💙💛 FORDLAND FORWARD: STAFF SPOTLIGHT 🦅
This week’s Fordland Forward Staff Spotlight is Jennifer Venable — soon to be Jennifer Phinney! 🎉 Jennifer serves as our District Nurse and is celebrating her 10th year in education — all 10 right here at Fordland!
Jennifer’s path to Fordland is pretty incredible. Before becoming a school nurse, she spent 15 years working with newborn intensive care patients, including serving as a NICU flight nurse, transporting critically ill babies by helicopter and ambulance.
But becoming a school nurse was actually a dream that started much earlier.
While in high school, Jennifer shadowed her school nurse and told her that someday she wanted to be both a school nurse and a softball coach. Her nurse told her that probably wasn’t possible.
Jennifer says:
“My school nurse died in a car accident before I ever got to tell her that I did it…I became the exception! So here I am. Doing the job I said I would do and getting to fulfill my love for a game that has been a part of my entire life.”
One of Jennifer’s favorite parts of Fordland is watching students grow into their own person. She especially values being there through both their triumphs and their failures.
Her perspective? A failure is only a failure if nothing is learned from it. Otherwise, we’re simply “failing forward” and choosing which path to take next. 💙
A few fun facts about Jennifer:
🥩 Favorite snack: Beef sticks — NOT jerky! Apparently there is a very important distinction. 😂
🥤 Favorite drink: Purple Cotton Candy Alani — but only after at least 40 ounces of water!
🍽️ Favorite restaurant: Galloway Grille
📺 Favorite show: Superstore — she can probably recite entire episodes.
🏈⚾ Sports: Chiefs, Cardinals and Mizzou Tigers! MIZ!
And when we asked Jennifer to finish the sentence “Fordland is special because…”, her answer was simple:
“I feel like I am at home. I grew up in a small town and so I feel at home here with the people.”
We're glad Fordland became home! Thank you for spending the last decade taking care of our Eagles! 💙💛🦅
#FordlandForward #FordlandEagles
This week’s Fordland Forward Staff Spotlight is Jennifer Venable — soon to be Jennifer Phinney! 🎉 Jennifer serves as our District Nurse and is celebrating her 10th year in education — all 10 right here at Fordland!
Jennifer’s path to Fordland is pretty incredible. Before becoming a school nurse, she spent 15 years working with newborn intensive care patients, including serving as a NICU flight nurse, transporting critically ill babies by helicopter and ambulance.
But becoming a school nurse was actually a dream that started much earlier.
While in high school, Jennifer shadowed her school nurse and told her that someday she wanted to be both a school nurse and a softball coach. Her nurse told her that probably wasn’t possible.
Jennifer says:
“My school nurse died in a car accident before I ever got to tell her that I did it…I became the exception! So here I am. Doing the job I said I would do and getting to fulfill my love for a game that has been a part of my entire life.”
One of Jennifer’s favorite parts of Fordland is watching students grow into their own person. She especially values being there through both their triumphs and their failures.
Her perspective? A failure is only a failure if nothing is learned from it. Otherwise, we’re simply “failing forward” and choosing which path to take next. 💙
A few fun facts about Jennifer:
🥩 Favorite snack: Beef sticks — NOT jerky! Apparently there is a very important distinction. 😂
🥤 Favorite drink: Purple Cotton Candy Alani — but only after at least 40 ounces of water!
🍽️ Favorite restaurant: Galloway Grille
📺 Favorite show: Superstore — she can probably recite entire episodes.
🏈⚾ Sports: Chiefs, Cardinals and Mizzou Tigers! MIZ!
And when we asked Jennifer to finish the sentence “Fordland is special because…”, her answer was simple:
“I feel like I am at home. I grew up in a small town and so I feel at home here with the people.”
We're glad Fordland became home! Thank you for spending the last decade taking care of our Eagles! 💙💛🦅
#FordlandForward #FordlandEagles
Welcome back, Eagles! Happy Opening Day! Here's a few pics from campus. Now, it's your turn! Share your first day of school pic in the comments. #FordlandForward
Excited to welcome our newest Eagles to the Fordland Family at New Teacher Academy today! #Fordland Forward
Front: Sidney Payne (5th Grade), Megan Spence (PreK), Hailey Hanson (MS ELA), Chris Russo (Secondary Math), Storm Massey (Secondary Assistant Principal), Ethan Drake (Ag/FFA)
Back: Emma O'Dell (2nd Grade), Gage Miers (PE/Girls Basketball), Molly Regier (3rd Grade), Laura Hilgenberg (PreK), Leanna Corum (Life Skills), Nathan Clutter (HS)
Front: Sidney Payne (5th Grade), Megan Spence (PreK), Hailey Hanson (MS ELA), Chris Russo (Secondary Math), Storm Massey (Secondary Assistant Principal), Ethan Drake (Ag/FFA)
Back: Emma O'Dell (2nd Grade), Gage Miers (PE/Girls Basketball), Molly Regier (3rd Grade), Laura Hilgenberg (PreK), Leanna Corum (Life Skills), Nathan Clutter (HS)
Welcome to the team! #Fordland Forward
Opening Day is coming soon! #FordlandForward
Fordland R-III is thrilled to be a recipient of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Member Impact Award through a partnership with Seymour Bank. This award will invest $15,680 back into our kids' education. Funds will be used district-wide for a variety of student activities including; school supplies, STEM equipment, fine arts supplies, and literacy tools. Thanks @TheSeymourBank and @FederalHomeLoanBank!
Our Fordland educators are spending their last week of July training and working to be the best for our kids at the GOCSD Innovation Summit in Branson! They will be bringing some fresh ideas and energy to the classroom in just a few weeks. #FordlandForward
Don't panic! You still have a few weeks of summer left! But, it is time to at least start thinking about Opening Day '26. In case you missed it earlier this year, here's the 2026/27 Fordland School Calendar. Magnet schedules for convenient placement on your fridge will be available during Open House. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer! See you soon! #FordlandForward
We're hiring at Fordland Elementary!
New roles for these Eagles! #EaglePride 🦅💙💛
Welcome to the team! #EaglePride 💙💛🦅
Looking for a leadership opportunity where your work makes a difference every day? Join Fordland R-3 Schools as our next Director of Maintenance. #EaglePride
Interested in becoming a Fordland Athletics scoreboard sponsor? We'd love to visit with you about opportunities available! Contact Dr. Vickers at stephanievickers@fordlandschools.org for more info. #EaglePride
We hope our Eagles had a great weekend! Week two of Summer School begins tomorrow. See you there!
Welcome to the team! #Eagle Pride 💙💛🦅
Tomorrow is the first day of Summer School! Elementary hours are 8-3, and MS/HS hours are 7:55-2:55. Modified bus routes will be running. Thank you for your patience on the first day! #EaglePride
Celebrating 90 Years of Service! 🎉
Yesterday, we had the privilege of honoring four outstanding retirees who have dedicated a combined 90 years to the Fordland School District: Teresa Cardwell, Laura Hendershot, Tonia McDaris, and Angie Nettles. We are grateful for their years of commitment and care for our students, staff, and community. Thank you for being part of the Fordland family and for the many years you devoted to our district. Best Wishes!
Yesterday, we had the privilege of honoring four outstanding retirees who have dedicated a combined 90 years to the Fordland School District: Teresa Cardwell, Laura Hendershot, Tonia McDaris, and Angie Nettles. We are grateful for their years of commitment and care for our students, staff, and community. Thank you for being part of the Fordland family and for the many years you devoted to our district. Best Wishes!
Congratulations to our 2026 Years of Service recipients! 🎉
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and loyalty these staff members have shown to our students, families, and the Fordland community through the years. Their commitment helps make our district a special place to learn and grow. Thank you for the impact you make every day! 💙💛
⭐ Lacey Axsom – 20 Years
⭐ Kursten Branham – 10 Years
⭐ Alyssa Key – 10 Years
⭐ Annie Koenig – 10 Years
We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and loyalty these staff members have shown to our students, families, and the Fordland community through the years. Their commitment helps make our district a special place to learn and grow. Thank you for the impact you make every day! 💙💛
⭐ Lacey Axsom – 20 Years
⭐ Kursten Branham – 10 Years
⭐ Alyssa Key – 10 Years
⭐ Annie Koenig – 10 Years
Check out our final 2026 district newsletter - https://app.smore.com/n/p4tzk
What a tremendous year it has been for Fordland R-3 Schools! 💙💛
