Dexter, Missouri - Eleven Dexter educators representing nearly 300 years i the field of education were honored at the annual Retirement Tea on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Dexter School Board vice President Herman Morse, a retired educator and administrator, presented the honors at the Bearcat Event Center.
Honored were Loretta Morrow, Regina Mick, Elizabeth Spratt, Rhonda Lane, Michelle Kirkley, Linda Hill, Jennifer Miller, Derek Urhahn, Judy Patterson, Tracy Elfrink and Melanie Stoelting.
Mrs. Loretta Morrow graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1991 with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
She received her Master’s Degree from Southwest Baptist College in 1995.
She has spent her entire career as an Aide, Kindergarten classroom teacher and Kindergarten Title Resource in the halls of Southwest Elementary, providing a quality education to all her students.
Of the 11 retirees honored this year, she carries the greatest number of years in education, retiring after 31 years in the field.
Dexter, Missouri - Eleven Dexter educators representing nearly 300 years i the field of education were honored at the annual Retirement Tea on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Dexter School Board vice President Herman Morse, a retired educator and administrator, presented the honors at the Bearcat Event Center.
Honored were Loretta Morrow, Regina Mick, Elizabeth Spratt, Rhonda Lane, Michelle Kirkley, Linda Hill, Jennifer Miller, Derek Urhahn, Judy Patterson, Tracy Elfrink and Melanie Stoelting.
Mrs. Judy Patterson graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1987 with a B.S. in Art Education and a minor in History.
She then received her Master’s in Counseling from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000.
She is retiring with 29 career years in education.
She began her career in 1988 teaching Art at Richland High School. From there she spent 6 years at New Madrid as the High School Art teacher, and was then hired at Poplar Bluff Jr. High as Counselor for 2 years before coming to Dexter.
She has spent her last 17 years at Dexter as High School Counselor, and 16 years as prom and project prom coordinator.
Dexter, Missouri - Eleven Dexter educators representing nearly 300 years i the field of education were honored at the annual Retirement Tea on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Dexter School Board vice President Herman Morse, a retired educator and administrator, presented the honors at the Bearcat Event Center.
Honored were Loretta Morrow, Regina Mick, Elizabeth Spratt, Rhonda Lane, Michelle Kirkley, Linda Hill, Jennifer Miller, Derek Urhahn, Judy Patterson, Tracy Elfrink and Melanie Stoelting.
Mrs. Melanie Stoelting began working in the district as a substitute teacher.
In 1995, she was hired as a Learning Disability Aide at Southwest Elementary.
In 1997, she became a Parent Educator for the Parents As Teachers program and in 2004, she was named Coordinator for the program.
In 2013, she was awarded Educator of the Year by the Dexter Chamber of Commerce.
She has served as the P.A.T. consultant for the National Center of Parents as Teachers & the Department of Education & Secondary Education (DESE).
Dexter has the largest P.A.T program in Southeast Missouri.
Mrs. Stoelting is retiring with 22 years of service with the Dexter Public Schools.
Dexter, Missouri - Eleven Dexter educators representing nearly 300 years i the field of education were honored at the annual Retirement Tea on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Dexter School Board vice President Herman Morse, a retired educator and administrator, presented the honors at the Bearcat Event Center.
Honored were Loretta Morrow, Regina Mick, Elizabeth Spratt, Rhonda Lane, Michelle Kirkley, Linda Hill, Jennifer Miller, Derek Urhahn, Judy Patterson, Tracy Elfrink and Melanie Stoelting.
Mrs. Elizabeth Spratt was hired in 1993 as an Aide at Central Elementary.
After 4 years at Central, for health reasons, she took a leave of absence.
In 1997, she was rehired to work at T.S. Hill Middle School as an Aide, where she will retire with 24 years of service to the Dexter Public Schools
Dexter, Missouri - Eleven Dexter educators representing nearly 300 years i the field of education were honored at the annual Retirement Tea on Thursday, May 4, 2017.
Dexter School Board vice President Herman Morse, a retired educator and administrator, presented the honors at the Bearcat Event Center.
Honored were Loretta Morrow, Regina Mick, Elizabeth Spratt, Rhonda Lane, Michelle Kirkley, Linda Hill, Jennifer Miller, Derek Urhahn, Judy Patterson, Tracy Elfrink and Melanie Stoelting.
Mr. Urhahn graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1987 with a degree in Education.
He received his Master’s degree in 1998 and his Specialist degree in 2007 from Southeast Missouri State University.
He began his teaching career in 1987, with the Zalma R-V School District, teaching PE and Health.
Mr. Urhahn also taught, coached, and served as Athletic Director at Scott City, Oak Ridge, and Advance.
In 1990, Leopold R-III School District hired Mr. Urhahn as Principal, he then became Superintendent of the district in 2005.
Mr. Urhahn was hired in 2012, as the Assistant Principal at Dexter High School as well as the Athletic Director. He came to the Dexter School District with many years of teaching and administrative experience.
Mr. Urhahn is retiring with 30 career years in education.
