Education | Sedalia Democrat

Green Ridge R-8 superintendent Jonathan Petersen has worked in Lincoln, Cole Camp, Clinton and Smithton. Petersen said his entrepreneurial mind has led him to the superintendency. Photo by Chris Howell | Sedalia Democrat

Petersen starts first year at Green Ridge R-8

Jonathan Petersen, the new Superintendent of Green Ridge R-8 said he grew up almost exclusively in the Kaysinger Conference. more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 9/5/25

Artwork created by Bryce Holt of Kansas City is being hung the week of Sept. 2-5 at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art. Holt’s show will open on Thursday, Sept. 18. Photo by Faith Bemiss-McKinney |Democrat

Daum Museum opens new art exhibits Sept. 18

New art exhibits are opening soon at the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, featuring two Missouri artists with distinct viewpoints. more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney faith.bemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 9/4/25

Sedalia company introduces new emergency response platform

Nightwatch Security & Telephone LLC has developed a plan in collaboration with law enforcement to implement enhanced security at local schools, creating a tighter and more secure emergency response program through Connected Technologies LLC in Monument, Colorado. more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney faith.bemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 9/1/25

At halftime of the Smith-Cotton football game against Warrensburg High on Friday, Aug. 29, senior Austyn Fiorino, left, was named activities queen and senior Zachary Weber was crowned activities king. Princess, not shown, was Brylee Hermanson. Both Fiorino and Weber were nominated from the JROTC program. Student votes determined the winners.

PHOTO: Smith-Cotton names 2025 Activities Royalty

9/1/25

Heather Wallace, 1990 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, and Taylor Morrison, school counselors at Knob Noster Middle School

S-C grad receives RAMP Award with Knob Noster Middle School

The Knob Noster Middle School Counseling Program recently received the American School Counselor Association RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) Award in Long Beach, CA. more

9/1/25

Green Ridge R-8 superintendent Jonathan Petersen shows one of the district's two Lion Electric buses. The Ontario manufacturer has gone bankrupt and now longer offers service. Petersen is looking for someone local to maintain the small fleet. Photo by Chris Howell | Democrat

Green Ridge affected by Canadian electric bus company's bankruptcy

When Canadian school bus company Lion-Electric recently declared bankruptcy after selling up to 3,400 buses in the United States, the company's new investors announced to US school districts they would no longer honor warranties. more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 8/28/25

Carrie Campbell, eighth grader from Otterville R-VI won fourth place at the Future Business Leaders of America, Inc’s. (FBLA) National Leadership Conference (NLC). The event was held in Anaheim, Calif. from June 27-July 2, 2025 attracted middle school, high school, college students, educators, and volunteers from across the country. The NLC provides education, competition, and networking opportunities centered on business. Carrie competed in a written event called FBLA Concepts. She competed against 48 other members nationwide. Carrie is the daughter of Clayton and Rochelle Campbell of Otterville.

PHOTO: Otterville student places fourth at FBLA National Leadership Conference

8/21/25

Steve and Karen Ellebracht cut the ribbon on the Steve and Karen Ellebracht Agriculture and Mechanics Building on Friday, Aug. 1, at State Fair Community College. Photo by Chris Howell | Democrat

SFCC cuts ribbon on ag and mechanics building, residence hall

State Fair Community College held dual ribbon cuttings for two new buildings on Friday, Aug. 1. more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 8/4/25

SFCC to host ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday

State Fair Community College will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 1, celebrating the completion of two major additions to its Sedalia campus: the new Campus Housing Complex and the Agriculture and Mechanics building. more

7/31/25

Pettis County R-XII School District grant writers from left, Katie Cornine, Title 1 teacher; Trisha Voellinger, Middle School Science/ELA teacher; Deana Pomajzl, first grade teacher and Michelle Sherman, a counselor. Due to their efforts, the school district was awarded $260,000 in grant money that will go toward literacy over the next five years. Photo courtesy of Pettis County R-XII School District

Dresden School receives $260,000 in literacy grant monies

DRESDEN — Four teachers at the Pettis County R-XIII School District assisted the elementary and middle school in receiving a $260,000 to use over five years. more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney faith.bemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 7/31/25

Jeremiah Baruxen, a social studies teacher at Smith-Cotton Junior High School, looks over the “Tower of Faces” exhibit at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., during a trip with the KC to DC program, sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. Photo courtesy of the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education

Sedalia 200 educator earns trip to DC

Rather than lounging by the pool all summer, many educators go back to school. Jeremiah Baruxen, an educator with Sedalia School District 200, tackled tough history. Mr. Baruxen participated in an intensive Holocaust education program, called KC to DC, sponsored by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education (MCHE). more

7/28/25

Smith-Cotton students earn finish in top 10 at FCCLA nationals

Jake Windle and Wyatt Gooch, members of Smith-Cotton High School's Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter, has placed in the Top 10 nationally for their event at the FCCLA National Leadership Conference (NLC), held July 5–9, in Orlando, Florida. more

7/21/25

Cell phone ban calls for minor changes at Sedalia 200

A statewide ban on cell phone use in K-12 schools, as described in Missouri Senate Bill 68, is set to become law Aug. 28 more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 7/18/25

On Saturday, June 27, students in the Four Rivers Career Center Night Shift Program of Washington, Missouri, disassemble a 1939 Farmall F14 tractor inside the Mathewson Exhibition Center. Walking past is facilitator Howard Raymond on the left. Photo by Faith Bemiss-McKinney | Democrat

Students work to restore tractor at Red Power Roundup

Thanks to an extracurricular volunteer program, high school students prepped a 1939 Farmall F14 tractor for restoration during the 36th annual Red Power Roundup tractor event this weekend on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. more

By Faith Bemiss-McKinney faith.bemiss@sedaliademocrat.com | 6/30/25

Meredith Brick is moving to Smith-Cotton High School after 10 years teaching science, mostly at SCJHS. She will split her duties as soccer coach with teaching health classes. Photo by Chris Howell | Democrat

Brick balances time with health students, soccer players

Meredith Brick is from Chillicothe and admits to jumping around a bit before moving to her present career in Sedalia. more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 6/30/25

At Skyline Elementary Thursday district EL instructional coach Emily Overstreet teaches students at English Learner Summer Camp.

English Learner Summer Camp teaches students

The EL Summer Camp underway at Skyline Elementary is intended to help both young students and their teachers overcome any language barriers. Becky Brownfield is the director of curriculum and … more

By Chris Howell, chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 6/12/25

Staci Harrison Harrison has a unique teaching assistant, a laid-back bearded dragon named Murdock, originally from central Australia.

Staci Harrison teaches with a unique perspective

Staci Harrison teaches fifth grade social studies and science at Sedalia Middle School, but has experience from across the globe. Born in North Dakota to a military family, Harrison lived there … more

By Chris Howell chris.howell@sedaliademocrat.com | 6/3/25

From left: Rochelle Hockett, SFCC director of Career Services; Austin Thompson, maintenance technician at Inter-State Studio; and Don Beyer, maintenance electrician, at Thompson’s apprenticeship certificate presentation.

Thompson earns Apprenticeship Certification in Industrial Electrical Maintenance

Austin Thompson, a maintenance technician at Inter-State Studio in Sedalia, has received a U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Certificate in Industrial Electrical Maintenance through State Fair … more

5/29/25

From left: Gregorio Quezada Jr., Aleyah Chapman, Molly Prichard and Gracen Clark.

SFCC honors 2025 Distinguished Students at commencement

State Fair Community College has selected and recognized four outstanding students as its 2025 Distinguished Students for their exceptional academic achievements, leadership and service. The students … more

5/26/25

From left, State Fair Community College students, Sunny Morris, of Stockton, California, and Dametriuz Hernandez-Smith, of Sedalia, hold their certificates.

SFCC announces Writing Scholarship Award recipients

State Fair Community College has announced the recipients of its 2024–25 Writing Scholarship Awards: Sunny Morris, of Stockton, California, and Dametriuz Hernandez-Smith, of Sedalia. … more

5/22/25