Ozark Tiger E-News

The Ozark Board of Education, at its Jan.18 meeting, voted to hire Justin Peery as the Finley River School principal for the 2024-25 school year.

Peery has been teaching for over 20 years, but joined Ozark School District in 2013. He taught English at Ozark High School until 2019, when he moved to teach at Finley River School where he has been teaching ever since. He also serves the district as an assistant coach for football and the head coach of boys golf.

“With over 23 years of service, more than half of which have been with Ozark School District, I am excited for this new chapter in my career,” he said. “There are great things happening at Finley River School, and I am excited to lead and help ensure those things continue in the future.”

Read the full release here.

The Ozark Board of Education, at its Jan. 18 meeting, voted to hire Dr. Kendra Scott as the South Elementary principal for the 2024-25 school year.

Scott is currently serving as the assistant principal at Cedar Ridge Elementary in the Branson School District. Before becoming an administrator, Scott served as a process coordinator and high school special education teacher.

“With a steadfast commitment to fostering a climate and culture that wholeheartedly supports student growth and success, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the educational community at Ozark South Elementary,” she said. “Aspiring to lead a building has been a goal of mine, one driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and educators alike.”

Read the full release here.

Ozark School District is hosting its first-ever We Are Ozark Hiring Event and you are invited! The District has open positions in all departments from educators to custodians and nutrition services. The hiring event — slated 6 - 8 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Ozark Innovation Center, 1600 W. Jackson St. — will be an opportunity for prospective employees to meet current staff and supervisors, ask questions, fill out an application and even interview.

The come-and-go event is designed to offer prospective employees an easy way to see if Ozark may be a good fit. Light snacks will be provided.

Shhhhh … these West Elementary students have a secret. But you’ll have to watch the video to learn what it is!

Here are some hints:

• It’s really fun!

• It’s helping them learn to read!

• It’s helping them learn to write!

• It’s helping them make connections in the classroom!

Read the full release here.

We love seeing how innovative and creative our students are!

East kindergarten student Nahua is proposing that we, Ozark School District, have helicopter buses that would lower a harness at each house to pick up the kids and take them to school. This would help everyone avoid the hazardous, slick road conditions, and we wouldn't have to miss school for bad weather! Obviously, each school would need a helipad.

We think this is an amazing idea, Nahua!

North students were "snow" happy to be back in school! Kindergartners and first graders were excited to keep working on their snowflake lesson in art!

Congratulations to Coach Tricia Smith for being named Missouri High School Volleyball Coaches Association - Middle/Junior High School Coach of the Year.

Coach Smith, who teaches at OHS, coaches OJH's eighth grade volleyball team and has for seven years. This season her team had a record of 15-1-1, were COC Champions and COC Tournament Champions.

Thanks for all you do Coach Smith! Go Tigers!

A big thank you to Cassidy United Methodist Church, as well as Ozark administrators, SROs, Social Workers, PAT, and Board Members for uniting to pack and deliver over 300 food bags Thursday for Care to Learn Ozark. Your collective effort is truly appreciated!