Phelps Co. R-III School District named Outstanding Rural School District – 2024
Photo submitted
Pictured from left are: Dr. Ray Patrick, MARE; Mrs. Kim Robison, Teacher; Mr. Bob Cottengim, Superintendent; Mrs. Misti Wilson, Board President; and Mr. Jeremiah Harris, Board Member.
Submitted
In the heart of Missouri, nestled in the county of Phelps, you will find Edgar Springs – a small town that has one of the best small schools in the state. Phelps County R-III School was built in 1965 as a result of the closing of one-room schools in the Edgar Springs area. Today, it meets the needs of 161 children and has 39 employees.
The combination of an outstanding culture, strong community support, dedicated faculty and staff, and consistently high student achievement make PCR3 an outstanding rural school district. I believe this has come about as a result of a group of people being committed to the District’s Mission, Vision and Belief Statements.
This commitment has led the district to excel in the following areas:
Student Health and Safety – Full-time RN, school based Therapist, part-time SRO, all teachers CPR certified, allergy kits, bleeding kits and AEDs throughout the building, safety buckets in every classroom, new intercom system, additional fencing for safety, backpack program for weekend food, Thanksgiving meals for families in need and air scrubbers in classrooms and common areas.
Community Engagement & Support – Bond issue passage with 80 percent, Back to School Fun Night, Grandparents Day, Halloween Parade, Donuts with Dad, Muffins with Mom, Veteran’s Day Program, Christmas and Spring Concerts, PTO Carnival, Talent Show and Spelling Bee.
Student Academics – LETRS Training PK-5, New ELA Curriculum, K-1 participation in the Early LIteracy Collaborative, implementation of NEE Evaluation Tool, implementation of the iReady Assessment, library renovations, student participation in the Truman, Mark Twain and Show Me Reader Awards, STEM classes added for 7th/8th grade students and PCR3 students have scored above state averages in most tested areas for several years.
I believe our students, parents, teachers and community have formed a partnership that strives to continuously seek ways to improve the educational experiences for our students, in spite of our often-limited resources.
The Missouri Association of Rural Education (MARE) is proud to recognize Phelps Co. R-III as the 2024 “Outstanding Rural School District.” Congratulations!
