Clarkton school sysem welcomes new administrators

Harrison

The Clarkton C-4 School District is among just a few in the area that will start the school year with an entirely new administration. However, all the names and faces will be familiar to the district.

The district's new superintendent, Philip Harrison, is not new to the district at all, having served as Clarkton Elementary principal for the past two years. Nor is the new high school principal a stranger to its halls. Merlyn Johnson has taught social studies, along with some science and math, and coached baseball at Clarkton for the past three years.

And, although the new elementary principal has not been officially connected to the Clarkton School system, as principal at the State School for the Severely Handicapped in Clarkton for the past three years, Doug Thornton has developed a good working relationship with the district's schools.

Johnson

Harrison, who was born and raised in Clarkton, graduated from Clarkton High School in 1991, earned a bachelor of science degree in education with social studies emphasis from Southeast Missouri State University in 1996, a master of arts degree in educational administration from Southeast in 2000 and a specialist's degree in education from Southeast this past May.

He and his wife, Tina, who teaches second grade at Clarkton, have two children, Sarah, a second grader in Miss Campbell's class and Philip, who is in preschool.

Harrison taught for one year in the Woodland R-IV School District while working on his master's before returning to the area. He taught social studies at Gideon High School for four years before he became elementary principal at Clarkton. He now fills the position vacated by Rick Gore, who resigned to become superintendent at Holcomb.

Thornton

The only changes Harrison foresees in his new role are ones that would accommodate his leadership style, he said.

Having administered in the district, Harrison said he is aware that there is good discipline.

"I have no concern about that. We have good families that support the school," he said.

One change students and parents should be immediately aware of is the new dress code (reprinted elsewhere in this newspaper).

Harrison also will continue instructional changes to accommodate state and federal programs.

"Schools need to reflect on what they are doing. Are they as effective as they should be? Are kids learning at the proper level?" he commented.

He added that school improvement demands by the state and federal government are not bad.

"They're extra work, but they make us reflect on what we are doing," Harrison said.

In his role as superintendent, Harrison wants to lead the district in increasing MAP scores. In addition, one of his biggest challenges, he said, was adapting to the foundation formula on which each district's funding is based.

"I'm caught in the middle on that," he said. "This year I've got to learn the existing formula and next year the new one will go into effect.

"I believe the changes will affect this district in a positive way. We're supposed to get more funding but we'll have to wait and see," he added.

Prior to his new job, Harrison served as federal programs director for the district and that experience, he believes, will serve him well. "It's a big chunk of the job. Federal programs are our most important source of funding, $400,000-$500,000, We have to meet special requirements to get that money. Understanding the requirements is the hardest part of the job.

"We also are starting out with a new accounting system," Harrison said about the adjustments he is making in his new position.

Harrison promises to remain in Clarkton and that, he said, will provide some continuity of leadership to the district.

"We've had four superintendents in four years," he said. "It's important that leadership remains stable. There's an adjustment phase every time a new administrator comes in and it's better to grow professional with the staff over the years."

Harrison believes his ties to the community may be among his greatest assets.

"People know me. I've worked with them all and relate strongly to the community," he stated. Harrison is a member of the Clarkton Historical Society and the Presbyterian Church.

Like Harrison, Johnson expressed great pride in the district and is looking forward to his new position as high school principal.

Born in LaMonte, Mo, near Sedalia, Johnson attended the LaMonte R-IV schools and earned a bachelor of science degree in education with emphasis in secondary education and history from Williams Baptist College in Walnut Ridge, Ark., in 1998. Before teaching in Missouri, he had a brief teaching experience in Arkansas which, he said, was eye-opening.

"At the age of 22, I taught GED classes at an Arkansas maximum security prison in Newport. It was my first teaching job and gave me a dose of reality," Johnson said. "It made me mature quickly as a teacher.

"I was green and naive, not knowing much and came out ready, equipped and confident I could succeed in public schools. The experience was good for me. It gave me the confidence to be a good teacher and coach," he said.

That experience, he believes, is the strength he brings to his new position. He said his reputation as a good teacher and disciplinarian has earned the respect of students and peers. However, Johnson admits he doesn't know everything and is willing to learn from others.

"I understand I will make mistakes. That can be a strength," he noted, "I know I don't always have the answer. That just wouldn't be feasible."

Johnson continued his education at Southeast, earning a master of arts degree in secondary administration in 2004 and has enrolled in fall classes towards earning a specialist's degree.

The transition from classroom teacher to administrator, he said, will be a challenge -- leading adults versus teaching students.

"Adults will challenge," he admitted. "But I'm lucky to have a great staff, people who are willing to work hard and be team players."

One area of challenge will be dealing with a budget. "I've never been part of that to a large degree," he said.

Johnson, who is single and lives in Dexter, said he has been coming in nearly everyday throughout the summer to familiarize himself with the new job. Hired in the spring, he also was able to work with former principal, Ed Sibenhuener, who Johnson described as "gracious and helpful." He also said he was "lucky to have Tammy" (Ferguson, the high school secretary).

"She alerts me to whatever I've missed," he said.

Johnson has taught a total of seven years. Prior to his three years at Clarkton, he spent two years in the Poplar Bluff School District, where he taught social studies and was the assistant baseball coach. He also spent two years at North Pemiscot serving as social studies teacher and baseball coach.

His thoughts about his new job:

"I just want to be a good principal. I'll still be with the kids, seeing them everyday, but it will be different from the classroom."

Thornton also is looking forward to serving as elementary principal. Although only on the job since July 27, he said he was able to work with Harrison, his predecessor, beforehand and believes his experience at the state school and the close working relationship it has had with the Clarkton schools helped in the board's decision making.

"I came from just down the road and that has helped smooth the transition," Thornton said.

Born and raised in Malden, he is the son of Wilbur Thornton and Ann Mosley. He is a '79 graduate of Malden High School, earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and, in 1997, received a master's degree in elementary administration from Southeast. He anticipates finishing work on a specialist's degree this fall. Thornton came back to Malden in 1983, where he taught mostly sixth grade for 10 years. Thornton also taught junior high at-risk students in Bloomfield for two years, served as assistant high school principal in the Perry County School District and elementary principal in the Scott County School District.

"I'm glad to have had that experience," he said, particularly noting Scott County where there were 520 students.

Of his most recent experience at the State School, Thornton said, "It gave me a good background on special education issues and laws. Every student there has an individual education program, he explained.

"It's black and white to make sure those needing extra services get them. It helps determine how each student learns," he said. "That would be a goal. I would like to see something similar by encouraging teamwork to develop the highest potential in each student here."

In addition to working with Harrison, Thornton said his previous experience as a principal has helped him so he doesn't have to "start from scratch." He also advocates Harrison's goal of wanting to build the best administrative team in the area.

"I'm glad to be part of that. Everyone here takes great pride in the school and that pleases me. We all want to make the district that best that it can be. Everyone has a really positive attitude," Thornton said.

Thornton readily admits he would like to stay at Clarkton until he retires, building a relationship with teachers, students and the community. He also knows he faces challenges ahead in doing just that.

"It will take time getting to know the system, the community, especially the parents, staff and students," he noted.

Thornton also wants to instill in each student "an early love for learning; a desire to achieve, motivation to do better and to see beyond their current situation."

"In this area, it's a matter of overcoming poverty," he continued. "So many have limited opportunities. I want to make learning the best possible experience for each and every student."

He believes his past experience as teacher and administrator has given him the compassion and ability to reach out and communicate with people of all economic levels.

Thornton and his wife, Debbie, live in Malden, where she has taught second grade for the past seven years. They have two children, Leah, who is going into the ninth grade at Malden High School and Wil, who will be a seventh grader at Malden Junior High.

If his name and face are familiar, it's because he appears regularly with the popular Rivermen Quartet, a gospel group based in Jackson. They sing together nearly every weekend, averaging 60 dates each year.

With both children active in sports and music (volleyball, softball, baseball and, this fall, junior high football, and Leah part of the Youth Praise band at their church), there is little time left for other activities.

"I really enjoy it, though. It's just going by too fast," Thornton commented.

Thornton, his wife and children are all active members of the Stokelan Drive Christian Church where they teach Bible and Sunday school classes.