Prairie Home school welcomes new administration, remodeling

Construction projects at the Prairie Home school will add security enhancements and a new tornado shelter. (For the Democrat/Kate Porterfield)
Construction projects at the Prairie Home school will add security enhancements and a new tornado shelter. (For the Democrat/Kate Porterfield)

Prairie Home is completing projects to help keep children safer in school.

Jordan Hoecker, the new superintendent of The Prairie Home R-V School District, said the school is finishing construction projects funded by a $1 million bond issue passed this spring. The projects include new flooring, more secure doors for several elementary classrooms, remodeled restrooms and a restroom that can double as a tornado shelter.

"We passed a bond in the spring and construction is well underway here," Hoecker said. "Getting to see updated facilities that are making our learning environment a better place to learn and we have some safety stuff going on, as well, with some new doors and a tornado shelter being put in. (I'm) really excited about those physical changes."

Hoecker half of a new administrative team for the upcoming school year.

Melody Paulson is the school's new principal.

Hoecker is familiar with working in rural schools. The St. Elizabeth native was brought up in a family of educators and studied at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He previously taught special education in Jamestown for two years, served four years as a government and business teacher at California High School, and worked as a principal and superintendent with Latham Elementary School for two years.

Paulson is a Prairie Home native who graduated from the school in 1993. She received her bachelor's degree in education from Columbia College in 2001, followed up with a master's of education in 2020. She received a specialist of education in 2022 from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. She has taught at Prairie Home for 15 years.

"Being from here, I'm very familiar with the community and their involvement with the parents and students," Paulson said. "Using my previous knowledge of working as an instructional coach, I'm able to put that to use going forward as principal now."

Hoecker said he hopes to improve the district on a daily basis.

"(W)orking to make something better every day is the focus," he said. "You find something that you can better just a little bit and you work toward that."

Prairie Home school will host registration from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today for all students. The school year begins Aug. 24.

  photo  Prairie Home R-V School District Superintendent Jordan Hoecker poses for a photo Aug. 8, 2022, in his office at the Prairie Home school in Prairie Home, Missouri. (Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller)
 
 
  photo  Prairie Home R-V School Principal Melody Paulson poses for a photo Aug. 8, 2022, at the school in Prairie Home, Missouri. (Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller)
 
 
  photo  A sign is seen wishing students a happy summer break Aug. 8, 2022, outside the Prairie Home R-V School in Prairie Home, Missouri. (Democrat photo/Garrett Fuller)