, with one SBC assigned to each high school feeder
pattern. In the first two months, there were 171 referrals
to Burrell. After just four months of the partnership, two
of the clinicians had to place holds on referrals because
they were at capacity.
“It’s comforting to know that school counselors
have an immediate resource that can meet family
and individual needs in a way that school counselors
alone are not able to do,” said Morrison. “The
parents I have contacted prior to referring a student
to the SBC have been
very thankful–thankful for
contacting them, thankful
for the help, and thankful
for caring. This first year
has been a very beneficial
partnership that I hope will
be expanded to further meet
basic human needs so our
students can then be free
to grow academically and
socially.”
Impact of 2013 Levy
• Increased counseling support at 15 schools, including seven that now have full-time counselors
• Eight schools now have a full-time nurse
• Five new site-based clinicians to provide mental health support on site • 20 behavior interventionists at Title I schools to address student behavior
• More teachers to address growing enrollment
Partners in Education
The following businesses and organizations made a year-long commitment to assist school sites and the district in meeting our goals of
student preparation, effective use of resources and teacher support. Their efforts fill many needs that might otherwise go unmet. Springfield
Public Schools thanks each partner for their support.
417-APP
Antioch United Methodist Church
Askinosie Chocolate
Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.
BancorpSouth
Bass Pro, LLC
Battlefield Lanes
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks
BKD, LLP
Boys and Girls Club of Springfield
Bryan University
Buzbee Dental
Campbell United Methodist Church
CASA of Southwest Missouri
Catalyst Springfield
Champion Athletes of the Ozarks
Chase Card Services
Chestnut Labs
Chick-fil-A Battlefield Mall
Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri
Christ Episcopal Church
City of Springfield - Department of Environmental Services
City Utilities
Club Z In-Home Tutoring Services
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks
Community Foundation of the Ozarks
Community Partnership of the Ozarks
Consumer Credit Counseling
of Springfield, Missouri Inc.
Culver’s
Discovery Center of Springfield
Domino’s Pizza
Drury University
Drury School of Education
and Child Development
East Grand Community Services
Educational Community Credit Union
El Mensajero
Empire Bank/Central Trust
Evangel University
Fazoli’s
Forgiven Full Service Salon
Foundation for Springfield Public Schools
Graceway Baptist Church
Great Southern Bank
Greene County Medical Society Alliance
Hamlin Memorial Baptist Church
Harman’s ATA Martial Arts
Help Give Hope
High Street Baptist Church
Hoover Music Company Inc.
HyVee
Intensive Reading Interventions
Jordan Valley Community Health Center
Juanita K. Hammons Hall
for the Performing Arts
Jumpin’ Joey’s
Kids Compassion
Kiwanis Club of Ozark Empire
KOLR/KOZL
Kraft Foods
KSMU
Little Caesars Pizza - Clotgott Enterprises
Martial Arts USA
McDonald’s/JDP Enterprises
West Sunshine
South Campbell
East Kingsley
West Republic Road
McDonald’s/Phil Stocker
North Glenstone
South Glenstone
West Battlefield
East Chestnut
South National
McDonald’s/K-2, K-44
West Kearney
North Kansas
Med-Pay Inc.
Mercy Health, Springfield Communities
Messiah Lutheran Church
Metropolitan National Bank
Missouri State University, Career Center
Modern Woodmen of America
National Heights Baptist Church
North Bridge Church
North Springfield Betterment Association
Oak Grove Assembly of God
OneSolePurpose
O’Reilly Automotive
Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Ozarks Community Hospital
Ozarks Literacy Council
Ozarks Regional YMCA
Palen Music Center
Papa John’s Pizza
Penmac Staffing
Praise Assembly
Pregnancy Care Center
Professional Answering Service Inc.
Ridgecrest Baptist Church
Rotary Club of Springfield Metro
RSVP Reading Buddy Program
Schweitzer United Methodist Church
Second Baptist Church
Seminole Baptist Temple
Simmons First National Bank
Southminster Presbyterian Church
Southwest Twisters Youth Wrestling/
Springfield Youth Wrestling
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Springfield Council of PTAs
Springfield-Greene County Library District
Brentwood Branch
Midtown Carnegie Branch
The Library Center
The Library Station
Springfield Host Lions Club
Springfield Little Theatre
Springfield Music
Springfield News-Leader
Springfield Regional Arts Council
Springfield Urban Agriculture Coalition
Springfield Victory Mission
Springfield’s Best
Sycamore Baptist Church
The Bank of Missouri
The Hamels Foundation
The Schneider Family Foundation
The Waterford at Ironbridge
Trading Hands Kids Sale of Springfield
Wesley United Methodist Church
Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Wish I May
Wonders of Wildlife
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
2013 SPS Hall of Fame Sponsors
The Hall of Fame honors outstanding Springfield Public Schools graduates who have achieved success in their personal or
professional endeavors. Inductees are nominated by the public and chosen by a selection committee.
Presenting Sponsorship
Platinum Sponsorship
Partners in Education Sponsorships
Children’s Choirs of Southwest Missouri
Christ Episcopal Church
City of Springfield – Department of Environmental Services
Evangel University
Gold Sponsorships
Silver Sponsorship
Fazoli’s
Greene County Medical Society Alliance
Pregnancy Care Center
Seminole Baptist Church
Southminster Presbyterian Church
Bronze Sponsorships
Bull’s Trophy
Ellis, Ellis, Hammons & Johnson, PC
Esterly Schneider & Associates Inc.
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
The Hamels Foundation
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Special thanks to Liberty Press Printing
Healthy habits spread by word of mouth
The Tooth Truck provides much-needed dental care for SPS students
Except for the low hum of the
generator, the Ronald McDonald Care
Mobile, fondly known as the Tooth
Truck, resembles any other dentist
office with two full exam rooms and a
small waiting area. The friendliness
of full-time general dentist Dr. Sarah
Cimino and her two dental assistants
quickly puts visitors at ease.
Since 2003, the Tooth Truck has
been visiting Springfield Public
Schools. Currently, children ages 3-14
are served at 23 district sites. “The
Tooth Truck has been an invaluable
partner with our district. It removes
transportation barriers by bringing
dental services directly to the school
site so parents do not have to miss
work and students do not have to miss
school for dental care,” according
to Jean Grabeel, manager of health
services for students.
Mindy Munoz, program director for
the Tooth Truck, readily admits, “Our
program is dependent upon a few key
individuals: the school nurses who
identify and connect us with children term goal is to reach every child in
who would otherwise not have access need of dental services and, not only
to dental care, our amazing mechanics help them achieve a cavity-free smile,
and dental technicians who keep but provide them with the education
everything running properly, and our and encouragement to maintain that
community which funds and supports healthy smile,” said Munoz.
our program.”
To qualify for Tooth
A Tooth Truck visit
Truck services, students
includes more than
must be eligible for
dental care. “A lot of
free or reduced price
what we are able to
lunch, have no private
accomplish on the Tooth
insurance and not be
Truck isn’t just about
an established patient
repairing cavities. By
with a dentist.
A
giving these children
recent evaluation of
Dr. Sarah with student
one-on-one
attention
former patients found
and
oral
hygiene
that only 6 percent of
education, we are able to boost self- a randomly selected group had new
esteem and empower them with the decay approximately one year after
tools and knowledge to hopefully stay their initial treatments.
cavity free,” said Cimino.
If you would like more information
Recently, the Tooth Truck partnered about how you can help the Tooth
with Care to Learn to expand the in- Truck achieve its goals by volunteering
school Tooth Brushing Program aimed or donating, contact Mindy Munoz,
at teaching young children proper Tooth Truck program director, at
dental habits. “The Tooth Truck’s long- 417-875-3504.
Be prepared
Community partners help SPS outfit classrooms with emergency supplies
Over the last few years, several natural disasters have affected
The network of partners is asking the community to help by donating
school districts throughout the country, some resulting in personal through the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. A donation of
injury to students and staff. A network of partners is collaborating to $250 covers one classroom based on a 30 student occupancy rate. A
help Springfield Public Schools be prepared in case of a disaster.
donation of $5,000 could fully prepare one school.
The SPS Safety Committee has worked closely
“Preparedness reduces panic,” said Jean Grabeel,
with the American Red Cross Ready Rating program
manager of student health services. “This initiative
to evaluate emergency preparedness. The program
with the Red Cross and other partnering organizations
Network Partners:
is a free, self-guided assessment that immediately
is very unique. Having all of our sites equipped with
American Red Cross
provides an evaluation of the organization’s strengths
these safety kits will give our students, parents and
Foundation for Springfield Public Schools
and areas in need of improvement.
staff peace of mind.”
Greene County Office
of
A primary focus of improvement for SPS is
To donate, go to www.supportsps.org and
Emergency Management
equipping all sites with Teacher Preparedness Kits
designate your donation as “SPS Emergency
Springfield Area Chamber of and Student Safety Tubes. The Teacher Preparedness
Preparedness Initiative.” For more information, contact
Commerce
Kit is a large, red backpack filled with essential items
Terra Jeffres, community resilience coordinator for the
Springfield Council of PTAs
necessary in a disaster situation. The Student Safety
Southern Missouri Region of the American Red Cross,
SPS Partners in Education Tubes contain a water pouch, a blanket, face mask,
at 417-380-1148.
whistle and a light stick.
KOLR/KOZL named SPS 2013 Partner of the Year
A positive adult role model can be a powerful influence for 2013. The Partner of the Year award is presented at
in the life of a child. Employees at KOLR/KOZL volunteer the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools Donor
their time each week through the Partners in Education Appreciation Luncheon each August. In order to receive
program to support Reed Middle School students who the award, organizations must be registered as an official
might benefit from a mentor.
partner and be nominated by an SPS
Once a week, volunteers from KOLR/
employee. A committee selects the award
KOZL bring lunch to students and spend
recipient.
time just talking about what’s going on in
“It was a tremendous honor! Our focus
their lives. At the end of the semester, the
is on students and making sure they are
volunteers take them to lunch. “This is
successful in the classroom and thrive
often the only time many of our students get
once they’re in the community,” said Susan
to go to a nice, sit-down restaurant,” said
Waugh, KOLR/KOZL business manager.
Dr. Debbie Grega, Reed principal. “They
“We’re honored to have a chance to lead
Kneeling
is
Brad
Haller
also adopt families for the holidays, collect
by example and are humbled that others in
Left to right – Susan Waugh,
coats, hats and gloves for students, provide Melissa Stern, Dr. Debbie
the community also see the importance of
Grega,
Mickie
Stark
the nurse with hygiene items, participate
this program.”
in teacher appreciation activities and are
Springfield Public Schools appreciates
willing to assist in other ways, if possible.”
all of our partnerships and congratulates KOLR/KOZL for
These are the reasons Grega nominated KOLR/KOZL being named 2013 Partner of the Year.
to be Springfield Public Schools’ first Partner of the Year
Eighth-grade students to experience
health sciences in a Mercy classroom
50 students will gain hands-on experience within a hospital
For our students, the future is bright. Technology improvements and
expansions, an emphasis on medical research and a growing need
for trained professionals with both life and technical skills are expected
within the life span of our 25,000 students. The world is an everchanging classroom, and studies show the world of work our students
will enter will feature a huge increase of jobs in the medical field. That’s
why Springfield Public Schools’ partnership with Mercy Hospital is so
exciting.
Health care is one of Springfield’s largest employment sectors so
having a skilled workforce pool is critical to the community’s continued
growth.
New Choice & Innovation programs
Academy of Exploration, a partnership with Discovery Center of Springfield and The Hamels Foundation
Health Sciences Academy @ Mercy, a partnership with
Mercy Hospital Springfield
Quest @ GHS Startup @ The eFactory, a partnership with Missouri State University *
*Currently in development
“Mercy as a healthcare provider is dependent upon having a skilled
workforce to deliver the care and services we offer for our community,”
said Jay Guffey, senior vice president and chief operating officer, Mercy
Hospital Springfield. “By engaging in the education of students, it is our
hope and desire that we could begin to interest that next generation of
Mercy co-workers in the health care field.”
The Health Sciences Academy @ Mercy is a unique learning
opportunity for 50 eighth-grade students. Participants will spend a year
in innovative classroom facilities that will feature hands-on application
and exposure to the many careers in the field of health sciences.
Students will learn alongside medical professionals and passionate
teachers, while gaining the knowledge they need to be successful long
after high school.
“By starting with eighth-grade students, it was our thought that this
is a critical point before they begin their high school careers and begin
to make decisions about what they might do once they graduate,”
said Guffey. “We want to offer a place of learning that helps challenge
students and expand their horizons. SPS has been very innovative and
offers many opportunities. It’s our goal to help in an area we are good at
and offer something that makes a difference for our community.”