Joplin Schools

UPDATE 12:01am - We are now closing the safe rooms. Thank you to on-call staff and community helpers during tonight’s severe weather!

11:01pm - Community safe rooms are open now due to the threat of high winds. Be safe!

Our community is mourning the loss this week of Dr. Ron Lankford, who meant so much to so many in Joplin Schools and beyond. Dr. Lankford completed a long and distinguished career at the Webb City School District, from where he retired to work at DESE, before joining us in Joplin Schools.

During his time with us from 2016-2021, Dr. Lankford served as human resources director and assistant superintendent for business services, but his impact has exceeded those titles and years.

Dr. Lankford was a passionate champion of public education both in Southwest Missouri and across the State. His expertise, care, humor, and ability to communicate complex issues in approachable ways were unmatched. It's been said of Dr. Lankford's time in Joplin - and of his impact on public education in general - that he tirelessly built bridges for others to traverse; we believe that to be true and we are forever grateful for the abiding memory of his leadership, wisdom, and above all his friendship.

We join our neighbors and community members in sending heartfelt condolences to Dr. Lankford's family.

Congratulations to our outstanding JHS Track & Field athletes who earned medals at the State Championship meet last month! These students competed among the best in the state and not only held their own but performed with impressive perseverance, skill, and grit to earn their places on the podium.

⭐ Alyana Modras, Brylee Strickland, Nalyjah Madison, Kyrie Britton - Girls 4x100 Relay - 6th place
⭐ Neil Barstow - Shot Put - 3rd place
⭐ Haydyn Goumaz - 110M Hurdles - 2nd place
⭐ Isaiah Thom - 110M Hurdles - 8th place
⭐ Kendall Nyarango - Long Jump - 7th place
⭐ Tucker Martin - Triple Jump - 3rd place

Thank you for representing Eagle Nation with dedication and excellence!

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The Big Bad Wolf has nothing on these Summer STEM Scientists!

Incoming 2nd graders in Ms. Secrist's class at Irving Summer School recently designed and constructed houses to protect their "Three Little Pigs." Using only toothpicks and gumdrops, students developed collaboration, critical thinking, spatial reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving while recalling classic fairy tale storytelling. All excellent brain-builders as they work their way towards the rigors of second grade.

We hope their houses held up to the Big Bad Wolf (ahem...hair dryer) and that all of their little piggies stayed safe. Well done, Summer Eagles!

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It's time for the Summer Edition of Teacher Proud Tuesday! Please help us celebrate Jennifer Hyslip, Special Education teacher at Stapleton Elementary. Ms. Hyslip is spending June at Soaring Heights Elementary for Summer School, and received several nominations for her warmth, expertise, and care:

"Jennifer has been an incredible addition to our special education team. It feels like she was meant to be in this role; her dedication, adaptability, advocacy and compassion make her a true asset to our team. You can see the love she has for her job and the kids. All the kids love her and I think we all agree that we look forward to our days with her! She has inspired me to continue to advocate for special education students. The way she treats her students and all students in the school is inspiring. Her leadership shows every single day."

We are so proud to have you in Eagle Nation, Ms. Hyslip, and grateful for your impact. You are an important part of what makes public education so special, and we love to see you celebrated! 🦅

Teacher Proud Tuesday in Joplin Schools is sponsored by our friends at Mid-Missouri Bank. Thank you for helping us recognize the outstanding staff in our district!

Nominations for the 2026-27 school year will open again in August. Winners will be chosen randomly from the nomination pool and will be recognized the second Tuesday monthly beginning in September 2026.

Are you already mapping out your family's future vacations, trips, and getaways? Please consider traveling during one of the many multi-day breaks scheduled within the 2026-27 academic year!

Scheduling trips during long weekends and planned school breaks supports your student's likelihood of academic success. Not only do these breaks allow your family to travel without accruing absences, but you also support the whole classroom's progress as teachers work to stay on target with curriculum pacing.

To explore the full 2026-27 academic calendar, please visit our website at https://joplinschools.org/calendar

Joplin's students need YOU!

Now is the perfect time to begin a career in Joplin Schools! We are looking for Paraprofessionals, Behavior Interventionists, SLPs and SLPAs ready to make a difference in Special Education classrooms while benefiting from the perks of a school-day schedule: home with your family in afternoons, evenings, holidays and summers.

Paras begin work at $15 hourly; Behavior Interventionists in CBSS, Basic Skills and Behavior Intensive classrooms begin work at $19.75 hourly. SLPAs beginning salary is over $48,000 with SLPs beginning salary starting over $61,000. These positions are full-time and qualify for district benefits, including free, on-demand mental health resources. Learn more about Paraprofessional qualification paths at www.JoplinSchools.org/Para. Learn more about salary opportunities at https://joplinschools.org/38810_3.

Apply today at www.JoplinSchools.org/Careers and help us keep Learning Today for a Better Tomorrow!🦅

Need help enrolling your student for Fall 2026? Summer enrollment secretaries will be on duty during June and July at Joplin High School!

☀️ JUNE 1 - JUNE 30, from 8:00am-3:00pm, Mondays through Fridays
☀️ JULY 1 - JULY 31, from 8:00am-3:00pm, Tuesdays through Thursdays (Closed July 3.)
☀️ Additional times may be available by appointment.

These helpful staff members will handle all district enrollment processes for families of incoming K-12th* graders, including helping families with access to PowerSchool Parent Portal accounts, scheduling and performing kindergarten screenings, ensuring documents are accurate, and getting students ready to be rostered when building secretaries return in August.

Families are welcome to come to the main entrance at JHS for enrollment assistance or call 417-625-5230.

Starting Aug. 3, all school buildings will have staff on site to continue enrollment through the first day of school.

*Please note: Families needing help with preschool enrollment should still contact Joplin Early Childhood at 417-625-5275. Families enrolling middle school students may be directed to contact their middle school during June.

FREE sports physicals are tonight, June 1!

If your student plans to participate in athletic activities for the 2026-27 school year (including marching band), we encourage you to attend the FREE pre-participation physical clinic Monday June 1, 2026, at the JHS gyms. No advance registration is necessary. Physicals begin at 5:30pm, offered with the help of Freeman Health System Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine staff. All middle school and high school athletes are welcome.

There's no need to bring anything with you, but it will be helpful for both parents and students to have the PowerSchool app downloaded on their phones in order to complete forms. Staff will be on site to assist with PowerSchool questions.