Rock Port R-II School welcomed new staff members Courtney Meyerkorth, Chaney Vogler, Payten Shrader, and Brewer Wheeler.
Paige Hance and Garrett Alsup are new paraprofessionals at Tarkio R-I. (Submitted by Casey Martin)
Bridgette French-Harbison, Alieah Kendrick, Josie Riggs, and Kadie Howard are new staff members at Tarkio R-I.
(Submitted by Casey Martin)
School is now in session for the 2026-27 year and there are several new teachers and staff members greeting students as they enter the schools and classrooms in Rock Port and Tarkio each day. (An article about Fairfax staff and Rock Port High School staff is in the works.)
ROCK PORT
Brewer Wheeler
Elementary Physical Ed.
Assistant JH Football Coach
JH Boys’ Basketball Coach
Assistant JH/HS Track Coach
Brewer Wheeler of Fillmore, Missouri, is the new Rock Port Elementary physical education teacher, assistant junior high football coach, junior high boys’ basketball coach, and assistant junior high and high school track coach. Brewer attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and received a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Brewer’s goal for this school year is “encourage the students to be lifelong movers.”
In his spare time, Brewer enjoys playing wiffleball and Legos.
Payten Shrader
Paraprofessional
Payten Shrader of Rock Port, Missouri, is a new Rock Port R-II paraprofessional. Payten graduated high school from Rock Port and is attending Peru State College, studying business administration and marketing. Before coming to Rock Port R-II, Payten worked in the Atchison County Assessor’s Office.
Payten’s goal for this school year is, “I want to build a good relationship with all the students and make an impact on their life.”
In her spare time, Payten enjoys spending time with her family and small dog, Millie. She also loves to bake and play pickleball.
Chaney Vogler
Paraprofessional
Chaney Vogler of Rock Port, Missouri, is a new paraprofessional at Rock Port Elementary. Cha-ney graduated high school from Rock Port and is attending Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, studying psychology. Before becoming a para, Chaney worked at Rock Port R-II as a summer support staff member and part-time custodian.
Chaney’s goal for this school year is “gain experience toward her psychology career and have a positive impact on the students she works with.”
In her spare time, Chaney enjoys spending time with her family and listening to music.
Courtney Meyerkorth
K-12 Art Teacher
Mass Media Teacher
Freshman Class Sponsor
Courtney Meyerkorth of Rock Port, Missouri, is the new Rock Port R-II K-12 art teacher, mass media (yearbook) teacher, and is the freshman class sponsor. Courtney attended Central Missouri State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. She also earned a master’s degree in educational leadership at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. Courtney started her career at Rock Port R-II and previously worked at Tarkio R-I before coming back to Rock Port R-II.
Courtney’s goals for this school year are to “build relationships with students; encourage creativity and confidence, introduce students to a variety of artists, cultures, and art materials; and create opportunities to showcase student artwork.”
In her spare time, Courtney enjoys spending time with her family, including husband, Adam, and children, Archer, Bertie, and Mason. Courtney also likes drawing, cooking, listening to music, going for walks, and planning and taking trips with her family.
TARKIO
Alieah Kendrick
Art Teacher
Alieah Kendrick of Maryville, Missouri, is the new art teacher at Tarkio R-I. She came to the Tarkio schools from Maryville, having worked at its Leet Center and Horace Mann for three years and Oak Pointe Senior Living Center for one year. Miss Kendrick earned her high school diploma at Maryville High School and went on to attend Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.
When not working, Alieah enjoys spending time with fiancé, Owen Walker, and their pets, Jane and Biscuit. She also obviously enjoys making art whenever she can.
Bridgette French-Harbison
High School Math Teacher
Bridgette French-Harbison of St. Joseph, Missouri, is the new high school math teacher at Tarkio R-I. Although she doesn’t currently have any extra duties, she’s hoping to eventually help with the Scholar Bowl teams and theatre department, as well as be a class sponsor. Bridgette is originally from Ramona, Oklahoma, and graduated high school there in 2000. She earned her bachelor’s degree in zoology with a chemistry minor from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph. She also earned a master’s degree in industrial science there. She also earned a master’s degree in veterinary biomedical science from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Bridgette worked at Boehringer Ingelheim for one year, subbed in the St. Joseph, Savannah, and St. Joseph Christian school districts for 10 years, was a graduate teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University for two years, and was a high school special education para at Brandon Valley High School for five years. Mrs. French-Harbison’s goals for this school year are to put her love for math and teaching into practice. She hopes to “inspire her students to appreciate math more and have fun getting to know everyone and learning about the Tarkio High School culture.”
When not working, Bridgette enjoys spending time with her husband, Trent, son, Tristan, and dog, Truman. The family even dyes Truman, a 14-year-old Havanese, orange for homecoming and Halloween (OSU colors are orange and black, which goes along with EA color schemes as well). She also enjoys reading medical mysteries, playing Sodoku, playing dinosaurs with her five-year-old son, and trying to solve all the math problems her son tries to stump her with every day.
Garrett Alsup
Paraprofessional
JH Boys’ Basketball Coach
Garrett Alsup of Tarkio, Missouri, is a new paraprofessional at Tarkio R-I. He is also East Atchison’s head junior high boys’ basketball coach. Garrett is no stranger to Tarkio R-I, having grown up in town and graduating from Tarkio High School. He went on to earn his EMT-B certification at Grand River Tech. He has substitute taught and also worked at Vestas for seven years. Mr. Alsup’s goals for this school year are to lead the boys’ basketball team to the 275 Conference junior high tournament championship and to help the students succeed in everything they do.
When not working, Garrett enjoys spending time with his wife, Shelby, children, Kinley, Bexley, Ledgen, Skylar, and Gia, dogs, Lady May and Harvey, and cats, Binx and Salem. He also enjoys playing golf and basketball, fishing and duck hunting, skateboarding with his kids, and going on cruises.
Kadie Howard
5th Grade ELA and
Social Studies Teacher
Kadie Howard of Clearmont, Missouri, is the new fifth grade ELA and social studies teacher at Tarkio Elementary. She attended Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. She is also no stranger to the school district, having taught here before. Her goals for this school year are to get the fifth graders ready for sixth grade and all that transition involves.
When not working, Kadie enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and children, Kenzi, Shaydee, and Laikyn. Their seven dogs, eight cats, three horses, one rabbit, one goat, lots of cows, and an orphan squirrel also keep her busy. She enjoys camping, shopping, riding horses, working on the farm with her cows and attending her kids’ activities.
Paige Hance
Paraprofessional
Paige Hance of Fairfax, Missouri, is a new paraprofessional at Tarkio R-I. She’s no stranger to Tarkio R-I, having graduated from Tarkio High School in 2015 and also previously worked at Tarkio Elementary as a para for two years. Her goals for this school year are to help all the kids succeed.
When not working, Paige enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Trystan, and children, Eden and Ava Hance and River Carder, and pets, Toby, a miniature dachshund, and Chip, a black cat. She also enjoys reading, playing board games, and coloring.
Josie Riggs
1st Grade Teacher
Josie Riggs of Tarkio, formerly of Falls City, Nebraska, is the new first grade teacher at Tarkio Elementary. She also is the assistant junior high volleyball coach for East Atchison. She earned her degree in early childhood education at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. This is her first year as a teacher. Her goals for the school year are to help her students learn, grow, and succeed!
When not working, Josie enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Tristan Keithley, and dog, Remi. She also loves reading Freida McFadden books, listening to country music, and decorating her house.
