Bronaugh R-7 officials pick up state awards

Saturday, February 4, 2012
Bronaugh Superintendent Patricia Phillips, left, and kindergarten teacher Julie Fortner have won statewide awards for their work. Phillips has been with the district since 2000 and Fortner since 1999.

BRONAUGH -- The Missouri Association of Rural Education has chosen two Bronaugh educators, Superintendent Patricia Phillips and kindergarten teacher Julie Fortner, to receive its "Administrator of the Year" and "Educator of the Year" awards at MARE's Annual Meeting Feb. 24 at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark.

Phillips is a Hutchinson, Kan., native who has been superintendent since 2001 and Fortner is a Nevadan who has taught here for 18 years.

Phillips said her job is highly varied with responsibilities for buildings and grounds, transportation, food service, staff, paraprofessionals, public relations, parents, teachers and students. "The most important thing is dealing with the teachers and kids," she said Thursday.

"I'm totally excited about the MARE award. It's wonderful to be named, but it's a little ironic in a year when the school board has decided not to rehire me or my principal, Bryan McArthur."

Phillips was asked if the board's December and January decisions about her and McArthur were related to charges filed in November against former school counselor Lori Layher for alleged sexual misconduct with students. "I don't know," she said.

"They gave us no reasons except that they wanted a change."

Phillips graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1980, took a bachelor of arts in biology at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, a master's in secondary education at Drury University and a specialist's degree in educational administration at Missouri State University in Springfield. She will finish a doctorate in education at the University of Missouri in August.

Phillips taught science at Pierce City for 14 years, came to Bronaugh as principal in 2000 and was appointed superintendent the next year. She said she did not yet know what she will be doing this fall.

"My main focus is always on the students and what's best for them to achieve their highest learning potential," said Phillips. "Administrators are there to serve the district with anything from dealing with finances to everyday things with teachers and students. You're a servant to the school who wears a lot of different hats."

A 1981 Nevada High School graduate, Fortner earned a 1985 bachelor's degree in elementary education and early childhood development at Missouri State. She taught special education, pre-school and kindergarten at Schell City, Walker, Bronaugh and St. Mary's School in Nevada before returning to Bronaugh in 1999. Her maiden name was Austin.

Fortner also runs the after-school program here and is coordinator and director of the R-7 District's character education curriculum. She and her younger sister, Butler teacher Joyce Ryan, head Crowder College's Upward Bound program for prospective college students each summer in Neosho.

Fortner and her husband Mike, a farmer, live in Richards. Their children are Mandy Stark, who teaches second grade in Bronaugh, and 13-year-old Austin. "Kindergartners are fun because they listen to what you say," Fortner said.

"If they don't have pre-school, kindergarten is their first chance at being in the educational system. The teacher sets the tone for the rest of their lives for learning. My job is to teach academics and social and character skills so that when they go out into the world, they'll make a positive difference and become contributing members of society.

"The longer I teach, the more I realize it has everything to do with building lifelong relationships and caring about those you interact with every day, students, parents, staff and members of this community."