Same Faces, New Spaces
A familiar face to many, Bill Culver is joining the PLHS and PLMS faculty for the 2021-2022 school year. Mr Culver hails from Hamilton, KS and attended Hamilton Rural High School. After high school he attended Emporia State University for his undergraduate degree in education and Washburn University for his masters degree. Mr. Culver started his time as an educator in his hometown and worked at Shawnee Heights before beginning his long successful career with USD 343. Mr. Culver has served as a science teacher, physical education teacher, administrator, part-time teacher, and coach. Perry has been Mr. Culver's home for the last 45 years where he raised his two sons who are PLHS graduates. Growing up both his mother and sister were teachers and he always enjoyed school himself. Mr. Culver hopes that he is able to make a difference for our students as they grow and mature into young adults.
Mr. Caleb Denton is also a familiar face at PLHS and PLMS. This year we are excited to announce his move into the 7/8 PE and Health classroom after his success working in the resource rooms at both PLMS and PLHS. Mr. Denton attended and graduated from PLHS. After high school he attended the University of Kansas where he completed his education degree. Mr. Denton enjoys anything that includes football and basketball. He continues his love of sports by coaching football, basketball, and golf at the high school level. Mr. Denton is looking forward to working with PLMS students and developing positive thinking when it comes to their personal health. He also wants to help students identify and establish lifelong fitness goals.
Mrs. Kelsey Singleton joined the KAW family in the 2013-14 school year and has been the PE teacher at PLES and PLMS. In August she will be joining the PLHS Staff teaching PE classes and health. Mrs. Singleton received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from the University of Kansas in the spring of 2013. She has always loved working with children both in the classroom and in the gym. She enjoys being physically active and says that physical education is what she is the most passionate about. Mrs. Singleton hopes to encourage all of her students to be physically active and to stay healthy!
Mr. Luke Walz, who joined the PLMS staff last school year, grew up and graduated from Stapleton High School in Stapleton, Nebraska. He attended the Universtiy of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned his Bachelors degree with distinction from the school of Education and Human Sciences. This year Mr. Walz will be in the 5th grade classroom. He is looking forward to teaching all content areas in addition to ELA and reading. In the 5th grade classroom Mr. Walz will continue to put our students first and help them grow and push past the limits they thought they wouldn't overcome.
We are very fortunate to have these four staff members staying in the USD 343 family and wish them luck in the 2021-2022 school year.