Ellie Dyer is a full-time substitute teacher at Tarkio R-I. She attended Warrensburg High School in Warrensburg, Missouri, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Sciences at the University of Missouri and is currently working toward a Masters in School Counseling at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. She’s spent three years at Community Hospital-Fairfax working as a project manager and clinical analyst.
Ellie lives in Tarkio with her fiance, Trey Graves. She enjoys going on walks with her dog, Remi, spending time with friends and family, and her current hobby is wedding planning. Her goals this school year are getting to know all the students and staff and having a positive impact on each classroom she enters.
Maria Spire is the new K-6 Elementary School Counselor. Maria graduated from Tarkio High School in 2009, from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, and from Northwest in 2017 with a Master of Science Degree in Education – Guidance and Counseling. After graduating, Maria worked for one year as the K-12 School Counselor for the Murray Community School in Murray, Iowa.
Maria lives in Tarkio with her husband, Seth, who works for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. She enjoys being outside and spending time with friends and family. Her goals this year include building positive relationships with the students, staff, administrators, and community members. She said, “I am excited to be the Elementary School Counselor at Tarkio and work in the community I grew up in.”
Kayti Shrader is the new 6-12th grade Special Education teacher and an assistant volleyball coach. Kayti graduated from Cocoa Beach, Florida, Jr./Sr. High School and attended Peru State College in Peru, NE, where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Elementary Education.
Kayti previously worked in Tarkio R-I schools from 2012-2014 as a 3rd grade teacher and has also been a substitute teacher and stay-at-home mom. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Josh Hayes, and her children, Payten, 11, a 6th grader at Rock Port, Brylea, 9, a 4th grader at Rock Port, Ryne, age 1, and Josh’s son, Chance, 10, a 4th grader at Conestoga, Nebraska. She also enjoys watching football, working on the house, and crafting.
Kayti’s goals for this school year include seeing the EA volleyball team win Districts, helping students meet their goals, and being happy.
Taylor Ancell is the new Tarkio R-I nurse. She graduated from Northeast R-IV High School in Cairo, Missouri, and earned an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from North Central Missouri College. Taylor worked in the clinic at Shenandoah Medical Center in Shenandoah, Iowa, and the past three years has worked for Community-Hospital-Fairfax on the Medical-Surgical floor and in the family practice clinics.
Taylor lives in Rock Port with her husband, Luke, and soon to be born baby, Beau Ancell, due in September. She enjoys horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, and reading. Her goals for this school year include getting to know all of the students and teachers and providing the best care for the students so they feel safe and comfortable at school. She also plans to get involved in the school district and community. Taylor said, “I’m so very excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to see what the school year brings.”
Megan Calfee is the new middle school science teacher at Tarkio R-I. She graduated from Humansville High School in Humansville, Missouri, and received a Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. Megan has worked in education since 2005 as a substitute teacher, paraprofessional, and teacher.
Megan lives in Maryville with her husband, Jeremy Calfee, and six children, two dogs, and four cats. She enjoys spending time with her family for family fun night, barbecues, playing sports, and attending their school events, as well as gardening, reading, and road trips.
Megan’s goal for this school year is to have a positive impact and to get the kids to enjoy science. She also follows the mantra “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Megan also wanted to give a shout out to the Mule Barn Theatre Guild for inviting the new teachers to a luncheon at the Resource Center.
Courtney Harms is the new speech therapist at Tarkio R-I. Courtney graduated high school in Woodland, Washington, and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, and earned her Master of Science Degree at Eastern Washington University in Spokane, Washington. She spent five years at a school district in Richland, Washington, and in Sacred Heart Hopsital in Spokane. For the past two years she’s been working in Maryville, Missouri, as a speech therapist in a medical setting.
Courtney lives in Maryville with her husband, Jeff, and children, Brynn, age three, and Graham, who is almost one. She enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and going to the pool with her children. Courtney was born in Nebraska and though she moved to Washington state when she was two, she is still a Cornhusker football fan! Her goals in life include being the best mom she can be and to give her children a wonderful and blessed life.
