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The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is more than just a one day annual event. It is a local movement to promote continuous support, awareness, and funds to help end Alzheimer’s. Get your team started today and help make a better tomorrow for our entire community!
We’re back at Faurot Field, Saturday, SEPTEMBER 30TH!
9 :30am Registration/Activities Start
TO REGISTER, VOLUNTEER, OR DONATE, SCAN THE QR CODE OR CONTACT CHRIS COTTLE AT CCOTTLE@ALZ.ORG
VENUE: Coopers Ridge Event Venue
PLANNER: Delight Events
PHOTOGRAPHER: Schaefer Photography
VIDEOGRAPHER: James Smith Films
FLORAL: Buds Flowers and More
DJ: Blue Diamond Events
CATERING: Eclipse Catering
RENTALS: A1 Party and Event Rentals
RENTALS: Pretty Little Things
RENTALS: Alpha Lit Letters
HAIR: Studio Flair
MAKEUP: Luxe Refinery Como
CAKE/DESSERTS: Cakes by Kristina
DECOR: SW Productions
GOWN: Vow’s Bridal
JEWELRY: Betz Jewelers
SUIT: Men’s Wearhouse
STATIONERY: Peach Way Paper
MUSIC: January Lanterns
PHOTO BOOTH: Blue Diamond Events
LIVE PAINTING: Cindy Scott Artistry
TAN: Bronze by Design
SPA SERVICES: Lumia Med Spa
SKIN CARE: Kelly Hoover - Rodan & Fields
PARTY SUPPLIES: Party Perfectly
BALLOONS: Social Balloon Bar
NEON SIGN: Social Neon
COTTON CANDY: Coops Cotton Candy
BOUDOIR SESSION: Boudoir by Danielle
APPAREL: Southern Rose
BTS: New Eden Studios
BAR TRAILER: The Wandering Whimsy
TRANSPORTATION: W&W Superior Reliable Transportation
SPARKLERS: Spirit of 76
BOUQUET PRESERVATION: Madalyn’s Garden
FRESH FLORAL: Cultivate Co.
WEBSITE CREATION: Pixel Jam
MEN’S HAIRCUT: M. Boss Barber and Salon
REHEARSAL DINNER: Haller’s Homestyle Catering
ALTERATIONS: Designs x Nadine
HOTEL: The Broadway Hotel
REHEARSAL DINNER DESSERTS: Family Tree Cookie Company
PAMPAS: County Line Design Company
FAVORS: Custom Cookies - Dough x Batter
GUEST BOOK: Woodsmore Decor
Thank you to our community for giving of your time and service and donating to the
Buchroeders Jewelers
Veteran’s United Foundation
The Giving Branch Cultivate Co.
Shakespeare’s Pizza
Lily’s Toybox
New Eden Studio’s
Sparky’s Homemade
Ice Cream
US Foods
Coopers Ridge
Brandi Huebner
Ryan Adams
Megan’s Grandparents
Eileen Balch
Grace Wanner
The Wanner’s Valerie Ninichuck
Healium
Show Me Dinosaurs
JM Couturiere
Courtney Canine
Carley Jeans Floral
Neurology
Doctors Group
Jordyn Embree
Christina Ammons
Cindy Scott
Destiny McKnight
Central Bank
Denise Agre-Gill
Michelle Cecil
Bree Anderson
Coopers Ridge future couple
Erin Bullett
Anna Gross
No matter who you are, how long you have lived here, or what you do for fun, everyone has their own CoMo. This year, we’re featuring local residents and asking them what makes their CoMo. From favorite places to grab dinner to our best-kept secrets for visitors to explore, they will be sharing what makes our city extraordinary to them. Because, in the end, it’s those memorable places and experiences that make it your CoMo.
What is your go to place to take a visitor in Columbia?
My favorite place to take visitors is Tellers. I love sitting at one of the tables outside!
What’s your fave past time in Columbia?
One of my favorite events is Columbia’s Black and White Ball Parade!
What do you think is Columbia’s best kept secret?
Dr. Eryca Neville, Director of Alternative Education and Principal and Douglass High School.
I hope it’s not a secret anymore…Como 411 hosted by Adonica Coleman.
How would you describe Columbia in one word?
Eclectic
I am delighted to announce that the Incomparable of the Season
is celebrating the arts with Mareck Center for Dance, the Missouri Symphony, and the WE Project, in what will surely be the event of the year. Take your place in society by joining us !
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, 2023
7 O ’ CLOCK IN THE EVENING THE ATRIUM BALLROOM
Scan the code to purchase tickets.
MU Health Care now offers a Love Your Heart Cardiac Screening designed to catch potential heart issues before they become a problem. This one-hour screening includes a lab analysis and cardiac calcium score to give an image of your heart health with next-step recommendations and advice.
Consider a screening if you:
Have high blood pressure or cholesterol (even if medically managed)
Have a family history of heart disease
Have Type 2 diabetes
Are a smoker or former smoker
Schedule at your convenience — no referral necessary.
Learn more at muhealth.org/love-your-heart.
Letter from the Editor
Ifeel like every year when the kids go back to school is like a reset for all of us. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer. Mostly for pool days. But I thrive o a schedule. I love it when things have set times and people need to be in places and follow a schedule. Summer is always fun for a few months, but every year as summer starts to end, I nd myself craving to get back on a schedule.
I love when the students come back, and the town is bustling with excitement. I love the start of football season and knowing that cooler days are coming.
is feeling always feels more like a “new year” to me than the actual new year. It feels like a fresh start, a reset. And I look forward to it every single year.
We are so fortunate to live in a town with a wealth of educational opportunities. From an incredible public school system to the private schools, colleges, tech schools, and continuing education ... there really is something for everyone.
You will read about many of those opportunities in this issue. And I myself have personally experienced several of them. I am a product of Columbia Public Schools. I took what could be considered the nontraditional route, having my daughter right after graduating from high school. e evening classes program provided by Columbia College was a blessing for me. It took a village, but I managed to graduate from nursing school with a toddler.
One of my greatest accomplishments has been watching that toddler graduate from Missouri State University and get accepted into grad school. She is now just three months
away from graduating from the occupational therapy program.
I often nd myself looking back at my life thus far. I could have never imagined that I would be where I am today. I am (mostly) thankful for all of the lessons learned. I have had some of the best role models, teachers, and mentors along the way.
I truly do nd myself learning something new every day. Education never stops. Whether it be learning how to change my turn signal bulb on YouTube, or how to remove the tendon from a chicken breast on TikTok, to the daily lessons I learn within this career ... I try to always nd the joy in the lesson. I don’t ever want to stop learning.
With the start of the “new year,” I want to hear from you COMO. is magazine is for you. e pages are your stories. What should we be talking about? Who should we know? We pride ourselves in the stories. Let’s talk about it! My email is always open, Kim@comocompanies.com.
Until next month when we dip into the world of nance,
XO, KIM AMBRA , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I am (mostly) thankful for the lessons.
President
Erica Pefferman | Erica@comocompanies.com
EDITORIAL
Publisher | Erica Pefferman Erica@comocompanies.com
Editor-in-Chief | Kim Ambra Kim@comocompanies.com
Digital Editor | Jodie Jackson Jr Jodie@comocompanies.com
DESIGN
Creative Director | Kate Morrow Kate@comocompanies.com
Senior Designer | Jordan Watts Jordan@comocompanies.com
MARKETING
Director of Account Services
Amanda Melton Amanda@comocompanies.com
Marketing Representative Sarah Hempelmann Sarah@comocompanies.com
Marketing Representative Becky Roberts Becky@comocompanies.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lana Eklund, Madi Green, Anthony Jinson
MARKETING
Director of Sales | Charles Bruce Charles@comocompanies.com
OUR MISSION
To inspire, educate, and entertain the citizens of Columbia with quality, relevant content that reflects Columbia’s business environment, lifestyle, and community spirit.
CONTACT
The COMO Companies 404 Portland, Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 499-1830 | comomag.com @wearecomomag
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Candice Ball, Adonica Coleman, Kathryn Dotson, Lauren Sable Freiman, Jules Graebner, Jodie Jackson Jr, Hoss Koetting, Amanda Long, Michelle Terhune, Jennifer Truesdale, Emmi Weiner, Dr. Brian Yearwood
We take pride in representing our community well and we couldn’t do what we do without our COMO Magazine advisory board. Thank You!
Beth Bramstedt
Associate Pastor Christian Fellowship Church
Kris Husted
Senior Content Editor NPR Midwest Newsroom
Heather Brown Strategic Partnership Officer Harry S Truman VA Hospital
Chris Cottle
Walk Manager
Alzheimer’s Association Greater Missouri Chapter
Sam Fleury
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications, Columbia College
Alex George Owner Skylark Bookshop Executive Director Unbound Book Festival Author
Chris Horn
Sr. Reinsurance Manager
American Family Insurance
Amanda Jacobs
Owner Jacobs Property Management
Barbra Horrell Consultant Horrell Associates
Jeremiah Hunter
Assistant Police Chief Commander Investigations Bureau Columbia Police Department
Darren Morton Program Director Turning Point
David Nivens
Chief Executive Officer Midwest Computech
Megan Steen
Chief Operating Officer, Central Region Burrell Behavioral Health
Nathan Todd
Business Services Specialist First State Community Bank
Wende Wagner
Director of Philanthropy
The Missouri Symphony
53
BEYOND THE DATA
The real story of Douglass High School is what's happening inside.
56
EARLY COLLEGE REAPING DIVIDENDS
CPS/MACC partnership puts students on the path to success.
60
TEACHERS UNITE, STUDENTS BENEFIT
The Columbia NEA is not an end in itself, but rather a means to one. Confident teachers build great students.
Housed at Mizzou and developed by MU Extension, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is part of a nationwide program with a presence on more than 120 college campuses in the country.
In Columbia, Osher’s bene ts are three-fold, says Jennifer Erickson, educational director. First, intellectual health promotes physical well-being. Secondly, the program’s coursework will stimulate natural intellectual curiosity. And nally, “learning is just pure fun.”
Classes are usually held at the Waters-Moss Memorial Wildlife Area at 1905 Hillcrest Drive.
Osher’s curriculum is designed to provide a relaxed, comfortable, and exible approach to learning. It o ers classes in a number of formats and lengths and provides – in addition to an in-person classroom format – the option for online and hybrid studies. Erickson says the program prides itself on meeting people where they are and creating a place where students can interact with each other in a thoughtful, productive way.
“We provide a variety of non-credit classes, as well as cultural and social opportunities designed for people aged 50 and above,” Erickson explains. “In other
words, it’s a wonderful way, as we age, to keep our brains active and engaged, which is very good for healthy aging.”
e program o ers a wide spectrum of resources to help people learn more about topics that interest them and to facilitate opportunities to network and socialize with their peers in the community.
Osher o ers four semesters of coursework each year, which coincide with the seasons. Two semesters – fall and spring – run for eight weeks, while the winter and summer semesters consist of fourweek sessions. Currently, the Osher@Mizzou program o ers more than 100 classes
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Mizzou offers unique educational opportunities for adults age 50 and above.
throughout the academic year. For example, in the fall semester, there are 21 courses o ered, ranging in subject matter from the humanities and political science to current events, American history, and world history — “all sorts of topics along those lines,” Erickson notes.
Learners can select from several four-week classes, or a few eight-week classes. Multi-week classes take place Monday through ursday, once a week, and usually for 90-minute sessions.
Erickson says that one of the major assets Osher provides is exibility, particularly in the wake of COVID. e program o ers a variety of options for students to select their learning environment.
“ e neat part, for people who live in Columbia, is that, for most of our classes, you can choose whether to drive in and see people in person, or to Zoom in,” Erickson says.
In other words, if you want to take a class while you’re sitting at home in your pajamas, you can do that, and still participate in a classroom environment.
“It’s not just that you watch a class,” she explains. “You have the opportunity to engage with your instructor and your co-students.”
If you want to revisit a course after you’ve taken it, many of the online and hybrid sessions are available online. In fact, Erickson says that it’s a priority for the Osher team to make di erent avenues of learning available to students.
“We want to make the learning experience rich for everyone,” she says, “whether they’re sitting in the actual classroom or at home in workout clothes. Pre-pandemic, we were in-person only. We’ve had a lot of changes since then, obviously. So now, even if you sign up for an in-person class, we’ll send you the Zoom link, and you’ll have options.”
Erickson continues, “One week you might want to stay home, and one week you might not be feeling well, and one week you might want to have lunch with a friend, and one week you might think, ‘Hey, I was really inspired by that lecture, I’d like to hear it again.’ People are busy when they’re retired. It’s really an exciting time in people’s lives.” ose who sign up for an eight-week class will have access to the recordings of all eight sessions.
Erickson says that the Osher program is a valuable resource because it promotes learning simply for the joy of learning.
“Our students aren’t taking these classes to get a grade or earn a degree. ey’re there to learn the subject matter,” she explains. “Really, the value added that has happened in this new version of Osher is that there’s so much exibility and access for people.”
OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
Osher@Mizzou
Jennifer Erickson, Educational Director
(573)
882-8189Facebook.com/osheratmizzou
Columbia Public Schools and Clarity Healthcare collaborate to open a student health center.
BY EMMI WEINER | PHOTOS BY LANA EKLUNDChildren can only learn if their basic needs are taken care of and they are in the classroom. Access to good food, safe housing, and medical care are important aspects of a child’s life that help them show up ready to learn.
“If you don't feel safe or if you are hungry, it can be hard to focus,” Michelle Baumstark, chief communications o cer for Columbia Public Schools, explains. “ ose are the basic things that you need in order to be able to then learn and be able to focus and have growth academically.”
With this top of mind, Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Brian Yearwood set out to nd a solution to keep children healthy and in school.
“When I looked at our attendance overall, it has been waning,” Yearwood notes. “And when we looked at that data, there were scholars missing school because of illnesses and so on. And I think these are areas that we can help mitigate by providing an avenue to access health care services in our schools.”
Together with Clarity Healthcare, Columbia Public Schools plans to open a student health center in the former Field Elementary School building. e clinic will have its own entrance and provide a variety of low-cost healthcare services for CPS students.
Clarity is an a liate of Burrell Behavioral Healthcare. Mathew Gass, president of Burrell’s central region, says the precipitating factors of being able to create a student health center were Yearwood’s observation of lack of access to care for some of the most vulnerable students and the need “to ensure that young students’ eyes were working in a way” to allow learning.
Funding for the student health center will come entirely through Clarity Healthcare and the federal government, and the clinic will be a Federally Quali ed Health Center, a designation given to health centers designed to increase access to a ordable healthcare in underserved communities.
e student health center will not replace a school nurse but is an added layer of support and care. Instead of the sick child having to go home and the parent needing to pick them up and then having to miss school for days while waiting for a doctor’s appointment, children will be able to receive care through their school.
“You've got a handful of tools to increase access,” Gass explains. “One is the potential for telehealth or a virtual appointment, where you’ve got your student receiving virtual services on an iPad for a cough or a sore throat.”
ere are also plans to create a transportation system to help students get into the student health center when virtual appointments are not ideal.
e health center will help identify chronic conditions and bigger health concerns earlier. By identifying these as early as possible, students will be able to access proper care sooner and get back to learning faster
“I think that anytime a child is engaged with healthcare, either physical health or mental health, the outcomes and life are better,” Gass asserts.
One of the things the student health center will focus on is optometrist services. If students cannot see properly, it's likely they may fall behind academically.
“We've discovered that many times eye problems don't manifest themselves until older when one is able to articulate there is a problem,” Yearwood adds. “With access to an optometrist, this will be caught much earlier and we will be able to remedy any of the de ciencies they might diagnose.”
Yearwood and his team began looking for solutions. ey looked to other school districts and found a program in Hannibal that was not only addressing the health needs for students but also had a positive impact on the community.
“ ey were speaking very highly of the successes of addressing those who may be lacking immunizations or those needing additional medical care after seeing the school nurse,” Yearwood recalls. “ e positive bene ts were overwhelming for the scholars.”
Services will be provided on a sliding scale for students without insurance.
e scale will go all the way down to zero and the application process will not be burdensome, the school district stated.
e student health center will also be able to bill a student’s insurance, including Medicaid.
“ ere’s a questionnaire that individuals would ll out if they had zero income,” Gass adds. “ ere will be health navigators that help guardians through the process as well.”
e center will also provide simple lab work, treat minor injuries, o er free vaccines, sports and preventive physicals, and referrals to specialists and behavioral health.
e goal of the Student Health Center is to increase access to a ordable healthcare and help introduce children to medical providers. Introducing children to this system early on will not only help them maintain health — and in turn academic success — but also will teach them the type of care needed to remain healthy.
Yearwood adds, “It’s important that we ensure scholars are healthy and scholars can come to school ready to learn.”
“I think that anytime a child is engaged with healthcare, either physical health or mental health, the outcomes and life are better.”
– MATHEW GASS, BURRELL CENTRAL REGION PRESIDENT
Did you know Best Colleges recently wrote the Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting “offers the #1 most affordable film studies online degree on our list!”?
In our low residency MFA you’ll learn from some of the best working writers in the industry. By attending four 10-day Workshops in Hollywood + online courses you’ll earn your MFA in two-years. Add your name to the remarkable record of success shared by our alumni, who have now written on shows such as Ramy, 13 Reasons Why, Seal Team, Generations, Station 19 and The Equalizer. What are you waiting for?
In August, we gathered all of our nearly 3,000 employees together for the rst time in decades. e intent was to provide a collective feeling of celebration as we kicked o a new school year and to begin the year with intentionality to inspire greatness in our scholars and greatness in each other.
As part of this event, I shared a personal story of how I was once inspired to pursue greatness.
My story begins many years ago when I was a young elementary school principal. I began the school year with intentions to seek innovative opportunities to engage scholars in learning that would build workforce skills and help them explore opportunities they may not have ordinarily sought.
I have always had an interest in aviation — primarily the physics of ight and the mechanics and engineering of design. But on the ip side, you should also know, that I did not grow up with many personal experiences ying airplanes. I’d been a passenger many times, usually choosing to sit on the aisle and never look out the window. I once saw a propellor engine stop working in mid- ight, and although the plane landed safely, it was an experience I would always remember.
Aviation was interesting, but for me, it was interesting from the ground looking up. Nevertheless, it’s amazing to think about how the Wright brothers were able to come up with the concept of powered ight and then apply it to a design. e application of science and design and certainly a bit of bravery to test their innovation is inspiring to me. eir rst ight lasted just 12 seconds and only traveled 180 feet, but they proved that powered ight was possible and were challenged to continue to pursue their great endeavor.
us, I decided we should o er an aviation program to our scholars. And not just any aviation program. I wanted these scholars to y. I wanted them to have an integrated learning experience that incorporated all the curriculum areas into focused learning with an outcome of participating in a ight. e problem — we did not have anyone on sta with expertise in aviation. While I enjoyed the premise of aviation, I did not have the experience or expertise. So, I did what many leaders do: I thought about which teacher in my school could best implement the vision. I went to Ed.
Ed was on the innovative spectrum and was always trying new things. I trusted and believed Ed could inspire greatness in our scholars. So, I presented my concept to him and asked if he would be willing to teach an aviation course. I knew I had chosen the right person when Ed suggested that he get his pilot’s license to truly implement this concept to its fullest potential. I was overjoyed. is was going to be something great.
Later, I was announcing the program at an all-school faculty meeting. Everyone was excited. We applauded Ed for his willingness to pursue something new and to go the extra mile to achieve his pilot’s license. I invited Ed to share a few words with the faculty about the program. What came next was unexpected.
In front of the entire faculty, Ed challenged me to join him on his pilot’s license journey. With an entire faculty cheering on the challenge, I agreed. Another leadership tip I learned from Eleanor Roosevelt: don’t ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself.
Over the next few months, Ed and I spent time together at the airport in ground school, taking lessons, studying, and developing pro ciency in ight. We completed the aviation basic exam and went on to ight school. e day I took my rst solo
ight was daunting and overwhelming. ere are so many things to think about and so many instruments to pay attention to. And just to make it interesting, my rst taxi down the runway was beside two Air Force jets. e pilots had heard the tower talking to me over the airwaves about my rst solo ight and they encouraged me to go ahead of them so they could watch what I could do.
No pressure. I took o , ew around the city, and then completed a successful landing. My ight instructor greeted me as I landed with cheers and encouragement.
Today, I’m just a single long-distance ight away from completing my licensure and it remains on my bucket list. But more importantly, today there are several scholars who participated in our program that now work in the aviation industry. Our desire to inspire each other translated to inspiring our scholars to greatness.
I shared this story at our back-to-school event because I wanted our school district employees to know that sometimes being inspired to do something great may come with levels of apprehension. It may come with feelings of doubt. Can I really do this? e answer is “Yes.”
As educators and those who work in the eld of education, we play an important role in believing that every scholar has potential. Every scholar can achieve great things. We can inspire them in small ways or in big ways, but every moment we take to teach them, to expand their access to opportunities, to encourage them, to believe in their potential — and to put our scholars rst in everything we do — is inspiring greatness in them.
Would you be surprised to learn that the ranch-style home is the most common in America, according to American Home Shield? ey were produced en masse in the mid-20th century throughout the country after building designer Cli May made them — along with the mid-century modern homestyle — wildly popular in California after World War II.
e ranch o ers an open-concept design that was ahead of its time, with easy access to the outside, and convenient single- oor living. And while many variations on the ranch — the split-level, the storybook, the rambler, the farmhouse, the L-shaped, and U-shaped styles, for example — have added interest to the ranch-style inventory, a ranch is just a box, wider than it is deep, with a roof.
Builders develops with purpose and craftsmanship.
Unless you hire Dynamic Builders to build your home. Dynamic Builders doesn't specialize in ranches, though you can see some in uences of the neoclassical- and French-style ranch in many of its homes, including the 1.5-story beauty for sale at 4805 Stayton Ferry Loop in e Brooks subdivision o Route WW, just northwest of e Club at Old Hawthorne. Patrick Wells, owner and founder of Dynamic Builders, nished the ve-bed, 3.5-bath, 3,254-square-foot gem earlier this summer. (As of this writing, that beauty was still waiting for a family who appreciates the craftsmanship that Wells and Dynamic Builders pride themselves on to scoop it up.)
Wells, 44, has spent his life in the construction industry. A Columbia native, he grew up spending his summers alongside his father, an HVAC professional, and found a passion for carpentry. In 2005, Wells opened his own trim carpentry business, which regularly was subcontracted for trim work by many prominent mid-Missouri home builders. In 2007, he decided to take a stab at building his rst home. And even though the market at the time was terrible and the house sat atop a hill with a bodacious driveway, Wells still managed to sell it in six days.
From then on, he had the desire to build and sell more homes.
Armed with knowledge and experience from building homes for other companies, Wells decided to go out on his own in 2011, opening Dynamic Builders, where he saw an opportunity to do his best work and let his craftsmanship shine. Since then, he has built some 150 homes in mid-Missouri. From 2011-2017, he also was working heavily with Beacon Street Properties, building around 60 houses per year, which helped him learn about production and the business side of things.
“I'm used to building communities, and I'm used to building out entire streets,” he says about developing subdivisions.
Wells left Beacon Street in 2018 to pursue Dynamic Builders full-time, and his team has averaged about 30 new builds per year. His team strives to build homes at every price point, which he is able to o er by building a combination of spec homes, like the one at Stayton Ferry Loop, and fully custom homes. e company also does some remodeling.
“What we really focus on is bringing a product to the market with purpose that there's a need for,” Wells explains. “You can seek opportunity as it exists in any kind of market.”
DB has four full-time employees, including Wells’s wife, Shiela, 44, who became the o ce manager two years ago. She has a master’s degree in nursing, but when the business started to pick up, Wells says he was naive to think he could handle everything himself.
“I think her rst three months in the o ce, she probably saved the company over $10,000,” he says with a laugh. “So she makes me look good most of the time.”
e interior nishes as well as the staging were done by interior designer, Bethany Strodtman. She describes the home’s aesthetic as “modern classic.”
“I wanted the home to be a good blend of modern and traditional, and feel light and airy yet timeless,” she adds.
e house is deceptively small from the outside, though the three-car garage hints at the scale of the inside. e white exterior with black trim de nitely checks the “timeless” box. A small front porch welcomes visitors. Step inside the front door to a wide, open living room to the right. Straight ahead is a staircase leading up to the half oor above.
e living room, dining room, and kitchen are built shotgun style, allowing you to see through all three rooms at once from front to back. e e ect is a feeling of spaciousness without any wasted space. And it’s impossible not to notice the bath of natural light a orded by the many windows throughout all three rooms. It is indeed airy.
“Botanical patterns that I found in certain fabrics and wallpapers inspired the design of the home,” Strodtman says. “We incorporated traditional patterns and lighting into the home which is balanced with sleek and simple designs.”
e living room is anchored by a oor-toceiling brick replace painted white with a gas insert. Laminate ooring runs throughout, which also elongates the space. Strodtman chose simple furnishings for the living room – a small sofa and a couple of chairs, and a modern, round co ee table. A faux cow-skin rug adds warmth and texture. A large abstract painting above the replace also adds texture and a splash of color.
Just beyond the living room is the dining room, staged with a table that seats six. e kitchen is classic with white cabinets and white quartz countertops; a gray backsplash of handmade tile; and gold drawer pulls and knobs add a touch of glamour. e square island o ers stool seating; painted black, it adds contrast to the space. A built-in pantry makes storage no problem in this kitchen.
“I wanted the home to be a good blend of modern and traditional, and feel light and airy yet timeless.”
– BETHANY STRODTMAN
One element of the main level that particularly re ects Strodtman’s modern are is the mid-century lighting xtures throughout. Just o the kitchen is a covered porch with a oor of composite decking that doesn’t get hot in the sun.
e master bedroom on the main oor is huge and features a grand tray ceiling painted navy blue. Strodtman’s botanicals steal the show in the ensuite with wallpaper behind the double vanity. e white quartz countertop and darker lower cabinet combo found in the kitchen island repeats here. e shower is a show-stopper with emerald green subway tile stacked vertically on the lower half and topped with white subway tile above. Additionally, this bathroom boasts a built-in vanity space. And the walk-in closet will make you swoon. is bathroom is her favorite room in the house.
“Instead of a typical linen closet, we utilized space in a unique way by incorporating a makeup vanity and drywall niche storage,” Strodtman explains. “ is both opens up the space visually and provides additional countertop space. I also love the way we mixed patterns and scales from the subtle terrazzo-look oor tile to the medium-scale palm wallpaper to the two-tone color block tile shower. It all works together great.”
A half bath on the main oor shows Wells’s love of trim work with wainscoting in black on the lower half of the walls, and one of Strodtman’s showy botanical wallpapers above.
Take the stairs up to the half-story and you’ll nd three bedrooms, one of which is so large it could easily be a playroom, home gym, or o ce. Wells's trim work is again on display in the large room with a
simple feature wall of vertical millwork painted gray. Another beautiful bathroom tops o this spacious half-story.
e nished walkout basement opens into an enormous family room with a wet bar. e fth bedroom can be found downstairs and another stylish full bath downstairs makes this a great entertainment space.
is All-American home backs up to a wooded lot, and the street is as cozy as it is new. It will no doubt be a dream home for a family one day soon.
2000 E. Broadway
(573) 356-6859
dynamicbuildersco.com
SHAUN HENRY ATKINS
The slight chill of a calm, light breeze that makes you think about your favorite sweatshirt and the sight of leaves changing color can be a welcome relief from the scorching heat we had just a month ago. As fall sets in — officially arriving on September 23 — you’ll want to unstash those sweatshirts while also turning attention to your home’s primary living space: The living room.
Some of the top trends of 2023 will last into 2024, and perhaps beyond, namely the slow move away from adhering to a single décor style, whether mid-century modern, a minimalist approach, farmhouse, or French country style. That shift from having a narrowly focused aesthetic is especially notable when looking at fall and winter home living. More and more, home décor trends, from furniture and throw pillows to floor coverings and accent pieces, emphasize the goal of bringing together a thoughtful mix of pieces that reflect what you love, your lifestyle, and your family.
1. Earth tones and warm neutrals have made a big comeback in 2023. Heading into the final months of the year, those warm tones are even more appropriate, and here’s why. Warm tones of copper, terracotta, muted greens, and similar neutrals perfectly accommodate and complement almost every color palette, so they’re an ideal addition to any space.
2. Relax and live. Sometimes our furniture and ensemble arrangements might not whisper “comfortable” to you and your guests. Is it too formal? Too
Jake essentially grew up in the furniture industry, as he is the fourth generation involved in Baumgartner’s Furniture. Working very closely with his father, Alan, Jake has been devoted to the stores full-time since 2004. His greatest enjoyment, however, still comes from working closely with the customers. He is married to Sarah, and they have two active boys, Noah and Laine. Jake received his degree in finance from Saint Louis University.
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casual? What’s your style? The thing to remember is that the living room is where all the relaxing happens, whether it’s a cozy movie night or family game days. Sure, it needs to look good, but your living room — just like most rooms in your home these days — serves a lot of purposes.
3. Say goodbye to traditional. We’re not talking about tossing a checkered rug into a room with striped furniture, but this is more about matching pieces that make your space feel both unique and comfortable. Instead of a sofa with two matching swivels, perhaps a distinctive chair, or a leather-wrapped bench or daybed will stand out and tie the “relax and live” theme together. Even if it’s less (or not at all) traditional.
4. No one likes to hear “cookie cutter” or “predictable.” When it comes to living room arrangements and décor, consider how adding or replacing a longer coffee table with a pedestal can anchor a room in a different, unpredictable way. You’ll know that goal is achieved when your guest says, “There’s something so unique and special about this room,” and it’s because of that unexpected addition.
5. Coasters and board games say “Come, sit a while.” We’ve talked a few times this year about how the pandemic caused our living spaces to pivot to serve a variety of purposes, just as families and businesses made pivots to adjust. Is your living room “multipurpose?” We’re not suggesting a home gym here, but subtle features that make you and your guests feel comfortable. Coasters on tables and neatly arranged, easily accessible board games are welcoming and incredibly inexpensive ways to achieve that goal.
6. Don’t be square. Designers have been saying for a few years now that curved upholstery — such as curved back sofas and barrel chairs — were going to be a go-to style. That prediction has come true in 2023. If there’s any doubt, check out the prevalence of curved architecture – like arched doorways and interior spaces. Those features will last into the future. So will your accent pieces and chairs.
When you’re ready to explore or experiment with a few new touches or pieces for making your living room “relax and live” welcoming, the staff at Baumgartner’s is eager to help you discover options that are just your style, refreshing, and affordable.
When it comes time to think about which plants you are going to use for your upcoming landscape project, you may be surprised at how many options are out there. When trying to achieve variety in the landscape I always want to emphasize seasonal color. One of the biggest mistakes I see homeowners make is focusing too much on one season when purchasing plants. What do you think? Were you lacking some color these past couple months in your landscape? Whether you’re looking for flowers, shrubs, or ornamental grasses, here are six landscape plants that can provide stunning summer color to enhance your outdoor space.
Nate Anderson has been a resident of Columbia for seven years, and he has been working in the landscape industry for just as long. Nate is a designer and estimator for Rost Inc. While working on his degree in plant science and landscape design, he also worked as a foreman at Rost Landscaping, where he oversaw landscape construction projects. He credits much of his inspiration to his “early years” where he got to be a part of the construction of many beautiful landscapes.
1. Vitex
Also known as Chaste Tree, Vitex has lavender-blue spikes of flowers that butterflies love. Vitex is drought tolerant once established and offers a splash of color during those hot summer months. This plant is a great way to incorporate some blue into your garden.
2. Panicle Hydrangea
Cherished for their large showy blooms, hydrangeas are a favorite of many plant lovers. Panicle Hydrangeas including the varieties “Little Lime” and “Strawberry
Sundae” perform really well here in Missouri. So many plants bloom for a couple weeks and then are done for the year, where hydrangeas bloom for months and can offer color all summer long.
3. Allium
Allium are members of the onion family and are extremely low maintenance. They have a globe shaped flower and offer a unique touch to summer gardens. They are drought tolerant and deer resistant. “Medusa” is one of my favorite varieties and has a light purple color to the blooms.
4.
As a native prairie grass, bluestem is an excellent choice for adding texture and color to your landscape. It has blueish-green foliage and will transition to shades of red and bronze in the fall, providing multiple seasons of interest. Bluestem is drought tolerant and deer resistant making it an
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excellent choice for the homeowner who wants a low maintenance landscape.
5. Shasta Daisy
This is a classic summer perennial that is known for its white flowers with yellow centers. They bloom profusely from late spring to early fall. They prefer full sun and are easy to grow and maintain.
6. Althea
Also known as Hibiscus or Rose of Sharon, Althea has large tropical looking blooms that come in white, pink, and purple. This plant prefers full sun and is another one that butterflies and wildlife love. These come in many forms and sizes so be sure to pick one that is the right size for your location.
Remember to think about seasonal color when planning your landscape. By including some of these options you will be sure to have your summer months covered. Trying to incorporate variety into your garden can be a daunting task. Talking to the staff at Superior Garden Center is a great way to get guidance in your plant selections.
Iwas fortunate to have had some great teachers on my way through Columbia Public Schools. It’s difficult for me to nail down my favorite, from Mrs. King, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Watson, Mrs. Scanlon, and Mrs. Starbuck, all at New Haven Elementary, to Ms. Murphy (later Mrs. Barry), Ms. Avery, and Mrs. Rawson at Oakland to Coach Drennan, Mr. Bailey, Mrs. Vasquez-Abshier, and Mr. Burns all at Rock Bridge.
I have fond memories of each of them and feel like they made a significant, positive impact on my education and life in general. I was no teacher’s pet, but believe that I at least showed up on time — most days — with my schoolwork complete, paid attention, didn’t clown around too much, and showed my teachers the respect they were due. Or at least that’s the way I remember it.
After time at Mizzou and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science, I assumed I would know everything I needed to know about managing turf and trees, but I found out that wasn’t necessarily the case. I’ve confirmed what my teachers and professors said to be true plus learned new things as I began my career in the green industry.
I learn something new every day in this career. Here are some lessons learned that might help you as you think about your home:
Don’t let the weeds get out of control. Regular maintenance is essential to keeping a nice lawn and good-looking landscape. If you allow weeds to get a foothold, it’s a lot more difficult to regain control. Proper mowing practices can also reduce the number of weeds and reduce stress on your turf. Keep in mind that a healthy turf slows stormwater, and acts as a filter to remove
A Columbia native, Shaun Henry found a home at Atkins in 2000 when he started his career as a turf technician. Shaun holds a commercial applicator’s license through the Missouri Department of Agriculture and is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the Mid-America Green Industry Council, and the Missouri Green Industry Alliance. Shaun strongly believes in the importance of a great customer experience where the Atkins staff knows their clients and anticipates their needs accordingly.
Shaun is an MU alumnus and has a degree in plant science.
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contaminants, reducing leaching and soil erosion, all while protecting groundwater better than weeds do.
Mow often enough to adhere to the “1/3 rule.” Remove no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade each time you mow. If your mower gets clogged, you’re not mowing often enough. The more you mow, the healthier it will grow. Keep those blades sharp, too!
Manage your soil. I often remind customers to let the mower clippings fall to recycle the organic matter and nutrients back into the lawn. Soil testing can help reveal soilrelated issues needing to be addressed to improve the overall health of your lawn and landscape plants plus, reducing the amount and number of inputs needed to get desired results. Less fertilizer, less pesticides, and less water.
Clean up as needed. There will still be times when you need to remove dead plant materials, seed the lawn to improve turf density, pull weeds out of your beds, fix your irrigation system if you have one, plant new shrubs or trees to rejuvenate your landscape, and of course, rake up those leaves in the fall.
Use the right tool for the job. Not only will the proper tools make the work easier and safer, but they will also make it a lot more enjoyable. It’s okay to continue to add tools to your toolbox as you find those that make your life easier and improve the outcome of your work on the lawn. Just like mower blades, it’s important to keep your hedge trimmer, pruning shear, and lopper blades sharp, too. Damage to stems and leaves of your landscape plants due to dull cutting edges can have adverse results.
Sometimes you just need to call a pro. Know your own limitations and realize that if you’re spinning your wheels and not making any progress, calling a professional to help get the problem solved and the job done can be a great option. They can even help coach you to help you finish the job yourself if that is what you need. That’s why we say, “Shoulda called Atkins!” Don’t hesitate to ask us for help.
Thank you to all of the teachers for your time and dedication to our community and children. And congratulations to my favorite person in the whole world, Dr. Tonya Henry, for her educational achievements. I couldn’t be prouder.
It’s the first thing you see when you enter a room. Even if you’re not focusing on this feature – and few of us do – it’s all around you, practically showing off. There might be a fetching piece of décor, perhaps an attentiongrabbing sofa or chair, or a rustic hardwood floor. But what was the first thing your mind captured?
The color of the walls.
If the interior paint blends with or accentuates the rest of the room, that’s a testament to choosing the best paint color as well as the workmanship of the painter, whether that was you or a seasoned professional. But you don’t want your painted walls to be noticeable or memorable for the wrong reasons: scuff marks, cracked or splitting paint, faded areas, or smudges.
Choosing the correct color is important, of course, but it’s just the beginning for keeping those walls in their perfect, pristine state. Here are some tips for keeping that fresh look for years to come.
• Clean handprints or dirt and smudges with a damp warm washcloth. (But wait 30 days to give the paint time to fully cure.) For tough marks, use a small amount of baking soda and rub gently over the stain. Most marks will disappear with gentle cleaning and the walls will have a fresh look.
• Keep your thermostat at a consistent temperature to avoid cracking and splitting in woodwork.
• Preventing scuff marks might seem like a lost cause, but chair railings, wainscoting, and baseboards can all help hide or prevent future marks. And when hanging artwork, put a small piece of painter’s tape on the back of the frame to keep it from shifting and scratching the wall.
Jaclyn Rogers, sales representative at Ai Painting Plus, sees paint as more valuable than simply being an accent in a home. “We are painting joy into people’s homes,” she says. Jaclyn is certified as a Psychological Color Expert, which means she has demonstrated mastery in specifying interior paint in residential applications.
• Be mindful when moving your furniture back into place after the paint job is completed. It’s best to have someone guiding you to prevent bumping into walls. Keep the paint on the walls, not on your new sectional.
• If the wall is in a high-traffic area of your home or business, be sure not to neglect routine dusting. It’s a quick, easy way to keep your walls looking fresh and avoids the walls becoming a time capsule of dust and grime, which shortens the paint’s lifespan.
• Remember to carefully wash painted walls with warm water and a sponge. It’s important to be gentle and to rinse well. (We talked about washing exterior walls in our August article.)
• Repair damaged paint quickly. To prevent a small problem from worsening, frequently check for damage, such as small cracks, chips, or peeling paint. You can use small brushes and leftover touch-up paint to repair small defects. It’s always good practice to keep leftover paint for minor repairs. We keep leftovers at the home or office that we painted so clients can use it for touch-ups when needed.
These tips will be useful for keeping your paint fresh and clean, and for extending the life of the color that you carefully selected. While there are techniques for handling any blemishes on your walls, the most ideal solution is prevention.
Finally, whether it’s a residence or a commercial or industrial building, ongoing maintenance should include making sure interior and exterior surfaces are properly painted and maintained. It creates a pleasant environment for everyone: you, your guests, your customers (and your brand), and your family.
Founder Ray Hall and his “dream team,” made up of Karmella Wright and Eddie Pilot, nurture inspiration through Dream Tree Academy — an after-school program designed to inspire and support kids from underserved areas of Columbia.
Dream Tree Academy o ers kids ages 11 to 18 a unique curriculum focused on youth entrepreneurship and workforce development. Its mission is to provide engaging educational programs for a culturally diverse youth group, focusing on the arts as well as music, graphic design, nancial literacy, job readiness, and mental health.
e academy’s website states that it “strives to help our youth to become dynamic individuals by supporting their educational goals and immersing them in experiences that prepare them to live a cultural way of life. We strive to educate, inspire, and advocate for our students to become self-sustainable entrepreneurs.”
Established in 2019, Dream Tree is the product of Hall’s long-time passion.
“Music and the arts were my outlets when I was young,” he explains. “Going into the music studio and having that passion is what saved me, kept me out of the streets. It was a passion I’ve always
thought about sharing but just didn’t ever take the opportunity to do so.”
e impetus came when Hall was in his twenties.
“I nally decided to take that passion o the back burner,” he says.
Hall, Wright, and Pilot have been together since the academy’s inception. Aside from nancial literacy and job readiness, music and the arts have been the focus of Dream Tree Academy since the start. O ering music lessons, podcast production, access to music studio space, photography, fully equipped
computer labs with 3D printers, screen presses, and more allows young people a chance to explore new opportunities they might not have had access to.
“We’ll o er anything they set their hearts on and want to try,” Wright notes, adding that the curriculum is always evolving. “We’re constantly asking the kids what they want to do, what they are passionate about and we pivot from there. at’s how our podcast production class started, it’s what the kids were excited about.”
Dream Tree Academy 573’s mission is to provide engaging after-school educational programs for our culturally diverse youth. Focusing on music, graphic design, financial literacy, and mental health, we strive to help our youth to become dynamic individuals by supporting their educational goals and immersing them in experiences that prepare them to live a cultural way of life. Our purpose is to incentivize at-risk youth to set and meet participation goals and provide opportunities for job training, community service, and financial education. We strive to educate, inspire and advocate for our students to become selfsustainable entrepreneurs.
FOUNDED 2019
Outside of the regular curriculum, Dream Tree Academy tries to set its students up for success by o ering them access to tools and opportunities they might not have known were available. ose resources come in a variety of ways. Dream Tree travels with its students to local businesses such as auto mechanic shops or similar small businesses to give students hands-on experience and knowledge of career paths that may not require a college education. Dream Tree students take part in an aviation course in Kansas City that teaches them drone simulation and gives them the opportunity to y in an airplane over Arrowhead and Kau man stadiums.
When it comes to nancial literacy courses, Dream Tree goes beyond just teaching how to create a budget and balance a checkbook. e academy partners with Judy Baker of Student Educational and Economic Development (SEED) Success. SEED works with youth and families to “seed” and grow college/career incentive savings accounts to help with educational aspirations beyond high school.
Students earn money through participation in certain events, academics, school attendance, and other personal development learning — meaning students leave Dream Tree Academy with money in a personal and business account. Dream Tree Academy o ers students assistance in securing business licensing and creating business plans and hosts
mock interviews for students to be prepared to enter the workforce.
“It isn’t about the kids nding motivation to succeed. ey are motivated,” Pilot says. “It’s about helping them nd something to be passionate about. We’ve got good kids, really good kids, that we get to have frontrow seats to watch them nd their spark, realize that they have options in life, that they can have hope for their future, they can set a goal, they can dream big — and we can get them to that goal.”
Dream Tree Academy is funded by grants and donations, and is entirely volunteer-run.
“We have volunteers of all ages, races, backgrounds,” Hall says. “We want to make sure we have somebody for everybody. We want our kids to have a wide variety of perspectives. It gives us the best chance to connect with each one of them.”
He continues, “We have a good team but we’re always trying to build on that team. We are always in communication with [Columbia Public Schools Superintendent] Dr. Yearwood, our home school communications, counselors, the families — we get everyone involved in the child’s life. If we are all wrapping our arms around each kid, we ensure each kid stays on the right path to success.”
Families that want their child to be considered for enrollment, and anyone interested in volunteering, can visit the academy’s website for more information.
INITIAL MEMBERS
• Raymond Hall II President/Executive Director
• Karmella Wright Vice President
“We’re going to keep on truckin’ no matter what, keep pouring into these kids because we have to,” Hall adds. “We want what’s best for this community. We make the change by being the change for these kids. We’re just going to keep showing up for our kids.”
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On the edge of town lies Plume, a hidden gem where local artisans' creations fl ourish, workshops spark creativity, and community thrives.
BY AMANDA LONGThe unassuming exterior and o -the-beaten-path location might be deceiving to a Plume rsttime visitor. But within this enchanting emporium of creativity, founder Kelly Gillion has carved out a niche for local, handmade goods to shine and a place for Columbia’s community to learn and connect.
Gillion explains that Plume started in 2013 as an evolution of several di erent things happening in her life including her children getting older and the decision to return to the workforce.
“In the meantime, I was crafting and looking for outlets to sell, as well as buying things from other creative moms who were selling their wares out of their homes," she says. A lot has changed in 10 years.
“Before Venmo, the purchasing process was clunky and awkward – where to pick up goods, how to exchange payment, and what to do if the items weren’t as expected,” Gillion says. ose scenarios prompted Gillion to wonder why there wasn’t a place where those women could take and sell their goods.
After stumbling across and securing a vintage resale shop with great potential, Gillion had a location for her concept. But she says she lacked an important startup ingredient: money.
“It was an organic idea that kind of evolved to become sort of a brick-and-mortar Etsy shop," she says. "I went back to the groups of moms who were making and asked if they would be interested in consignment and most of them said yes.”
Today the shelves and walls inside Plume are lined with vintage and hand-crafted home decór, jewelry, apparel, and fabrics from more than 70 artisans, many of whom are local. Gillion works hard to curate a partnership with each of her vendors, ensuring that her shop is both a resource for makers and an outlet for the community.
Some of Plume’s local wares include Midway Mercantile Co.’s fused glass jewelry, ree Little Birds’ women and baby apparel, a variety of GoPo’s gourmet popcorn avors, e Flower Garden’s oral wreaths, MacKenzie’s Blakery macarons, and K&K Co.’s candles and body products.
e word “plume” is de ned as a material (such as a feather) worn as a decoration. ere is also a verb usage meaning to furnish, cover, or adorn.
“When considering the name of the shop, I loved the double usage that plume could stand for,” Gillion says. “And then there’s also some scriptural reference about God covering us with his feathers, and under his wings, we nd refuge.”
With the shop's location positioned to be somewhat of a destination — located one mile south of Rock Bridge High School o Route K — Gillion says she knew Plume had to be something special. Incorporating a bakery was always a part of her original plan, as well as creating an event and workshop space for gatherings and classes.
e building was already equipped with a small kitchen which included a 1950s pink oven and coordinating pink refrigerator — surprisingly both in working order. In 2015, after obtaining commercial kitchen licensing, Gillion put the pink oven to work making cupcakes.
“At that time, we were literally making cupcakes one tray at a time,” she says with a laugh. “And people are so crazy about cupcakes.”
As the popularity of the bakery quickly grew, Gillion knew her kitchen would also have to grow. After a remodel in 2020, e Bake Shoppe at Plume kitchen was upgraded with industrial appliances, keeping the pink stove as its logo to commemorate humble beginnings.
Gillion began o ering workshops at Plume soon after opening. Initially, classes included making paper wreaths out of book pages, German glass glitter decorations, and chalk painting furniture. As demand for the workshops grew, Gillion expanded to include hand lettering, watercolor painting, and photography.
Continuing to expand and try new things, Gillion began partnering with some of her current vendors to o er a wider variety of workshops. Beth Costello of Heartgrooves Handmade taught felting classes where students learned to create beautiful decor such as succulent gardens or wreaths. Laurel Harlan from Kiss Me Cookies leads the cookie decorating workshops.
In 2021 Gillion teamed up with Carrie Schlimme, who had recently started a charcuterie board business — Graze by Carrie — as a side gig.
Schlimme says she started making charcuterie boards during Covid to take to social gatherings that were outdoors, often garnering the response that the creations were “too pretty to eat” and “you should start a business.”
“To test the waters, I would bring a board to a get-together and see what the reaction was,” Schlimme explains. “I always wanted to do something creative, and I knew that Kelly had a certi ed kitchen at Plume, so we worked out a deal for me to rent some space from her to make my boards.”
Little by little Schlimme started getting orders for boards from Plume customers and decided to host a charcuterie workshop, which was so popular it sold out almost immediately.
“Word of mouth spread, and I started getting requests to do workshops privately in homes and for local businesses on a smaller scale — it is a great team-building opportunity," she says. "It’s not a big secret what makes a great charcuterie board and I’m thrilled to share all my tips of the trade. I love the hosting, the interaction, the creativity, and the meeting people. It really lit my re."
Gillion adds, “ e workshop opportunities o er a collaborative, creative space for participants to meet new friends or run into old ones. It’s just a really fun place to spend a morning.”
Workshops are o ered monthly, and the registration price includes all supplies needed as well as refreshments. Information on upcoming classes can be found on the Plume website, on social media, or by signing up for the newsletter.
Plume’s 3,600-square-foot space is open Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. e shop is lled with found and made goods from vendors near and far, as well as a growing bakery and an event space called e Gathering Room that can be rented to host private events for up to 30 people. Plume or an outside vendor can be used to cater those events.
Although the weather doesn't always seem to be in agreement, fall is just around the corner. e football season is underway, the kids are back in school, and tra c in town is once again congested. ere’s excitement in the air with a new season approaching and all of the activities that are associated with it.
Although we’re empty nesters, I can recall all too well when the kids were in high school and playing soccer, trying to get the business squared away so we could drive all over the state to follow the teams, keeping the home front under control, and trying to have some tasty, nutritious meals to avoid the temptation of fast food.
is last item was always a challenge because there are only so many hours in a day. One solution to this dilemma was to make up large quantities of versatile sauces when time would permit and freeze meal-size quantities so we could throw a portion in the microwave and pair it with an appropriate protein for a quick, tasty, delicious meal.
Here’s one of my favorite sauces. It goes well with chicken or pork loin, either dredged in seasoned our and sauteed or grilled.
Jim “Hoss” Koetting is a retired restaurateur/chef who enjoys gardening, good food, good bourbon, and good friends.
• 12-16 oz. sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbsp. granulated onion
• 1 tbsp. Hoss’s Steak seasoning
• 1/8-1/4 cup Dijon mustard, depending on avor preference
• Roux (instructions to follow)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Bring milk or half and half to a boil, add chicken base, granulated onion, Hoss’s seasoning, and Dijon mustard.
2. Meanwhile, sauté the mushrooms in clari ed butter over high heat until they start to brown.
3. Add roux, a little at a time, whisking until fully incorporated, until the sauce coats a spoon.
4. Serve over the protein of choice and chill and freeze the extra.
ROUX:
1. Melt 1 cup butter over medium heat, when the moisture is evaporated, add 1 cup of our a little at a time, constantly whisking until it starts to turn a gold color and smell like popcorn.
2. Remove from heat and let cool.
3. Save any leftovers in a sealed container at room temperature for later use. Will keep for up to 4 months.
As the back-to-school season rolls around, my mind always drifts back to my own educational journey. ose early school days feel like a chapter from an old book, lled with the memory of neighborhood kids walking together to school, teachers who taught all your family members, and the sound of kids laughing on a roughly poured blacktop during recess.
e memories of that version of school are clear in my mind, a picture of innocence and shared experiences. However, my time in that idyllic setting was eeting, spanning only from kindergarten to third grade, before an unexpected twist took me into a new academic season.
e label “gifted” was attached to me after a few rounds of tests, and with it came an acceptance letter to a special program at Classical Junior Academy. is uncharted territory lled me with fear — the prospect of leaving behind familiar faces to go into a world where strangers came from every corner of the greater St. Louis area was both daunting and thrilling.
As I stepped into those new hallways, I had no idea of the profound impact this change would have on my life.
My time at Classical Junior Academy extended all the way through eighth grade, marking a transformative period that remains a highlight of my young life. e education I received within those walls was unparalleled, a testament to the ded-
ication of remarkable educators who led us through core subjects with a mastery that left a mark. Programs like Junior Great Books rmly instilled a love of reading that I still have today. Yet, it was not merely the academic lessons that made this chapter exceptional; it was the palette of choices we were o ered.
Within those halls, PE and dance fought for our attention alongside the options for vocal music versus instrumental music.
is is where I found myself jumping into the world of classics, taught by Ms. Hughes, while also realizing I could never remember my trombone after the bus rides.
Dance became an unexpected great love for me. Ballet and modern dance classes every other day helped me forge some of the best memories I have of that time. Our dance instructor Ms. Smith reminded us of Debbie Allen and when I was in that studio I felt like we were extras on the TV show Fame. e recitals we performed were legendary — it was so fun to look around that gym from the stage and see it wall-to-wall packed.
Beyond the academic and artistic parts, what hangs around most in my memory are the relationships that were created. I had
peers from backgrounds that were radically di erent from my own, each one of them contributing to my knowledge in ways that books could not. e lessons learned from these interactions extended way beyond the classroom, enriching my education in ways that transcended tradition.
Looking back, it’s clear that education is not con ned to textbooks and classes alone. It includes the people who guide us, the friendships that shape us, and the experiences that mold us into multifaceted individuals. My early educational journey showcases the transformative power of education in its broadest sense.
As another generation embarks on their own scholastic journey, may they encounter the magic that comes from an education that extends beyond the conventional, enriching their lives in ways that they cannot yet imagine. Adonica Coleman is the founder of e COMO 411 and owner of A2D Events.
Students from throughout the state ock to Columbia to receive an education that will pave the way toward a successful career, but they’re not all studying to become journalists and geologists. e students at Luxx Beauty & Barber Institute study in a di erent kind of classroom, one lled with mannequin heads, salon chairs, and eventually, real clients.
Debra Harris, the Institute’s owner and CEO, says programs are offered for cosmetology; a separate manicuring program; and a barber program.
e school is bustling, with students gaining hands-on experience with everything from facials to sanitation and cosmetic chemistry. Harris says the Institute aims to keep enrollment numbers at around 25 students, as she wants every student to receive as much one-on-one instruction time as possible.
e Luxx Beauty & Barber Institute has only been under Harris’s ownership for the last three years. However, the building itself has a longer history.
e Institute has a fortuitous origin story, as Harris reveals that a 2019 feature in COMO Magazine led to a chance encounter.
“I did an interview about my hair salon,” she says. “One of the questions that the interviewer [asked] was, ‘What’s your next plan?’ And I said, ‘You know I’d like to have a school.’”
After the story was published, she was contacted by none other than Sam Brown, owner of Sam Brown’s Institute of Cosmetology.
“He said that he read the article and that he would like to sell [the school] to me if I was interested. I asked him, ‘How
soon are you looking to do that?’ because my personal projection was within the next ve years. He said, ‘Within the next six months,’” Harris recalls, laughing at the memory. “And, wow. It did happen within the next six months.”
Harris didn’t o cially change the school’s name until February 2022, but since her ownership began in 2019, the school has been completely overhauled, and not just the interior design.
“ e students have changed. We’re getting more diverse, di erent ethnicities of students that are coming in because our course o ered experience with textured hair,” she says. “Before, they were only getting that theory-wise, but now they’re getting actual, hands-on experience on the clinic oor.”
Luxx Beauty & Barber Institute focuses on educating students on every hair type, which has been a major pain point for cosmetology schools in the past, Harris says, adding that the focus is a big reason behind adding the school’s barber program, which “has done really well” and graduated some 60 barbers since she took over.
Governed by the Missouri Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners, students at the Luxx Beauty & Barber Institute must have proof of education — such as a GED, high school diploma, or transcript — to enroll and obtain a student license. After that, they must log a minimum number of hours of experience before they are eligible for graduation.
“Each program has di erent rules,” Debra explains. For cosmetology, students must complete 1,500 hours; 1,000 hours for barbering; and around 600 hours for manicuring.
To complete the hours requirement, it can take students six months to a year of full-time studying.
Despite the intense schooling it requires to reach the requirements, the Institute o ers tuition fees that Harris says are lower in comparison to other cosmetology schools, with costs ranging anywhere from $3,000 to $9,000.
“It’s well worth the cost,” she says. “It was a decision I was trying to make early on, but we chose to [stay private]. I’ve thought about it in the sense that it opens up the opportunity for people who are impoverished to get an education.”
She continues, “It makes [the Institute] an accessible option for students that don’t want to go to a traditional college. ey want to learn a trade, something that’s fairly quick to complete, and gives
[them] the opportunity to make just as much as someone with a four-year college degree.”
More than just technical skills, the Institute wants to instill in its students other important skills, such as leadership.
“In this industry, you really have to be a leader,” Harris explains. “We try to help students recognize that they’re engaging — becoming — leaders. You’re setting the tone for your work, starting with yourself. You are your brand.”
Harris lives that ideology as evidenced by a number of side projects, such as community outreach, business consulting, and even a book in the works. Many students have followed her lead and opened their own businesses and salons.
“We have students from all over, driving an hour and a half from the surrounding areas just to come to school every day because there is no school any closer for them,” she says, adding that it is ful lling knowing that her students are taking what they’ve learned back to their own communities. “ e opportunity to work with the students, to help bring the industry to a higher standard — it’s the number one reason why I accepted this challenge — because that’s what I wanted to do.”
You
sign
2023 winter
If you love greens & root vegetables then this is the season for you!
The Winter Season of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) begins the middle of October and will run for 8 weeks.
(Delivered every week.)
Delicious cool weather veggies such as: kale, swiss chard, cabbage, spinach, beets, carrots, onions, various types of head lettuce, Asian greens, root veggies, winter squash and much more are included.
The real story of Douglass High School is what’s happening inside.
BY LAUREN SABLE FREIMAN | PHOTO BY ANTHONY JINSONIFyou judge based on traditional measures of school success — test scores, attendance records, days of suspensions — you’ll miss the magic that’s happening inside the walls of Frederick Douglass High School. As Columbia Public Schools’ small school alternative, Douglass operates di erently from other comprehensive high schools, and the statistics alone don’t tell the full story of what’s happening inside.
“My data is inherited,” says principal Eryca Neville. “People look at our attendance and think, 'Shame on them, why is their attendance so low?' We inherit the
poor attendance of these kids when they come to us. If people don’t dig deeper or take the time to see what we o er and only look at numbers, you miss the fact that we have kids who are reengaging with their education again.”
In Neville’s view, not all kids thrive in all environments, and in today’s post-pandemic climate more than ever, some students need a smaller learning environment to thrive. at’s the role Douglass ful lls for Columbia Public Schools.
“Intellect is not the children’s issue,” Neville says. “It is connectedness, someone advocating for them, someone
“Intellect is not the children’s issue. It is connectedness, someone advocating for them, someone teaching them their way. We help our students rethink what school can be for them, what they can be for it, and what they can do after they leave us.”
— DR. ERYCA NEVILLE
teaching them their way. We help our students rethink what school can be for them, what they can be for it, and what they can do after they leave us.”
At Douglass, students complete credits on the quarter system, which means that students can enter the program four times each year, and graduate from the program on a quarterly basis as well. At the beginning of each quarter, Douglass interviews students for admission.
As Douglass hosts the English language learners program for grades nine through 12 for CPS, about one-third of the student population attends Douglass based on their English language pro ciency. e remaining students have struggled in some way at previous schools.
“We have students with high truancy, mental health issues, academic issues, community issues that stopped them from being able to focus on academics,” Neville says. “We look at their academic history, their discipline history, their attendance; we ask questions about support systems they may need or may already have in place, and we come up with a graduation plan that will help them matriculate. Nothing is more frustrating than trying to bring grades up. Once you get in a hole, it’s hard to dig out. You don’t have to dig out of a hole here. You can have a fresh start and learn to be successful from this point on.”
During the admissions process, Neville meets with students to learn more about them and more about what support they need for success.
“Post pandemic with young people, they need more positive connections,” Neville says. “ is gives me an opportunity to sit down and have a conversation that says we aren’t just dealing with credits or test scores — we are here to get to know the whole person. is is a space for us to gure out if you need more mental health supports. Do you need a job, what has your school experience been, are you willing to give school a di erent look or try? What are some of your interests or hobbies?”
She continues, “If you were one of those kids who lacked connection in a larger environment, those things can help reduce your truancy rate or motivate you to give school another try.”
Neville’s team at Douglass operates with an “all hands on deck” philosophy where every sta member is committed to connecting with young people and helping them be successful, she says. Classes are thoughtfully structured to give students the opportunity to reengage in the curriculum.
In the physics classroom, teacher Laura Zinszer collaborates with the city’s O ce of Sustainability to build mock homes. Using the same instruments the city uses to test energy e ciency, students learn how to calculate energy e ciency.
S. David Mitchell, the Ruth L. Hulston professor of law and co-director of the Michael A. Middleton Center for Race, Citizenship and Justice at MU’s School of Law comes into Jonette Ford’s English class once each week.
“I had a guest in my o ce and we heard a horrible ruckus coming from above us,” Neville says. “We heard yelling, and then everyone burst out laughing. I knew that was Dr. Mitchell up there, teaching. ey were debating.”
Douglass has several other partnerships around the community, including one with Central Bank’s ProsperU. Director Sarah Moreau “breathes life” into personal nance classes conducted via Zoom, Neville says.
“Our hope is to get as many kids as possible back in school and engaged in the process so they can graduate and identify a post-secondary plan,” she says.
Neville says about 95 percent of students stay at Douglass once they arrive, and the graduation rate is 80 percent.
Douglass also hosts the Missouri Option Program.
“ e state says if you are credit de cient and can’t graduate with your senior cohort, you can pass three classes — personal nance, government, and health — pass the new HiSet high school equivalency exam and earn a high school diploma,” she explains. Students can enroll in the HiSet prep course if they work or volunteer 20 hours a week, and then they can enroll in testing.
Douglass also hosts a HiSet testing center as the only location that does it four days a week in Boone County. Neville says the school administered more than 1,000 assessments last year.
Going above and beyond for students is the norm at Douglalss Neville says she and her sta believe strongly in education and “will do just about anything but cheat to help you get nished.”
Douglass has a daycare center for students who are parents of kids from six weeks old up to 3 years old — free of charge. e center is licensed for up to six babies.
e school also supports students through a partnership with e Flourish Initiative. Such partnerships are invaluable for providing a complete system of support for students.
“You can’t worry about school work if your lights are turned o at your house,” Neville says.
At Douglass, there are four rules for the 200 students that ll the building each quarter.
“Be here every day, be on time for everything, be respectful to everyone, and do your best,” Neville says. “ e challenge for any teacher in the world right now is how do you meet multiple academic and social needs, and thankfully, we have a group of educators that are experts in their class that will gure out how to get it done with the kids who come in.”
Imagine a scenario where a high school student graduates from college before graduating from high school. anks to the Early College program — a partnership between Columbia Public Schools and Moberly Area Community College — and a plethora of dual credit and advanced placement courses available at CPS, the graduated-college-before-graduated-high-school plot is not just wishful thinking. It has already happened.
Students must do the work of earning the credits. CPS pays for the books, tuition, and other fees at MACC from the average daily attendance funds the school district receives from the state for each student. Students take classes from a suite of courses, known as the CORE 42, that are transferable to any Missouri public college or university.
“ ey’re basically getting two years of college paid for,” says Aleesha Coke, director of MACC’s Columbia campus, and the primary advisor to Early College students.
Early College got started in the fall of 2020, despite the seismic impacts of the worldwide COVID pandemic.
CPS and MACC partnership puts students on the path to success.
“We decided how schedules would be built, the bus routes — all of that,” Coke recalls. “When COVID hit, all the preparation just kind of went out the window. But we made it work and our students were wonderful. We have very resilient students.” e rst group of students were “barely on campus” because of remote learning.
“ at’s doubly impressive,” Coke notes.
Now in its fourth year, the program has produced 68 CPS graduates who have already earned a two-year, associate degree along with a high school diploma. In at least one case, a student’s combined dual credit, advanced placement, and Early College credits also meant college graduation before high school graduation.
Dru Nash, the CPS advanced studies coordinator, is the rst point of contact for students before they nd their way to Coke’s o ce. Students must be extremely motivated, she says.
“ ere’s a lot on the students to do this,” Nash explains. “ ey’re navigating the two worlds — high school and college.” Nash says she and Coke, along with their sta and instructors, provide support to help the students be successful.
Coke and Nash, along with former CPS Superintendent Dr. Peter Stiepleman, MACC President Je Lashley, and others brainstormed how to launch an early college program in 2019 after Stiepleman returned from a Columbia Chamber of Commerce trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, the previous spring.
at trip introduced Chamber visitors to Middle College, a partnership between Ann Arbor Public Schools and a community college, and it sparked what would become Early College for CPS and MACC. In COMO Magazine’s April 2020 feature on the new partnership, Stiepleman gushed about the possibilities and bene ts.
“ is could be an absolute game-changer in terms of eliminating two years of college debt, increasing the chances a kid will graduate a four-year institution, or be ready to go right into the workforce with their associate degree,” he said at the time.
Coke says Early College has met and exceeded everyone’s expectations. Nash agrees.
Younger siblings from families that have already had a student in the program are now participating, too.
“I think that’s a good marker of success, when you see families seeing value in it. at’s been a cool piece,” says Nash, whose career in education is in its 29th year.
Back in 2020, school o cials expected around 50 students would take advantage of Early College. e nal enrollment number was 155. e total for fall 2021 was 125 and 132 were enrolled in 2022. As the 2023-24 school year begins, 166 students are ready to begin splitting time between CPS and MACC for Early College 45 are expected to graduate high school in the spring. e program had 32 graduates in 2022 and 36 in 2021.
“ ey go to college all over the country,” Coke says, listing the University of Kansas, California, Florida State, and Mizzou as some of the locations where Early College grads have landed. High schoolers who begin Early College as seniors
“I think one of the biggest things that has made this so successful is the community feedback. The support is amazing.”
— DRU NASH, CPS ADVANCED STUDIES COORDINATOR
might continue with MACC for another year to earn their associate degree or go on to a four-year college with the transfer credit.
“ ey can go into a four-year college as a sophomore, basically,” Coke adds. A handful typically drops out of the program for various reasons.
Students who are accepted into Early College must meet a certain academic pro le: a minimum grade-point average of 2.75, a qualifying ACT score, and a record of at least 90 percent attendance. ey will take classes at MACC and earn 10 to 12 credit hours per semester while still progressing toward their diplomas and maintaining their status as high school students.
At this point, there is no cap on the number of students who can take advantage of Early College.
“ ey get the best of both worlds,” Lashley told COMO Magazine in 2020, noting that the CPS and MACC o ered several services to help students be successful. “We’re also focusing on getting rst-generation college students involved.”
Early College helps students who might not have their sights set on higher education become aware of how accessible and a ordable college can be, he added.
Nash says the collaboration between CPS and MACC administrators and boards has been a key for creating a successful program that is unique and “always evolving.”
“Early College happens all over the nation. We de nitely looked at how other districts structured everything,” she explains. “We wanted to see how it needs to work for Columbia Public School students.”
Nash continues, “I think one of the biggest things that has made this so successful is the community feedback. e support is amazing.”
Coke, a Columbia resident since 2004, says Early College is “the buzz of the town” and is strengthening MACC’s solid relationship with CPS. e college also bene ts from the revenue Early College generates.
“It’s a good public relations builder for us and building the relationship with CPS was a big deal, too,” she adds.
She envisions expanding Early College to other Boone County school districts, and talks are already under way to partner with Hannibal Public Schools.
“ ey de nitely want to model it o Columbia’s program,” Coke says.
Early College orientation takes place with information sessions in August. Nash encourages students to apply, go through the enrollment process, and see if Early College will be a t.
“People are becoming more and more informed about what it entails and what it looks like,” she adds. “I just like to see my students and families make as informed decisions as possible.”
CPS already o ers 30 dual credit classes and a host of advanced placement courses. ose options, along with Early College, will sometimes create the opportunity to earn a full college degree before or simultaneously as a high school diploma, Nash says.
Early College has also earned praise from Todd Martin, MACC’s vice president for instruction.
“We’re very pleased with what we’ve been able to do, to continue to grow,” Martin says. “We’re in the process of exploring ways to grow it even more.”
In addition to expanding Early College to other school districts, there’s also discussion about how part-time status might work. Up to now, students are encouraged to take 12 credit hours each semester. O ering part-time status might increase opportunities and access.
“I see a bright future for this partnership and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes,” Martin adds.
Coke calls Early College “my baby,” pointing out that students can still participate in athletics, activities, and other functions of the high school experience.
“ ey’re still full-time students while they’re doing this,” she notes. “ at can be a little bit overwhelming, especially if they’re involved in other activities.”
at’s even more reason to applaud Early College enrollees, Martin says.
“It’s remarkable how it works — the dedication of the students,” he adds. “ at’s awesome. at makes me feel good about the future.”
Unions have been making headlines. Starbucks employees are trying to form them. Hollywood writers and actors challenge studios, networks, and streaming services from the picket lines to come up with compensation and protection solutions in step with 21st century technology. And UPS drivers want, among other things, the company to provide air conditioning in their trucks now that climate change is evoking record-setting heat waves.
Technically, it takes only two employees to join forces to work collectively to further their interests. Wages and bene ts, working conditions, and job enhancements are matters employees need to address with employers. Unions provide the collective power they need to negotiate from a position of strength.
You don’t have to look far to learn how unions are working to improve the lives of their members. e Columbia Missouri National Education Association (CMNEA) has been in the trenches for a while. And while the battles just keep heating up, CMNEA is sticking up for students attending Columbia Public Schools (CPS) by sticking up for teachers.
With three million members, the National Education Association (NEA) is the largest union in the United States. It has a liate organizations in every state, including Missouri NEA (MNEA), plus 14,000 community-level a liates, including CMNEA.
MNEA launched in 1973 and currently has roughly 32,000 members. CMNEA was one of Missouri’s rst local organizations formed under the NEA and MNEA umbrellas. Some 700 CPS teachers are dues-paying members of the NEA. To put that into perspective, teachers are categorized by CPS as “certi ed sta .” During the 2022-23 school year, the school district’s full-time equivalent (FTE) for certi ed sta was 1,446.
Two of the most important numbers, though, may be years: 2007 and 2012.
In 2007, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the constitutional right of public educators to bargain collectively with their employers in Independence NEA vs. Independence School District. In 2012, the high court essentially reversed 55 years of precedence, ruling that most public employers, including school boards, not only have an obligation to collectively bargain with unions but to do so in good faith.
Noelle Gilzow, president of CMNEA, says the 2012 case is probably the most signi cant recent event that impacted what the organization does.
“In union towns like Kansas City and St. Louis, collective bargaining has been around much longer,” Gilzow says. “But in smaller places in outstate Missouri, where unionism isn’t as prevalent an attitude, that decision allowed us to organize and bargain on behalf of CPS teachers.”
What that means, Gilzow explains, is that CMNEA could negotiate what provisions its membership wanted in their contracts and those provisions are then legally binding. Before that, the organization could talk to the CPS Board of Education about what its members wanted, but anything one board granted had no legal enforcement if the next board didn’t want to follow through.
“Our teachers are no longer subject to the whims of board policy which can change relatively quickly, depending on the composition of the district administration and the Board,” she says.
During the historic challenges that arose during the pandemic, membership in CMNEA grew. Teachers, Gilzow says, felt “heard” by the organization. And when they were dealing with unprecedented events, they needed a voice.
Businesswoman Randi Zuckerberg (sister of “Meta” Mark) advises: “Never beat around the bush when you’re asking for a raise.” e leadership of CMNEA demonstrated its commitment to advocating for teachers when it negotiated a $650 increase in the base salary for CPS teachers earlier this year. ere was no beating
around the proverbial bush, although there was good, old-fashioned compromise.
In the beginning, the CPS board was o ering a $200 base increase. CMNEA was asking that the $40,250 base be raised to $50,000. e board and union nally agreed to the $650 gure, but Gilzow wants to work with the district on strategic incremental raises to $50,000 over the next ve years.
Compensation is always addressed, but it isn’t the only issue CMNEA has raised with the board. e organization considers everything that can improve teachers’ ability to teach, such as measures designed to ensure safety and security, leave, and preserve their mental health.
“Two years ago, we nally got it into the collective bargaining agreement that every teacher gets a 30-minute, duty-free lunch,” Gilzow says. “Especially with elementary teachers, where they’re taking kids to the lunchroom then having to pick them up, there were cases where they were getting less than 30 minutes. at’s pretty tough. Teachers need downtime to recollect themselves, get back in the zone, and get back at it.”
“We put a major focus on having teachers be the best that they can be so they can serve their students in the best possible way,” she says.
e leadership of CMNEA is volunteer-based. ere’s no executive director on the payroll. Instead, there are teachers advocating for the interests and welfare of teachers. Gilzow, for example, is the science department chair at Hickman High School and teaches advanced placement biology, honors anatomy, and biology.
In addition to the president, the organization’s executive team comprises rst and second vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, and chairs for membership, public relations, political action, and education support professional committees. e local organization receives guidance and support from the MNEA Unit 18 director as well.
Having someone active in CMNEA to talk to if you’re a teacher at any of the CPS schools is easy. ere’s a CMNEA building representative in every facility. At last count, that’s 22 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and four high schools. Plus, there’s representation for the Career Center, Parents as Teachers Program, the Center for Early Learning – North, Gifted Education, and CORE.
Union membership isn’t free. MNEA has a graduated dues schedule for years one through four so new members get a price break while learning the bene ts of belonging to the organization. After four years, members pay full dues which are currently about $690 per year. But a new member would pay more like $280 a year. Dues are paid to MNEA which then pays the national organization a certain amount, based on Missouri’s total NEA membership. CMNEA then receives a percentage to spend on local activities.
CMNEA members can apply for grants or scholarships to further their education and professional development. ey have access to professional liability insurance coverage, discounts at local businesses, and resources they need to maintain their professional certi cation and credentials.
College debt is a huge issue for teachers who earn their degrees and end up in a profession with far less lucrative paychecks than others.
CMNEA has partnered with a local nancial company that assists members with preparing applications for debt-relief programs.
CMNEA and MNEA also represent their members when they are confronted with disciplinary action or measures related to performance reviews. Gilzow says it’s important that the union doesn’t just help its members as a group, but also as individuals in the profession.
Part of the CMNEA budget gives back to teachers directly, during American Education Week and Teacher Appreciation Week. But members can also request funding through several di erent classroom grant opportunities. In 202223, Gilzow says CMNE funded 27 requests from members for activities of their own creation.
Gilzow believes that supporting teachers is the path to supporting students. And students – no matter who they are –need more and more support these days to succeed.
“We support teachers. We know that a teacher’s working environment is the student’s learning environment,” she adds. “So we do what we can to optimize that for the teacher because it bene ts the student. We believe that every student deserves a great public education, no matter what their ZIP code is.”
“We support teachers. We know that a teacher’s working environment is the student’s learning environment. So, we do what we can to optimize that for the teacher because it benefits the student.”
— Noelle Gilzow, CMNEA President
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