STUCO presents to board on activities, accomplishments

By Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The Monett School Board held its last meeting of 2025 on Dec. 18, focusing on the future of teaching and childhood development.

The board held discussion on the district’s EDGE (Education, Development, Growth, and Excellence) leadership program as well as updates on the newly established Mater’s Program for instructors. 

The board talked about the continuing work on the EDGE leadership framework for administrators. The program was developed last summer in the hopes of supporting leadership consistency.

The program’s framework has a focus on “building trust through clarity and expectations, leading through challenges directly, maintaining emotional consistency, and modeling calm, steady leadership for staff” according to the school’s website. 

Administrators revisit the EDGE framework monthly, with an emphasis on reinforcing and developing specific leadership traits throughout the year.

The board also gave updates on the new master’s program that is set to help local staff advance their degrees. 

As presented in the November board meeting, The program is in partnership with Evangel University to allow the district to administer the course to 10 people every 18 months. 

“We will run them through a master’s program that we will teach,” Superintendent Mark Drake said. “When I say ‘we’ I mean anyone with a specialist or higher.”

Drake said through the program, the instructors would earn the degree with the agreement to work for the district for five years after the program completion.

The board reported that it has already received 18 applications for the first cohort and selected the 10 applicants to participate. 

All  applicants have been notified. Evangel University representatives visited on January 5 to meet with selected applicants.

The selection process included review by the PDC Leadership Committee, which ranked applicants anonymously before administrators reviewed feedback and finalized selections.

Classes for the first cohort will begin on Jan. 14 and will be held at the Central Office.

The board also heard from Student Council (STUCO) members about leadership opportunities for students as well as staff.  Student council representatives discussed attending a District STUCO meeting in Lebanon, where a guest speaker focused on confidence and leadership. Students shared that they were able to bring back ideas and strategies, especially around team building and engagement.

STUCO also highlighted several service and community-focused efforts, including donating 23 boxes of toys through Operation Christmas Child, hosting two blood drives, and supporting the Golden Age Dinner, which was shared as a successful event.

STUCO reported that student engagement has remained strong throughout the year, noting events including the Back-to-School Bash and Spike Wars.

Students also shared an unexpected update in student policy reporting that the no-phone law has had a positive impact on the student body, helping with focus, teamwork and participation during school activities and leadership events.

The next school board meeting will be held January 15. Monett School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Board Administrative Meeting Room located at the District Office.