Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District is proud to announce two new members to the district’s leadership team for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year: Director of the Early Childhood Center Bethany Koetting, and Director of Transportation Kennith Jones.
Both of these positions are new roles for the district, as the Early Childhood Center is currently under construction, and the district recently integrated transportation services into its operations.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Throughout the past several years, one of the most significant priorities that our Facilities Committee identified was the need for an Early Childhood Center. Following the passage of Prop SG, our Early Childhood Center is now under construction, with a floor plan of 10 classrooms for preschool and Early Childhood Special Education students; spaces for Parents As Teachers, occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy; a kitchen, a multipurpose room, a sensory room, a nurse’s office; and more. The Early Childhood Center is anticipated to be complete for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Learn more about our upcoming Early Childhood Center here.
The Board of Education approved Mrs. Bethany Koetting for the Director of the Early Childhood position at its Feb. 20, 2024 meeting. This position will direct the operation of this new Center, which includes early childhood education, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, before / after school programs and other programs in the District that focus on early learning for children.
About Our New Director of the Early Childhood Center
Mrs. Bethany Koetting joined the SG R-II team in 2011, when she took a position at Ste. Genevieve Elementary as a special education teacher working specifically with students receiving services under the eligibility category of Autism, Emotional Disturbance, or Other Health Impairments.
While at SG R-II, Mrs. Koetting served as a member of Missouri Parents as Teachers Association, as well as a Beta Rho chapter member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She served on the district’s Professional Development Committee, the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) Committee, the Ste. Genevieve Elementary Dragon Leadership Team (DLT), and the long-range Facilities Committee. Mrs. Koetting also coached middle school volleyball for several years.
When thinking back on the accomplishments for which she is most proud to have played a part, Mrs. Koetting reflects on when she first took the position of Early Childhood Process Coordinator in 2017. She was given the task of merging all early childhood programs into one cohesive team in order to provide services in our community that address the whole child, at all ages/stages of development. Our Parents as Teachers, Early Childhood Special Education, and Preschool programs now work collaboratively to ensure screenings, services, and resources are available to all children in the community.
In addition, as supervisor of our Parents as Teachers program, Mrs. Koetting has worked to build relationships with local child care providers in order to provide developmental screenings and identify children in need of additional services or resources. And in the last few years, with support from our preschool teachers, Mrs. Koetting applied for the Foundation for School Success Grant, and our Ste. Genevieve Preschool program was awarded $30,000 renewable for three years. Our team has used the funds to enhance the preschool program and plan for the future needs of the upcoming Early Childhood Center.
Mrs. Koetting earned her bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Child Education from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). She went on to earn her master’s degree in Elementary Educational Administration from Missouri Baptist University, and then her Specialist in Education Administration from Southwest Missouri State. She is currently working to earn her Doctor of Education in Leadership in Teaching and Learning from Missouri Baptist University with a dissertation focus on kindergarten readiness and a tentative completion for Fall 2024. Mrs. Koetting is a Ste. Genevieve High School alumna.
Her certifications include: Elementary Education 1-6, Early Childhood Special Education B-3, Mild to Moderate Cross-Categorical K-12, and Principal K-8. She also serves as the district’s in-district Autism Consultant after completing her training in 2013.
Mrs. Koetting is married to her husband of 10 years, Ryan, and they have four children: Dru (19), Easton (16), Augustus (9), and JoLynn (7).
Educational Philosophy:
“If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” ― Ignacio Estrada
TRANSPORTATION
Last fall, Fallert Bus Service representatives made the decision to retire, preferably at the end of the 2023-2024 school year. After months of careful consideration, it was determined that the best course of action for the district would be to self manage transportation services. Learn more about the district’s decision to take on transportation services here.
Part of this transition included the creation of a Director of Transportation position, which would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the transportation department, including managing personnel, coordinating routes, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, and maintaining the district's fleet of vehicles. The Board of Education approved Mr. Kennith Jones for the Director of Transportation position at the June 18, 2024 meeting.
About Our New Director of Transportation
Mr. Kennith Jones has been a public school educator for 23 years, having spent his career with the Crystal City School District. Mr. Jones took his first position as a special education teacher and a coach in 2003. He served as the athletic director for nine years, the director of transportation for 10 years, and a special education teacher for 12 years. He coached a variety of teams, including boys and girls cross country, girls basketball, varsity baseball, and track and field. Mr. Jones will take on the position of Director of Transportation for Ste. Genevieve County R-II for the 2024-2025 school year.
Mr. Jones has been a member of the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation and the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA). He has served as the Southeast Missouri Basketball representative for MSHSAA, and also served as the president of the Jefferson County Activities Association.
When thinking back on the accomplishments for which he is most proud to have played a part, Mr. Jones reflects on becoming the Crystal City School District’s first director of transportation. Prior to that role, the district had also outsourced its transportation services.
He received his associate’s degree from Jefferson College, and then earned his bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). He holds certifications in special education, physical education and driver education. Mr. Jones is a graduate of Bourbon High School.
Mr. Jones is married to his wife of 25 years, Lindsay, and they have two daughters: Maebry and Makenna. Maebry is a 5th grade teacher and girls basketball coach at Hillsboro, and Makenna will start her freshman year at Jefferson College this fall.
Mr. Jones shared that he is incredibly thankful and excited for the opportunity to be part of the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District, and is looking forward to becoming a part of our community.
Educational Philosophy:
“Sometimes it’s a good thing to have stones in your shoes, helps you remember where you’ve been.”
— Andy Griffith