The school year for the Mexico School District No. 59 gets officially underway on Aug. 24 and a few dozen new teachers are gearing up to bring their respective “A” games.

From veteran educators to rookies fresh out of college, the new crop of teachers has one thing in common: They are driven to bring a quality experience to their respective students for 2022-23.

Professional development days kick off Wednesday and will go for the next four school days before the teachers get prepped for opening day.

The Veteran

Justin Hamm is going to be the new librarian at Eugene Field elementary after spending the past nine years in the same position for the North Callaway School District. He worked for North Callaway for 17 years while living in Mexico during that time.

“There were a few different things involved (in the change),” Hamm said. “My wife taught in Mexico for a long time and her career goal was to be a gifted teacher – and she was a one in North Callaway for a while. That opening here and then there was a library opening so we saw it as a sign that it was time to make the move.

“I loved what I did at North Callaway, but I was stretched between four buildings and I always thought about how it would be awesome just to be in a single building where I can give 100 percent of myself to one group of kids at a time.”

Hamm’s goal is to make kids “excited” to be in a library to  make getting books in their hands “a lot easier.” He also wants to do anything he can to make sure kids have access to good books to read and personalize that experience.

“This has been a phenomenal transition,” Hamm said. “Everyone here has been super welcoming and everyone I’ve met has been really enthusiastic. There are a lot of systems and support in place for new teachers like me who have to learn a new system.

“I am really excited and now it’s time to meet some kids.”

The Newcomer

Fresh out of Truman State University, Bethany Thebeau heads to District No. 59 as a beginning teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School while working with fourth graders.

She grew up in Martinsburg so she is familiar with the area as she currently lives in Benton City with her husband.

Thebeau completed her student teaching at Montgomery City Elementary.

“I am really excited about it,” she said. “I attended Community R-6, so it’s kind of nice to meet new people and enter a new space, but still be from a familiar area.

“I really enjoy how close a small community is like where I went to school – I went to Clarksville. I am glad I can be a part of one in adulthood.”

Thebeau said her classroom approach focuses on building individual relationships with the students.

“If they don’t know that you care about them, then they will not tune into what you are saying and what you are trying to teach them,” Thebeau said. “My first approach is to get to know them, what they like and what interests them. Then I will set the expectations of them every day and classroom procedures really early so we can get all the ground basic things first and then move on and do all the academics and go strong throughout the year.”

Superintendent for District No. 59 Melissa Chastain said, “We are so excited to welcome our new teachers to the district. This week we have had an opportunity to get to know them and they are working hard to get ready for the start of the school year. We know that teachers matter more to student achievement than any other aspect of schooling and we are ready to support them. We are thrilled to welcome these new teachers to our Bulldog family.”