Final Day of Summer School at HHE!
Several Mena High School teachers completed a three-day Google Certification Boot Camp on Thursday. The boot camp was led by Tyra Hobson, DMESC Instructional Technology Specialist. Those attending included Bernice Philpot, Colby Singleton & Jerusha Neufeld.
On Thursday at HHE we are practicing cleaning up the ocean from trash and oil, after reading about the famous ocean conservationist Jacques Cousteau
Mena FFA members have been at the Arkansas FFA World Explorer Leadership Camp. The members learned about different countries and the food insecurities there, participated in several team building outdoor activities, and are bringing back great leadership skills to our chapter, school, and community.
Several Mena High School students are in Chicago for the FBLA National Conference.
Wednesday was filled with shopping, a competition for Psalm and the Opening session where they unveiled the new FBLA logo.
The convention center is right on the lake so the views out the east side are gorgeous!
Nights in Chicago are busy and loud so we walked across the street from the hotel for Gelato and to a market for snacks.
Some had their (including me) first taste of authentic Chicago Deep Dish for dinner. The opinion was split on whether they liked the crust or not 🤷🏻♀️
Thursday was an all day conference day. Shantal and Briley competed andI worked competitions all morning. The girls attended workshops in their “spare” time. They learned about communication, the future of education, internships and Business Achievement Awards. Now headed to the hotel for a little rest then dinner at Hard Rock Cafe….YUM!!!
We are still tired from walking 15,000+ steps yesterday, have blisters on our feet and heels, saw a terrible wreck and had delayed and lost shuttle buses BUT it’s been a great experience and can’t wait to explore more Friday and Saturday and find out if our competitors placed
Mena School administrators are teaming up with our local Walmart for the annual “Tip the Tank,” a fundraising activity for the Arkansas Children’s Miracle Network. Pictured are Louise Durham Principal Curtis Black and Superintendent Dr. Lee Smith.
Please welcome COREY COLLINS to hi new position at Mena MIddle School!
Hello, my name is Corey Collins. I am the Head Jr. Boys Basketball Coach, Assistant Sr. Boys Basketball Coach, and Assistant Baseball Coach! I will also be teaching Middle School Health and P.E. I played at Williams Baptist University before transferring and graduating from Arkansas Tech University. I am a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard. I am getting married to my fiance, Ashton Andrews, in September of this year, and we are so excited to be a part of the Bearcat Family!
Please welcome STACY SALISBURY to the staff at Mena Public Schools !
Hello Bearcat Nation-
I am so happy to be a part of Mena Schools as your dyslexia specialist and coordinator of the dyslexia program at Mena Schools. I am a CALT or Certified Academic Language Therapist. I received my CALT training from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Texas at the Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders in 2007. I have been a dyslexia therapist for several school districts in Texarkana,Texas serving grades K-12. I started my teaching career in 1982 (graduating from Texas A&M- Texarkana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education) and have been a classroom teacher for grades 1st-6th until becoming a dyslexia therapist. I retired from teaching in Texas in 2017. After only being retired a few months, I returned part-time as a dyslexia therapist for Texas High School in Texarkana. I truly enjoy helping students overcome their dyslexic challenges and achieving their highest academic success.
My husband of 42 years, Dennis Salisbury, and I found your beautiful community about 4 years ago and bought property on Highway 8 West. We have been busy building our home here and finally Dennis has decided to retire! He has been a quality home builder in the Texarkana area building beautiful homes for over 30 years. I look forward to continuing my passion of helping dyslexic students and bringing my experience and knowledge of dyslexia to Mena Schools. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of Bearcat Nation!
Mena School Staff are wrapping up three days of professional development at the Arkansas School Counseling Association Conference in Hot Springs.
The history of Mena Public School Part 5:
Friday, June 10, 1949 will always be remembered as a very special day for Central School. This was Louise Durham Day for all the pupils. Teachers and community came together to honor Miss Louise Durham who was retiring from the Mena Schools after fifty-seven years in education. All students in grades seven through twelve were housed in the high school building. The enrollment in these grades had increased in number until the high school building was not large enough to care for the students without overcrowding. Mena Junior High School was organized in 1951. A new gymnasium was approved by district patrons and construction on the project was completed in 1958. In 1960-61 a much needed school auditorium was added to the high school building. In 1968 students first occupied a new cafeteria. The 1968-19 term was a time of change at Stillwell. The first four grades were all moved to Louise Durham School. Only fifth and sixth grade children attended Stillwell. In 1973, the district asked for a five-dollar-per-thousand tax increase to build a new high school. Following the completion of the high school project, the Mena District underwent a reorganization as a middle school was created and kindergarten was added to Louise Durham Elementary. This reorganization began in 1976. The middle school housed 6-8, and the high school housed 9-12. The Stillwell school remained until 1983. In the fall of that year, grades three, four, and five were moved to a new elementary facility that was named after Miss Holly Harshman who had served the Mena District 45 years as a teacher and elementary principal. In 1986 a total of 10 new classrooms plus a band room and athletic facility was built by the district to help meet new state standards. Two years later a new 2200 seat stadium was constructed to replace Boyd Stadium which was plagued by inadequate seating, restrooms, and lighting. The Mena District went from 1973 to 1991 without asking its patrons for a millage increase. However, In September of 1991 district patrons were asked to vote a two mill increase in order to bring the district into compliance with Arkansas Law. The two mills were approved by the people.
As of May. 2022, the Mena District has a present enrollment of 1696.. Louise Durham PreK-2 has 460, Holly Harshman has 368, Mena Middle School has 391, Mena High School has 463, Polk County Virtual Academy 14.
Hi! My name is Abigail Denton. I will be a Para for MMS Special Education/Self Contained. This is my first year being employed by the school district, but I have been a substitute with the schools since February! I was a substitute for LD SPED for the last 3 weeks of school this year and absolutely fell in love with it! My husband and I will be married a year in December and have been together for 4. We have 2 basset hounds that we adore! I'm so excited to begin my MPS journey!
Please welcome ANDREA BLAIR to the staff at Mena Public Schools!
My name is Andrea Blair and I am a family of four. My husband’s name is Jesse, daughter is Madison, and son Chandler. I graduated from Mena and so did my children. I have been in education 27 1/2 years which includes long term sub, special education para, high school and middle school math teacher, and currently a Special Education Teacher. My hobbies include watching my children and grandchildren playing sports, reading and being outdoors. I love spending time with my family. I am looking forward to being in my hometown teaching resource special education at Holly Harshman Elementary.
Summer School is COOL at Holly Harshman Elementary!! Making macarons, making slime, painting, reading about mermaids - can it get any better??
Please welcome CRYSTAL REED to our team at Mena Public Schools!
My name is Crystal Reed. I'm so excited to be a part of the Mena High School Special Education Department this next school year. I have been working with students with special needs for the past year. I've lived in Mena for 9 years and previously lived in Hot Springs. My family consists of my husband John, my children, Kennedy, Cameron, and Dennison, and my grandchildren, Hadlee and Ila. I enjoy reading and spending time outdoors in my free time. I look forward to my new position with the Mena High School.
Mrs. Teresa Torix and a group of her students are on their way to Chicago for the FBLA National Leadership Conference. Students from across Arkansas & around the country are attending.
https://fbla-nlc.org/
Please welcome REBECCA SPRAGUE to our team at Mena Public Schools !!!
My name is Rebecca Sprague and I’m excited to be joining the Louise Durham Elementary teaching team
as a special education teacher. I’ve taught in the general education kindergarten classroom, K-6 special
education, and early intervention settings for the past 14 years. My family of five enjoys spending time
outside camping, fishing, hunting, and baseball. I love to read, crochet, and spend time with my family. I
grew up on a farm outside of Mena and I look forward to giving back to a school district that provided
my K-12 foundation in education. I can’t wait to meet everyone and be a part of this thriving community
of educators, learners, families, and supporters.
Mena Counselors Delivered over 300 pounds of can tabs to the Arkansas School Counselors Summer Conference today. Tabs were donated this past school year to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Thank you to all who helped by donating!
Congratulations to Mena High School 2010 alumnus RYAN MATEJEK !
Mr. Ryan Matejek, a graduate of Arkansas Tech University, will join ATU as instructor of tuba this fall. He is currently completing his course work for a Doctorate of Musical Arts in tuba performance at Arizona State University. He also holds a Masters Degree in tuba performance from the University of Missouri.
The Mena Public Schools are happy to welcome JAMIE COPELIN to our staff at Louise Durham Elementary!
Hello everyone, my name is Jamie Copelin and I am so excited to be joining Mena Public Schools. My husband and I are long time Mena residents and Bearcat fans! We have a son in college, twins in 4th grade, and a mini poodle fur baby that is very spoiled and likes to travel with us. I keep myself busy with a love of crafts, camping with the family, and whatever new adventure is on our calendar. I am very blessed to be living in a community where my children can grow and learn good values and character. I have spent many years working with children either in school or church and look forward to continuing that passion at Louise Durham Elementary.
The Mena Public Schools are pleased to welcome AVANLEA CHANEY to our staff for 2022/2023 !
Hi my name is Avanlea Chaney. I will be joining Louise Durham Elementary this upcoming school year as the new School Counselor. I grew up in Mena, AR and recently moved back after being in Conway, AR for five years. My husband, David and I bought our first home and are excited to be back! I graduated in 2019 from the University of Central Arkansas with my bachelor’s degree in family consumer science while also receiving an art minor. I continued my education at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville for my master’s degree in human environmental science, but recently transferred back to UCA to pursue my degree in school counseling. I have worked closely with children and families in my career through the Department of Children and Family Services, Families Inc. School Based Counseling Services, Youth Home, and the U of A Cooperative Extension Services in 4-H Youth and Development. I am passionate about helping children and families thrive by guiding the way towards a brighter future and am excited to see how I can make a difference in this new position.
