Anderson Elementary School celebrated homecoming early this school year.
It wasn't football homecoming though. It was new principal Julie Holloway's homecoming to the elementary school she attended while growing up west of Anderson.
"I am very, very, thrilled to come back and walk the halls of Anderson Elementary," Holloway said. "I had an excellent educational experience here which is obviously why I went into education. I want each of these children to have the same type of experience; to learn to love education and excel and do their best."
Holloway went on from Anderson Elementary to McDonald County High School where she graduated in 1983. She earned her bachelor's degree from Southwest Missouri State and her master's degree from Pittsburg State University before receiving her specialists degree from William Woods University.
Her first teaching job was at Carthage Junior High. She then came to McDonald County High School for 11 years and then to Neosho before serving as assistant principal at Carl Junction High School for the past five years.
Holloway said her three weeks working prior to the the first day of classes were quiet and gave her time to meet the teachers and lay out the plans and expectations for the year.
"Thursday (first day of classes) the halls came to life," she said. "The teachers were thrilled to see the students come back into the building. Walking through the halls and hearing what is going on on the other side of the door and then stepping into a classroom and getting to observe is what makes all these years in education and sitting in classrooms getting that next degree worth it."
Holloway said going from high school to elementary has been an "enlightening" experience.
"With these little ones, there is such an excitement," Holloway said. "They love school. We have had a few tearful ones as mom leaves, but not even 10 minutes later I've stepped in a class to check on a few and they are engaged in class and participating. The tears have dried up. It's unfortunate the parents can't see that part."
Holloway also noted one benefit at the elementary level she didn't get at high school.
"I received a lot more hugs on the first day of school than I would say than I got in the past fire years," Holloway said.
Holloway noted that she joins eight new teachers for their first year at Anderson.
"The eight we brought on have just fit with their grade level teams so well and they are bonding as group to prepare their curriculum and plan their lessons," Holloway said. "There is truly such great support. I have had several new staff say 'I feel like I am part of a team' in just a matter of a week. I have a group of faculty that support one another so much."
Holloway said she has already seen kids this year who are kids of parents she taught when she was at McDonald County.
"It really is coming home," Holloway said. "I think that is a real plus. These are young people I have seen come through the education system at high school and now I have their children."
Holloway, the daughter of Leslie and Judy Smith, is married to David Holloway (her high school sweetheart, she said). The couple has two children; Brice, a University of Arkansas graduate lives in Columbia, Mo., and Kaitlyn is an R.N. at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin after completing the nursing program at Crowder College.
"We had our open house on Tuesday (Aug. 12) and we had over 500 children here and that's not counting parents and grandparents," Holloway said. "That was amazing. That tells you how much the community supports the school. That demonstration was very heartwarming to me to know that I am back in a community that loves their school and supports it and supports their child's education."
General News on 08/21/2014