Throwback teacher to reintroduce dedicated sewing class at PBHS A Poplar Bluff educator has built a legacy around reintroducing the practical arts she can recall learning back when she was a student in the district. Candace Hovis, who teaches Family and April 30, 2026
PBHS JROTC academic team to vie in National Championship The Pvt. Billie G. Kanell JROTC Battalion has qualified to vie in the 2026 Leadership & Academic Bowl Championship for the first time in the 29-year history of the Poplar Bluff High School April 30, 2026
TCC student produces first-place brand design for SkillsUSA Missouri A Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center senior made local history by winning the secondary brand design category for the first time in the decade-long SkillsUSA Missouri contest, while several April 30, 2026
PBHS student wins D.C. trip with successful essay A Poplar Bluff High School junior will experience an all-expense paid week-long trip to the nation’s capital as the result of winning an essay contest Wednesday, April 1, through Ozark Border April 16, 2026
District awarded $1.5M grant for FEMA safe room at Eugene Field Over $1.5 million has been awarded to the Poplar Bluff School District to construct a tornado safe room designed to withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour at Eugene Field Elementary April 2, 2026
PBHS siblings named back-to-back National Merit finalists Poplar Bluff High School has produced its second consecutive National Merit Scholarship Program finalist, and they happen to be siblings. PBHS senior Claire Funke was presented a certificate of March 19, 2026
Lake Road captures CRC title, top R-I spellers advance A Lake Road student won the third grade battle for Butler County, bringing back the spelling championship trophy to the lower elementary school for the first time since 2019. Tony Webb Jr. was March 6, 2026
Spain named 2026 Missouri Exemplary New Principal With Eugene Field recently honored among the state’s top elementary schools, it should come as no surprise that the building is being led by a regional standout. Kristen Spain was named the 2026 March 5, 2026
Black History Month celebration features national speaker Poplar Bluff Junior High marked the centennial of Black History Month commemorations while striking a balance between a talent-rich, educational program topped off by a high-energy keynote February 20, 2026
Eugene Field named Blue Ribbon School with asterisk Poplar Bluff has had a third elementary school earn the highest honor achievable for an educational institution in America, a National Blue Ribbon, only this time the accolade comes with an February 19, 2026
Educators apply best practices acquired during annual PB Connect The Poplar Bluff School District hosted its 11th annual PB Connect, featuring 140 professional development breakout sessions led by 85 presenters for faculty and staff to choose from. The internal February 6, 2026
Dr. Ivy named first statewide Principal of the Year for PBHS Poplar Bluff High School’s first female principal in history has become the district’s first-ever statewide secondary Principal of the Year. Dr. Valerie Ivy was named the 2026 Dr. Jim L. King High January 23, 2026
Script published that debuted with PBHS students at Kay Porter Theater Drama teacher Nick McDaniel has become a published playwright of an original production that debuted with Poplar Bluff High School students on stage at Kay Porter Theater. The Poplar Bluff native January 15, 2026
Foundation funds several thousand in grants across district The Poplar Bluff School Foundation has approved $5,700 toward five grants covering a range of building projects, with the potential to double its investment depending on alternative funding sources January 15, 2026
Blessing Box quickly gains popularity at Eugene Field Elementary Nickey Street has become a busy two-way thoroughfare for both giving and receiving with the new addition of the Blessing Box that is serving the campus community in front of Eugene Field January 15, 2026
Math Counts champion follows in sister’s footsteps This year's Math Counts champion may have had an extra motivator: a friendly sibling rivalry. Lucas Riggins was the first to slam his computer shut, followed closely by fellow Middle School December 11, 2025
TCC students feed campus community through grant initiative Culinary arts students of the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center recently prepared 450 meals for the student body through the Kids Feeding Kids program. This marks the second year that the TCC December 11, 2025
PBJHS participates in Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day A lesson was taught at Poplar Bluff Junior High School last week about how young people too can make a lasting impact on the world. Local students joined hundreds of thousands across the nation who November 20, 2025
McDonald’s awards second consecutive Outstanding Educator from Eugene Field Eugene Field Elementary had a teacher recognized last week as a McDonald’s Outstanding Educator for the second year in a row. Special education instructor Alexa Everett was selected out of over 480 November 6, 2025
Former Missouri Supreme Court justice discusses role with PBHS students When the Honorable Judge Patricia Breckenridge puts on her black robe, she is no longer “Patty from Nevada, Mo.,” she says, her duty is to uphold the rule of law. Breckenridge, former chief justice November 6, 2025
‘Lunch lady’ returns to school to become teacher at Poplar Bluff A cafeteria worker of several years in the Poplar Bluff school system enjoyed serving students so much that she returned to college after 13 years to finish her teaching degree, becoming a October 23, 2025
O’Neal competes for top placement statewide in Prodigy Math The computer lab instructor at O'Neal Elementary has been utilizing an online game to reinforce math concepts, rewarding top-performing students with such consistency that the spirit of competition October 23, 2025
Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2025 inducted A group of record-setting individuals were honored Thursday, Oct. 2, during the 37th induction banquet of the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame as Justin Alford, Rena Brown, Stephanie Faith and Slug October 13, 2025
PBHS alum sponsors Robotics Club for third consecutive year An alumnus has donated a total of $6,500 to the Poplar Bluff High School Robotics Club over the past three years, having more than doubled his portion of the contribution with matching funds through October 10, 2025
FACS teachers awarded $500 for farm-to-table project A $500 Agriculture in the Classroom grant has been awarded to a pair of Poplar Bluff High School teachers partnering on a food sustainability and waste management project involving Family and October 10, 2025
Pitsco Education donates over $30K in supplies toward tornado relief A hometown connection recently led to a donation of classroom materials in excess of $30,000 made by a curriculum company to aid in tornado recovery efforts at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten September 25, 2025
Poplar Bluff Schools considers consolidating grade spans District officials are exploring the most efficient way to reduce the number of grade-level transitions for students within the Poplar Bluff school system, following the solicitation of both September 19, 2025
PBHS math teacher successfully seeks out two classroom grants A teacher new to the profession has successfully sought out funding in order to expedite equipping his classroom, not being afforded the time a career educator may have toward accumulating September 12, 2025
Education leaders recognized as part of Difference Makers event Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe served as a special guest during the Daily American Republic’s seventh annual Difference Makers banquet Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Black River Coliseum – in honor of the August 28, 2025
Dr. Vaughn chosen to succeed long-time assistant superintendent of curriculum Dr. Rondi Vaughn is a lifelong learner who has been honored by her peers as an educator and administrator both locally and at the regional level. Having advanced through the rank and file at Poplar August 18, 2025
Eugene Field Elementary named 2025 Missouri Gold Star School For the third time in recent history a lower elementary campus within the Poplar Bluff School District has been named a Missouri Gold Star School. Eugene Field is one of only eight schools in the August 18, 2025
Brown brings lifetime of experience in athletics to Poplar Bluff Brown brings lifetime of experience in athletics to Poplar Bluff The next athletic director for the Poplar Bluff Mules is a lifelong educator, having amassed 28 years of coaching experience in August 18, 2025
Miller returns to her hometown to lead Lake Road Elementary Megan Miller went out and gained over a decade of principal experience only to return to her hometown of Poplar Bluff to apply it as the leader of one of the district’s Blue Ribbon schools. August 18, 2025
Second-generation Poplar Bluff principal promoted to lead Middle School The Poplar Bluff Middle School will welcome its first Poplar Bluff native in 15 years to serve as principal for the upcoming school year. Stephanie Hillis of the High School Class of 2007 was hired August 18, 2025
Mark Twain restructured to meet evolving needs under new leader The staff at Mark Twain School has been restructured to meet the evolving needs of students as the nontraditional school enters its sixth year under new leadership. Maddy Ringer brings to Poplar August 18, 2025
