This week's Staff Shoutout, Christy Sanders!
about 9 hours ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
Graphic Title: STAFF Spotlight Featured Staff Member: Christy Sanders, Food Service Department. Visual Description: The graphic has a dark gray background with faint, chalk-style illustrations of kitchen and food items. It is decorated with scattered gold stars and a circular portrait of Christy Sanders. Christy is a woman with short dark hair and glasses, wearing a dark graphic t-shirt and holding a large bouquet of yellow roses. Text Content: "We are proud to feature Christy Sanders from the Food Service department as this week’s Staff Spotlight! Christy is the first to arrive each morning, bringing a servant’s heart and a joyful spirit to the VBR1 cafeteria. Known for her deep care for every student, she masters the 'little things' that make a big difference—whether it’s remembering a specific 'no gravy' request or taking the extra time to cut a student's pizza into bite-sized pieces. Her coworkers know her as a dedicated team player who is always ready to jump in and help wherever she is needed. Christy doesn't just serve meals; she serves kindness and joy to our entire district. We are lucky to have her on our team!"
THANK YOU to the community members who signed up to be a part of our Bulldog Ambassador Program! 🐾 We loved having you in our building and hope you were able to see firsthand the incredible things happening in our junior high and high school. From our hardworking students to our dedicated staff, there is so much to be proud of and we are grateful you took the time to experience it. Your support means everything as we continue building a place where students want to be and where great things are happening every day. 🐾
4 days ago, Jamie Lewis
Bulldog Academy members
This week's Staff Spotlight, Cheryl Taylor!
8 days ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
Staff Spotlight: Cheryl Taylor. A chalkboard-style graphic featuring a circular portrait of Cheryl Taylor, a smiling woman with glasses and long dark hair, wearing a light purple shirt with a smiley face. The graphic includes a grey bulldog mascot, hand-drawn lightbulb and sun illustrations, and a "Teacher Proud" logo. Text reads: "We are incredibly proud to shine a light on Cheryl Taylor, a dedicated Paraprofessional in grades 4-6. Cheryl is the ultimate team player, doing whatever is necessary to ensure the classroom runs smoothly and every student feels supported. Her fun-loving personality and infectious sense of humor bring a unique joy to our halls, making others laugh even on the busiest of days. Students truly adore her, and her constant willingness to lend a hand wherever she is needed makes her an invaluable asset to our building. We are truly blessed to have Cheryl’s heart and hard work in our district!"
🏀 BIG night for Bulldog Nation! 🐾 Congratulations to Hayes Townsley on reaching an incredible milestone — 1,500 career points! 🔥 To make it even sweeter, the Bulldogs have clinched the BSC Regular Season Championship! 🏆 So proud of this team and everything they’ve accomplished this season! Keep working, stay hungry, and let’s finish strong!
8 days ago, Jamie Lewis
Hayes Townsley and Varsity Bulldog team!
This week's Staff Spotlight, Ms. Jenny!
14 days ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
Visual Elements: A bright, celebratory graphic with a white background decorated with yellow stars and light yellow polka dots. A circular "Teacher Proud" logo is in the top left, and a gray bulldog mascot is centered on the left side. On the right, a portrait of a smiling woman with brown hair, Jenny Parrish, is framed in a scalloped yellow and black border. Text Content: Header: STAFF SPOTLIGHT - Jenny Parrish Introduction: We are incredibly proud to shine a light on Jenny Parrish, a dedicated Daycare Worker and our head Softball Coach! Body Text: Whether she is providing a nurturing environment for our littlest learners or pushing our student-athletes to excel on the softball field, Jenny’s hard-working spirit is unmatched. She even goes above and beyond to ensure our facilities stay clean and welcoming, proving there is no task too big or small for her to tackle. Her colleagues and students know her best for her deep kindness and the compassionate way she supports everyone around her. Closing: We are so lucky to have Jenny’s heart and energy in our schools!
This week's Staff Shoutout, Mr. Ronnie Womack!
20 days ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
Image Description: A graphic titled "Staff Spotlight: Ronnie Womack" featuring a winter-themed background with blue gradients and white snowflakes. On the right, there is a full-body photo of Ronnie, a high school custodian, standing professionally in a black shirt, jeans, and a baseball cap. The graphic includes the district's Bulldog mascot and a "Teacher Proud" emblem. Text in Image: "We are incredibly proud to recognize Ronnie, our dedicated High School Custodian, as this week’s Staff Spotlight! When winter weather hit our campus, Ronnie worked every day to ensure our sidewalks were clear of snow, sleet, and ice. From salting walkways to hours of shoveling, his proactive efforts played a vital role in keeping our students and staff safe during arrival and dismissal. Ronnie’s willingness to go above and beyond in challenging conditions truly embodies the spirit of our district. We are so grateful for his hard work and commitment to our school community. Thank you for all you do, Ronnie!"
We can't let this week pass without acknowledging our school counselors. Happy National School Counselor's Week!
20 days ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
📸 Image Description: National School Counselor’s Week Visual Overview: A vibrant, celebratory graphic for National School Counselor’s Week. The background features a colorful pattern of school-themed doodles like pencils, notebooks, and smiling faces. At the bottom left is a grey and gold bulldog mascot. Featured Staff Portraits: The top of the image shows three "Polaroid-style" photos hanging from a red string: Kory Ricker: RootEd Advisor (left) Jamie Lewis: High School Counselor (center) Serra McCabe & Deelaney Chilton: Community Healthcare Workers (right) Main Text Transcript: > SMALL SCHOOL, BIG HEART! A huge shoutout to our incredible Counseling Team—our High School Guidance Counselor, our RootEd Advisor, and our Community Healthcare Workers. In a small community like ours, you do it all! From navigating college apps and career paths to being a vital bridge for family resources and mental health support, you ensure no student is just a number. Thank you for providing the safe spaces, the "gentle nudges," and the tireless advocacy our students need to thrive. We are so lucky to have this powerhouse team in our corner!
Congrats to Aiden Helvey for completing 100% of his ALEKS topics for the year! ALEKS is a program that allows students to work on grade level math skills at their own pace!
21 days ago, Jamie Lewis
Aiden Helvey
🎉 Sr. Beta Calendar Fundraiser Winners! 🎉
Thank you to everyone who supported our Sr. Beta Club Calendar Fundraiser! 🐾
Congratulations to our winners:
🏆 Clint Mingl – Bulldog Blanket
👕 Kathy Ross – Bulldog Shirt
🎁 Janey Clark – $50 Amazon Gift Card
⛽ Van Black – $50 Gas Card
🎁 Kristen Chilton – $100 Amazon Gift Card
👏 Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you again for supporting Sr. Beta Club!
about 1 month ago, Melissa Allen
Help us Shoutout Ms. Katelyn Young, our AG/FFA Teacher! She has been awarded an Missouri Department of Conservation Grant to help with Hunter's Education Courses. Great job Ms. Young!
about 1 month ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
Light yellow background with bright yellow graphics. Teacher in rugged vest and hoodie, she is smiling. Includes words describing the Hunter Education grant.
Our Varsity Boys and Girls basketball teams along with our High School Cheerleaders had the opportunity to serve the community today. They partnered with First Assembly of God Church and Convoy of Hope to provide food to local churches.
about 1 month ago, Van Buren R-1 School District
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Congrats to Cole Pryor for completing 100% of his ALEKS topics for the year! ALEKS is a program that allows students to work on grade level math skills at their own pace!
about 1 month ago, Jamie Lewis
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This week's Staff Shoutout is Mrs. Jamie Lewis!
about 1 month ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
graphic with yellow and white boxes and geometric patterns.
This week's Staff Spotlight is on Nurse Delaney Hicks!
about 2 months ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
infographic grey background and light bursts, a picture of the nurse and discriptions.
Susan Jarrell of Van Buren High School Recognized as a 2025 McDonald’s Outstanding Educator!
about 2 months ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
informative press release includes a picture of teacher and McDonald's employee
Van Buren Junior High has recognized Kaylie Williams as the 8th grade Student of the Month for December. Kaylie is the daughter of Julie Cason and Joe Williams. Here are a few of the great things Kaylie's teachers had to say about her:

“Kaylie is so committed to her learning! She works so hard and asks great questions! She has a wonderful attitude.”

“Kaylie is always focused and puts consistent effort into her assignments. She works hard and that has been very evident this school year. She is always showing that she wants to learn and wants to keep improving. Awesome job, Kaylie!”

“Kaylie has been working extremely hard in class this year. She always turns in her work on time and has wonderful writing skills. Kaylie is always on task and helps those around her. Wonderful job, Kaylie!"
2 months ago, Jamie Lewis
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Van Buren Junior High has recognized Tori Chitwood as the 7th grade Student of the Month for December. Tori is the daughter of Tara Chitwood. Here are a few of the great things Tori’s teachers had to say about her:

“Tori has the best attitude! She works incredibly hard and truly cares about her work. Tori is a great friend to her peers and makes our school better.”

“Tori always brings a positive attitude into the classroom and puts forth her best effort on every assignment. She demonstrates strong leadership qualities in group work and is consistently participating in class activities. I love having her in class! Great job, Tori!”

“Tori is a hard working, intelligent, and positive student. She is always giving her best efforts with a smile on her face. She brings positivity everywhere she goes and is a joy to have in class. Great work, Tori!”

2 months ago, Jamie Lewis
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The VBHS Scholarship Foundation is accepting donations to continue their efforts in paying tuition fees for our students' dual credit courses.

2 months ago, Van Buren R-1 School District
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This week's Staff Spotlight is Mrs. Mackenzie Crowley!
2 months ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
infographic with yellow and grey dots, a bulldog mascot and picture of the teacher.
This week's Staff Shout Out is, Paraprofessional April Jacoby!
3 months ago, Van Buren R-1 Technology
December 9, 2025 Staff Shoutout infographic of April Jacoby and the statement "We are thrilled to shine this week’s Staff Spotlight on April, an exceptional Paraprofessional on our team! She is widely recognized as one of the most caring and helpful individuals in our building. No matter how busy the day becomes, April always makes time to support our teachers and students, bringing unmatched positivity to the classroom. Her kindness and steadfast reliability make a profound difference in our school community every single day. We are incredibly grateful to work alongside you, April--thank you for everything you do!"