September 22, 2025 - Bringing all staff together for a full day of professional learning allows the district to step out of daily routines, collaborate across buildings, and focus on shared goals that benefit every student in the Mexico district.

All Bulldog staff members dedicated a full day to learning from nationally recognized speaker and trainer, Josh Varner. Josh met with more than 350 teachers, bus drivers, nurses, paraprofessionals, and others, sharing practical strategies to support students and strengthen educator well-being. Also in the room were Bright Futures Advisory Board members, lunch buddies, community volunteers, and students interested in pursuing teaching. 

This training wasn’t about adding more to staff members’ plates. Instead, it was about equipping them with tools to bring their best selves to their students, colleagues, and families. By the end of the day, staff walked away with actionable strategies to support students and sustain their own well-being throughout the year.

Varner, a former mental health professional, school counselor, and coordinator of at-risk student programs, has delivered more than 400 presentations nationwide. He specializes in helping educators understand and respond to trauma-impacted students, reduce challenging behaviors, and build resilience for both students and staff.

During the daylong training, staff members explored:

• Trauma-Informed Care: Understanding that every challenging student’s behavior is a form of communication, not simply defiance.
• Practical Planning: Identifying student strengths, uncovering the causes of challenging behaviors, and practicing how to build individualized support plans that help students thrive.
• Managing Stress & Mental Health: Learning how stress impacts the body and discovering strategies to “complete the stress cycle,” navigate challenges more effectively, and reduce burnout.
   

Districtwide professional development days ensure that every staff member receives the same training and tools, creating a consistent and supportive learning environment for students at every grade level.

These staff tranining days are planned by the Professional Development Committee (PDC). This month, PDC met to map out long-range plans for the year. This teacher-led group includes two representatives from each building, with instructional coaches and administrators serving as non-voting members. The committee conducts needs assessments, gathers teacher input through surveys, and selects district training topics. Each building also has its own PDC with additional teachers and administrators. This year’s PDC members are: Eric Davolt, Emily Houchins, Samantha Porter, Leslie Curtis, Phoebe Pettit, Stacey Ellison, Danielle Smith, Jennifer Scheiner, Hanna Branch, Emily Dodd, and Justin Hagedorn.

School districts in Missouri are required to spend one percent of their budget on professional development. Today’s PD was also made possible thanks to a matching donation from a C2C grant fund.