When both Poplar Bluff’s long-time Junior High principal and director of special services retired from the school system, Tammy Raderstorf faced a significant career decision.

She chose to apply for the latter position, believing it would offer her the most longevity in this profession.

“When I came to Poplar Bluff, I was open to either administrative role – in SPED or the realm of building leadership,” Raderstorf recalled. “When I was given the opportunity at Junior High, I was fully onboard and ready to go. Still, I felt that pull back to the SPED arena after my first year working at Junior High; I knew eventually I would want to get back into the SPED field. I just know that’s where I feel the most at home.”

Having served as Junior High assistant principal for the past three years, Raderstorf was promoted by the Board of Education in January to lead the Special Services Department, succeeding Mindy Garrett, who held the position since 2010. Raderstorf will be joined by Dustie Curnutt, assistant director, who brings over 15 years of experience working with students with intensive needs.

“One of the greatest comforts in retirement after 16 years as special education director for Poplar Bluff Schools is knowing that the work I have cared so deeply about is being entrusted to someone who shares a genuine passion for students,” Garrett stated. “I am confident that our new Special Education Director, Tammy Raderstorf, will lead with integrity, advocate for children, and continue strengthening the partnerships that help all students succeed. Our school community is in very capable hands, and I look forward to the continued growth of the Special Services Department under Mrs. Raderstorf’s leadership with her unwavering belief that every child can learn, grow and thrive.”

Garrett has been gracious enough to work with Raderstorf since the beginning of the calendar year, together meeting with each school building leader to facilitate a smooth transition. Raderstorf acknowledges she has big shoes to fill.

“Mindy has definitely left her mark on the district and the SPED Department by leading with such grace and compassion; it’s gonna be a hard act to follow,” Raderstorf commented. “Because she has really worked with me, allowing me to come in, I feel like a lot of plans for the department have already been in place as we worked together to build a path moving forward, while going over what’s been done historically.”

Her experience at Junior High under Candace Warren taught her about the history of the community, having celebrated it with the school’s house system themes, as well as the pride held for the building itself, the oldest in the district, with the gymnasium dating back to 1937, when it served the High School in its downtown location. From her former supervisor, Raderstorf learned the straightforward approach to challenges that come about, she said.

Raderstorf joined the R-I district with eight years of experience in special education, most of it spent as director at the smaller schools of Richards Elementary and Oregon-Howell, while simultaneously serving as principal and overseeing federal programs. She initially became a special education instructor at Doniphan after teaching regular education for Ripley County Schools, with a tenure that dates back to 2002.

She earned her specialist degree in educational leadership from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, as well as her specialist in educational technology from the University of Missouri at Columbia, after obtaining her master’s in educational leadership from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau. Her undergraduate studies were completed at Arkansas State, where she earned a bachelor’s in elementary and special education.

“It was not my original career goal, I just found my niche advocating for students and their rights,” Raderstorf said. "My personal experience opened my eyes a little bit to the parent advocacy aspect of it, coming from a close-knit family."

Growing up in Gatewood, Raderstorf has a niece with a rare genetic disorder known as Angelman Syndrome, which occurs when a piece of a chromosome is missing, she shared. She is proud to work for a district that has been recognized as a Special Olympics Unified Champions National Banner School, and she commends her predecessor Garrett and the department for their successful strides toward more inclusivity.

“I do think it speaks to the district and community, the work that’s put in to push that inclusive environment for our special needs population to offer as many opportunities as they can with Unified Champions, the letter banquet and the Special Olympics games that are so well supported within the community and celebrated within the district,” Raderstorf said. “I’m genuinely excited for this opportunity, and looking forward to continuing on with the great work that’s been done before me.”

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Cutline: Tammy Raderstorf began her new role as director of special services on Wednesday, July 1, succeeding Mindy Garrett, who helped with the transition since the beginning of the year.