New to the Purcell School System this year are 11 faces, including assistant superintendent Malachi Blaxton and teachers Malia Turner, Brandi Parker, Daniel Cole, Cody Tutwiler, Jennifer Hudson, Kelsey Gee, Kristen Cochran, Jason Tompkins, Hailee Smith and Aimee Andrews.

Blaxton and his wife, Sara, have five children ranging in age from 10 months to 14 years.

He attended Missouri Southern, Northwest Missouri and Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

He has previously served as Wayne High School Principal and assistant superintendent at Green Country Technology Center.

“I chose to come to Purcell to serve the community I call home, helping students to thrive academically, socially and emotionally while supporting teachers and staff along the way,” Blaxton said.

Turner will be a family support specialist.

“I have always been passionate about rural communities and developing resources,” Turner said. “I am honored to serve students and families of Purcell as the family support specialist.

“I grew up in a small town,” she continued. After graduating from Idabel High School she continued her education at the University of Oklahoma.

Parker and her husband, Chad, have two children, Saylor and Bryson. Saylor got married this summer and is studying for her masters at OU while Bryson is playing golf at Seminole State College.

“We loved the Purcell community and are excited for a new adventure,” Parker said. “I love spending quality time with my family hiking, playing golf, traveling and just being together.”

She previously taught at Turpin Elementary and Rose Union Elementary.

She will be teaching kindergarten at Purcell.

She is a graduate of Turpin High School and Oklahoma State University.

A graduate of Hooker High School, Cole furthered his education at both Southwestern Oklahoma State University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

He previously taught at Westmoore High School and Norman High School.

He and his wife, Sonya, have been married for almost 13 years and have six kids between them including Cassidy, Dirk (wife Shelby), Whitley, Rylea (husband Cameron), Megan (husband Luke) and Raegan.

They also have three cats and two Golden Retrievers.

Tutwiler has coached and taught at Bixby, Jones, Chisholm and Maysville. He will be the head softball coach here.

Tutwiler is a graduate of Thomas High School and Oklahoma State University. He is married to his wife, Julie,  and he has a stepdaughter, Niki.

“This is a great opportunity to get closer to family in a great school system and community,” he said.

After graduating from Moore High School, Hudson continued her education at OKCCC and UCO. She will be teaching writing at Purcell.

She previously was a Secondary ELA teacher in the Oklahoma City Public School system for five years, served as yearbook advisor for a year and leadership and life skills for five years.

“I was commuting one hour each direction daily and felt is was time to make a change and apply my love of reading and writing to a different set of students,” Hudson said. “I am excited about my new school home and the people I have met.

“I love road trips and seeing new places,” she continued. “Reading and writing are my favorite hobbies. I started trying to garden this year but my harvest has been a bunch of tomatoes and some stunted radishes.”

Gee will teach language arts. After graduating from Whitesboro High School she continued her education at OU.

Gee previously taught fourth grade at Jackson Elementary in Norman for nine years.

“Taking this position allows me to be closer to family, which is deeply meaningful to me. My husband was raised in Purcell, and my in-laws continue to live there, so this community already feels familiar and welcoming.

“I’m excited to bring engaging learning opportunities and serve as a source of inspiration for students in a close-knit town that reminds me of where I grew up.

“I believe my background equips me to understand and support the unique strengths and challenges that come with teaching in smaller communities, and I’m eager to contribute to a school that values connection, growth and genuine care.

I married my husband, Alex Gee, in 2021. Alex graduated from Purcell High School in 2006.

“We welcomed our son, Gavin Brooks Gee, in 2023. We also have two dachshunds, Ziggy and Dallas,” she concluded.

Cochran is a graduate of Bartlesville High School. She continued her education at Northeastern State University and the University of Oklahoma.

She has taught third grade at Purcell, in Washington State and Norman.

She also taught language arts in Purcell for three years.

“Purcell was my first teaching position in 1991 so I’ve come full circle,” Cochran said. “I’ve always loved teaching in Purcell. I keep coming back.

Cochran has two daughters, 24 and 26-years-old. One lives in San Diego, CA with a degree in sustainability and the other lives in Springfield, MO and is set to graduate in December from occupational therapy school.

“I appreciate being welcomed back to the place where my teaching career started,” she said.

Tompkins, who will also coach softball, will teach computer science.

He is a 1996 PHS graduate and earned his degree from the University of Central Oklahoma.

He has previously taught at Moore and Wynnewood.

He and his wife, Samantha have two daughters, Landri, 11(fifth grade) and Crue, six (first grade).

“I wanted to be at the same school with my children and be back home,” Tompkins said.

“I have coached softball for 10 years ,” Tompkins said.

He coached nine years at Southmoore and one year at Wynnewood. He has also coached boys basketball at Westmoore and Mustang.

Smith will be a paraprofessional at the junior high.

Andrews will be the athletic secretary at the high school.