Purcell welcomes 22 new faculty members to the staff this school term including Jenny Allen-Price, Joshua Beal, Payton Broome, Christie Bradley, Jessica Chase, Cyndie Childers, Tiffany Cook, Aaron Dillard, Kasey Jones, Tammie Mackey, Marc Peters, Teresa Piazza, Ethan Scott, Liz Scott, Crystal Sheehy, Amy Stone, Michele Underhill, Tammy Williams, Jacob Willing, Chloe Windham and Sheila Woodell.
Allen-Price will be teaching ninth grade English and will teach Special Education. She is a graduate of Norman High School and The University of Oklahoma.
She previously taught seventh grade ELA and at Whittier Middle School in Special Education Resource-Autism.
She took the position at Purcell because her first year was in a smaller town and she loved it.
“So I’m returning to a smaller district for the strong sense of community,” Allen-Price said.
She and her husband, Eric, have been married for 10 years. They have four children, Jackson, Jonathan, Rose and Josiah.
“We also have some fur babies, Shadow, Rumble and Sammie,” she reported.
Eric and Jenny are huge basketball fans and enjoy supporting the community.
Beal will be teaching ninth grade SPED.
He is a graduate of Norman North High School and Cowley College and Lindenwood University.
He previously worked as a paraprofessional.
“I took this job as a new chapter for personal growth,” Beal said. “I am quiet with a laid-back personality with a commitment to quality and a job well-done.”
Broome will be teaching seventh grade math at the junior high.
He is a graduate of Seminole High School and East Central University. He previously has taught at Lexington, Seminole, Elgin, Yukon and Piedmont.
He said he wanted to get back to a small school.
Bradley will teach kindergarten at Purcell Elementary. She is a graduate of Ellicott High School and Adams State University.
She previously taught reading intervention and kindergarten.
The married mother of two sons recently moved to Oklahoma from Colorado.
Chase will teach first grade.
She is a graduate of Norman North High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Chase previously taught at Lexington Elementary. She accepted the position here for supportive community and leadership.
She and her husband have three children.
Childers will be teaching sixth grade English.
She is a graduate of Idabel High School and attended Oklahoma State University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Her previous experience included being the Special Education Director.
“I love working with students,” Childers said.
She and her husband, Keith, have twin sons, Kayle and Austin, who are 18.
Cook will be a counselor and previously served as Lexington Middle School Counselor.
She is a Purcell Graduate and earned her degree from The University of Oklahoma.
“When the opportunity was presented to return to my Alma Mater, I couldn’t pass it up. I am excited to be a Dragon once again,” Cook said.
Dillard, who is the head football coach for the Dragons, will be Dean of Students at the high school.
He is a Purcell High School graduate and earned his degree from The University of Oklahoma.
Dillard earned his Master’s Degree from East Central University. This will be his 14th year in education.
He previously taught at Lexington, Yukon and Piedmont.
“I had an opportunity to move our family back home closer to extended family,” Dillard explained. “It was also a chance to work in a supportive and special community.”
Dillard and his wife, Emily, have two children, three-year-old Lincoln and four-month-old Cole. Emily is a CPA.
Jones will teach fifth grade science at the Intermediate School.
She is a graduate of Wayne High School and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Jones said she accepted the position here, “for my love of science and teaching.”
She and her husband, Brian have two children, Roxanne and Asa.
Mackey will teach fifth grade reading.
She is a graduate of Crowley High School and The University of Oklahoma.
She previously taught second, third and fourth grades at Purcell for 16 years.
“I’ve been out of education for eight years,” Mackey said. “I have missed it tremendously, so it was time to jump back into the classroom.”
She is married to her husband of 28 years, Anthony.
“We do not have any children but we have an eight-year-old Border Collie who believes he is a human.”
Peters will be teaching seventh grade science.
He is a 1984 graduate of Purcell High School and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
He previously has taught at El Reno, McGuinness and Ardmore.
He accepted the position here because he “wanted to get back home.”
He has three daughters, Shelby, 27, Sam, 26 and Reese, 18.
Piazza returns to the Purcell Faculty to teach fourth grade.
She previously taught Pre-K, kindergarten, second, fourth and fifth grade reading and language arts at Purcell.
She is a graduate of Westmoore High School. She attended OU and USAO.
She accepted the position here, “to focus on teaching with my Dragon family.”
Piazza said her husband of 30 years, Dan, is Chief of Police at OCCC.
Their children, Autumn is married to Blayne. He is stationed in North Carolina. Daughter, Sydney, is married to Malachi. They are expecting her first grandchild in November. Their son, Tyler, passed away last September.
“I am so excited to be back at Purcell,” Piazza said.
Ethan Scott will be teaching high school biology.
Scott is a graduate of Lexington High School and The University of Oklahoma.
He previously taught middle school social studies.
“I am from this community and wanted to get back close to where I grew up,” Scott said.
Liz Scott will be teaching kindergarten.
She has previously taught music to all grade levels.
Scott is a Madill High School graduate. She earned her degree from East Central University.
“Purcell fits our lifestyle and offers a new beginning,” Scott said.
She lives with her eight-year-old son.
“I have 24 years of experience in music education,” Scott said. “I love singing, dancing and teaching children about the music in our world and how it brings us together.”
Sheehy will be teaching fifth grade special education.
Sheehy is a graduate of Purcell High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
She previously taught special education at Plaza Towers Elementary.
“The job was open. I saw an opportunity for me to continue teaching what I love and I’m closer to home,” Sheehy said.
“I am a single mother of two girls Gabriella, 11, and Mila, five.
“I am looking forward to serving the families in Purcell,” Sheehy continued. “I am excited my daughters will experience life as a Dragon like my family and I did.”
Stone will serve as secondary librarian in grades six through 12th grades.
She is a graduate of Dallas Christian School. She attended The University of Oklahoma and East Central University.
She previously taught second grade and physical education at Purcell and served as elementary librarian at Meeker.
“I am excited to be back in the district with my kids working in the library at the secondary level,” Stone said.
She has three children, Spencer in the sixth grade, Asher in the fourth grade and Mayer in the second grade.
Underhill will be teaching second grade.
She is a graduate of Northwestern High School in Justin, TX.
She earned her BA with her Teacher Certification from the University of North Texas and M.Ed. in educational leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
She previously taught middle school social studies in Norman and online ESL teacher with VIPKID.
“I am returning to teaching in public schools after being a stay-at-home mom,” Underhill said.
“We moved to Washington and I want to teacher closer to my family and in a smaller local community with great leadership and support.”
Underhill and her husband, Jason, have three daughters in second, kindergarten and Pre-K.
Williams will be teaching third grade.
She is a graduate of Ardmore High School and The University of Oklahoma.
She has taught 12 years in Oklahoma including three at Purcell Elementary as well as nine years in Texas.
“I’m excited to be returning and teaching third grade at Purcell Intermediate School. This is like coming home,” Williams said.
She and her husband, Josh, have two daughters, Chloe Herrin-Northcutt and Natalie Williams.
“I enjoy spending time with my family including the grandchildren Noah and Ivy Northcutt.
Willing will teach band for grades six through 12.
He is a graduate of Jenks High School and The University of Oklahoma.
He previously served as assistant band director at Altus.
He accepted the position at Purcell because he wanted to get back to the Oklahoma City area.
Windham will be teaching third grade at Purcell Elementary.
She is a Washington High School graduate and earned her degree from USAO.
She took the position because, “the school community and experience I have had at Purcell is very welcoming, supportive, faithful and positive,” Windham said.
She reports she lives with her parents, sister and many animals.
“Since I am focusing on my first year of teaching, I am not married and have no kids,” she said. “I am a lover of positive attitudes, elephants, flowers, collaboration and new experiences.”
Woodell will be teaching sixth grade social studies.
She is a graduate of Roff High School and USAO.
“I’ve heard so many great things about the Purcell School District,” Woodell said of accepting the position here.
“I love teaching in the junior high,” she confirmed.
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