USD 234 board hires 2

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The USD 234 Board of Education approved two employments during a special meeting Tuesday.

Following a brief executive session, the board approved hiring Jared Martin as a physical education teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, and Kelsey DeMott as a paraeducator at Winfield Scott Elementary School for the 2011-12 school year.

Martin, a 2001 graduate of the University of Kansas, will replace B.J. Pruitt, who will step into the physical education teacher position at Fort Scott High School left vacant when Jeff DeLaTorre filled the open assistant principal position at the high school. Martin is licensed in K-12 physical education and is expected to complete a master's degree in special education from Pittsburg State University next May. He currently works as a special education teacher at Pleasanton High School, according to information provided at the board meeting.

DeMott will fill a new paraeducator position at Winfield Scott, created recently due to the needs of the special education population at the school. DeMott fulfilled duties as a paraeducator at the school during the last several months of the 2010-11 school year while on contract as an ARRA aide (funded by federal stimulus money), the information said.

The special meeting was called due to the need for the board to consider the employments before the next regular board meeting on July 11, USD 234 Business Manager Tiffany Forester said.

"We needed to get it done prior to the next meeting," she said.

After approving the employments, the board adjourned.