Teachers

It can happen anywhere...the classroom, the cafeteria, and even the playground. The act of bullying knows no bounds on a school grounds. "We are no different than any other school we are trying to be proactive and preventative. " Principal Todd Beam of Roosevelt elementary in McPherson is taking a stand. Thanks to the help of a grant Beam was able to designate six of his teachers to a specialized bully training class. "What we see in this building is name calling instead of aggression.

Wellington High School English teacher Patricia Barnard knows firsthand how tight the school district's budget is. “I already have to buy all my teaching supplies,” Barnard said. Now because of a computer error, she fears many in the school district could lose their jobs. “This is something that needs to be investigated. We need to know what happened,” she said. Sumner County officials admit to the mistake. They claim to have over-paid the school district about $380,000 and say it was because of a software switch.

Many teenagers experience times when keeping up with schoolwork is difficult. These periods may last for several weeks and may result in social problems as well as a decline in academic performance. Some adolescents get through these difficult times with minimal assistance from their parents or teachers. It may be enough for parents to listen to the teenager’s problems and suggest coping strategies, provide a supportive home environment, and encourage the teenager’s participation in extracurricular school activities.

Doors were locked at Newton High School Thursday. School officials say it was a precaution after one of their teachers was arrested Wednesday. According to Newton Police, 45-year-old Eden Bloom was asked to leave the school several times before a School Resource Officer arrested her. That's when they found methamphetamine in her possession.  “At the time of the incident no students were in danger,” said Newton Police Deputy Chief Eric Murphy. Newton parents received an alert on Thursday afternoon around 1:30 that there was increased security at the school.

A popular Cowley College teacher is in critical condition at Wesley.  The Cowley College Theatre Director is known for filling seats and even taking the stage.  A picture shows Scott MacLaughlin as "Danny" in "Grease" when he started teaching at Cowley in 1996. "I love him to death.  He's like a second dad for me,” Kristen Boxman said. Boxman feels like several students.  She was MacLaughlin's high school intern last semester.  Boxman heard about his accident Sunday. "In the middle of the rain and the hail and the wind, I ran out to my car and I went home because I just needed to be by myself,” Boxman said.

A Wichita elementary school teacher is on paid suspension after being arrested for bringing a gun to school. Daniel Nagel, 31, was arrested Monday after another employee at White Elementary called 911 and reported seeing a teacher had a gun. A family member tells Eyewitness News Nagel brought the gun to protect the students and never intended to do any harm. The family member says Nagel does have a concealed carry permit.  However, Wichita Police say it wouldn't make any difference because schools are a gun free zone.

by Michael Schwanke (WICHITA, Kan) Jill Robb had a feeling it was coming. "I was just called in by the superintendent. He felt really bad, but there wasn't going to be a position for me because of budget cuts," says Robb. She is one of the new faces of unemployment in Kansas. Robb is a fourth grade teacher in Inman.  She says it's her passion. "It's pretty emotional to be honest," Robb says as she fights back tears. Robb is a new teacher, only in her second year.

  The first day of school is excitement enough for most students, and meeting their teacher  for the first time, but some kids at Wichita's Chisholm Trail Elementary school have a celebrity teacher this year.      Tiffany Nickel already serves as Miss Wheelchair Kansas, now she's been named 2nd runner up in the Miss Wheelchair America pageant.      The contest  recognizes the achievements of the women and their advocacy for people with disabilities.  Contestants included teachers, a scientist and a radio talk show host.

By MELODY PETTIT (SALINA, Kans.) A teacher who works at several Salina area schools is being treated for possible bacterial meningitis. Several schools sent home letters to parents explaining the situation. The halls at Ell Saline High School are empty for parent-teacher conferences. Earlier this week, the Principal got a call from the Health Department. They say a teacher who is currently in the hospital started showing symptoms of meningitis Sunday.

The school year ends in a special way for seniors at Maize South High School. Tuesday, they launched more than 17-hundred balloons into the air over the school's football field. It was more than just a celebration of the end of the year. The idea was to honor the memory of Shelley Poynter. The teacher and coach died earlier this year from breast cancer. The school also awarded the first Shelley Woodard Poynter memorial scholarship, to Joy Anna Henderson. Joy said, "It's kind of sad, but happy at the same time because I know Mrs. Poynter would want this to help somebody cause she was all about helping people and caring about people" Joy told us the whole thing really hits home, because she also lost her mother to breast cancer.