Inside Eminence

As we move through April, it's hard to believe how quickly the school year is coming to an end. This is a busy and exciting time at Eminence R-1 as we continue to focus on strong instruction, student growth, and celebrating the many accomplishments of our students and staff.

Our students are currently working hard to show what they have learned through state assessments, and we are proud of the effort and determination they are demonstrating. This is an important time to encourage our students to stay focused, do their best, and finish the year strong.

At the same time, we are looking forward to some of our most meaningful celebrations of the year. Graduation season is just around the corner, and we are excited to honor the achievements of our students. These milestones are a reflection of years of hard work, growth, and perseverance, and we look forward to celebrating with our families and community.

As we reflect on the year, we are incredibly proud of what has been accomplished across our district. From academics and athletics to fine arts and extracurricular activities, our students have represented Eminence R-1 with pride. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff and the continued support of our families and community.

Thank you for partnering with us throughout this school year. We are grateful for your support and look forward to finishing the year strong together while celebrating a successful year at Eminence R-1.

Eminence High School Graduation

Friday, May 8 at 7:00 p.m.

Baccalaureate will begin at 6:00 p.m.

Eminence High School - Leroy Lewis Memorial Gym

Eminence Kindergarten Graduation

Monday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m.

FEMA Building

Eminence 8th Grade Graduation

Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Eminence High School - Leroy Lewis Memorial Gym

We are proud to announce our District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Dyer! 🎉❤️🖤

Mrs. Dyer is an exceptional first-grade teacher who consistently demonstrates kindness, positivity, and a genuine willingness to support others. Even with one of the largest classrooms, she creates a calm, organized, and welcoming environment where every student feels comfortable and valued.

She takes the time to truly know each child—their interests and how they learn best—allowing her to tailor instruction to meet diverse needs. Because of this, her classroom is a place where all students feel supported, inspired, and capable of success.

Mrs. Dyer builds meaningful relationships that foster both academic growth and personal confidence. She believes in every child’s potential and goes above and beyond to ensure each student feels seen, heard, and encouraged.

The positive, nurturing foundation she provides gives her students an incredible start to their educational journey and sets them up for lifelong success.

We are thrilled to recognize our incredible high school secretary, Mrs. Candi Spoonemore, as this year's Support Staff Member of the Year!

Candi truly embodies what it means to be the heart of our school. She does a great job in everything she takes on, and her big heart shines through in the way she treats our students and staff every single day. She always greets everyone with a smile, a friendly demeanor, and a consistently positive attitude, she truly is the best!

Her positivity and dedication make a lasting impact on everyone who walks through our doors. She is always looking for ways to support not just the high school, but the entire district. Congratulations, Mrs. Spoonemore, and thank you for everything you do!

The positive, nurturing foundation she provides gives her students an incredible start to their educational journey and sets them up for lifelong success.

We are excited to announce our new High School Basketball Head Coach for the 2026-2027 school year is Jon Williams!

A proud Eminence Alum, Class of 1988), he brings a strong background in both playing and coaching. He played college basketball for two years at Mineral Area College before continuing his career at Drury University for an additional two years.

He has been a valued member of our program, most recently serving as our Assistant High School Basketball Coach, and is now stepping into this new leadership role. His previous experience also includes six years as an Assistant Girls Basketball Coach at Eminence, eight years coaching travel basketball, and the past three years coaching at the elementary, junior high and high school levels.

With deep roots in our community and a passion for developing student-athletes, we are excited for him to lead our program. We look forward to the positive impact he will continue to make both on and off the court!

At the April 2nd special board meeting, the Eminence R-1 Board of Education discussed:

• Access Control & Technology Services Bids
• Intercom System Bids
• IT Services Bids

Additionally, the board:

• Approved the Access Control & Camera Bid - Alextricity
• Approved the Intercom System Bid - Alextricity
• Tabled the IT Services Bids
• Approved a reduction in staffing by 2 positions in the district for the 2026-2027 school year.

The Board of Education met in closed session with all members present. Actions taken include:

Employment Approved:

• K-12 Physical Education Teacher - Derek Brewer
• District Community Healthcare Worker - Tony Vincent
• District Activities Director - Tony Vincent
• High School Head Basketball Coach - Jon Williams

Employment Resignations at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year

• Kayla Ipock

At the April 13th Special Board meeting, the Eminence R-1 Board of Education.

The board conducted the certification of election results and swore in our three incumbent board members, Amber Fergurson, Ryan Liggett, and Jason Rowden. The Board conducted its reorganization and voted in Carolyn Dyer as Board President, Ryan Liggett as Board Vice President and Judene Blackburn as Board Secretary. We continue to appreciate the dedication and support our board provides the district and look forward to our continued work.

The board was presented responses to our Design and Construction RFQ for two upcoming facility projects - the Elementary Roof and District Capital Outlay Project Scope.

Presentations were conducted by:

Facility Solutions Group (FSG)

Performance Services

Veregy

Great River Engineering

The board selected Performance Services to conduct the Design and Construction Administrative Services for the Eminence R-1 School District.

At the April 20th board meeting, the Eminence R-1 Board of Education discussed:

• ROCS Update
• Technology Q& A with vendors
• Health Insurance Coverage 2026-2027
• 2026-2027 Non-Certified Salary Schedule
• Micro Bus Lease
• Legislative Update
• Internet Usage vs. Instructional Time
• MSBA 2026A Policy (Read Only)

Additionally, the board:

• Approved the 2026-2027 Non-Certified Salary Schedule
• Approved Health Insurance Company for 2026-2027
• Approved Micro Bus Purchas
• Approved Technology Services Vendor - Alextricity

The Board of Education met in closed session with all members present. Actions taken include:

Employment Approved for the 2026-2027 Academic Year

• High School FACS - Gingee Adams
• 2026-2027 Non-Certified Staff as presented
• 2026-2027 Extra Duty Positions as presented

Employment Retirement at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year

• Glenda Ennis - Elementary Principal

We appreciate the continued leadership and dedication of our Board of Education in supporting #EminenceExcellence!

The Eminence R-1 district has openings for the following certified positions for the 2026-2027 academic year:

High School Math Teacher: Candidates must have or be able to obtain a Missouri certification for 9-12 mathematics.

K-12 Special Education Teacher: This is a unique position as it will provide instruction and services to students in seat and enrolled in our virtual school, ROCS. Candidates must have or be able to obtain a Missouri certification for K-12 Special Education.

K-12 Music Teacher: This position will be primarily working with elementary students PreK-6th grade to provide a traditional music instruction program. Candidates must have or be able to obtain a Missouri teaching certification.

Both positions are 9-month contracts, full benefit package and we participate in Career Ladder.

Please complete a Certified Application for these positions. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Stephanie Barbagiovanni, 573-226-3252 or via email at stephanie.barbagiovanni@redwingsk12.org.

The Eminence R-1 district has openings for non-certified positions. The district utilizes a modified calendar with Fridays as the scheduled day not in session most weeks. Current non-certified positions open:

Non-Certified Position - Immediate Openings

Custodian - This position beings at $17.00/hr and includes health insurance and retirement benefits. This is a 12-month position. We have two positions open; one day shift and one evening shift. During the summer months all positions will work during the day.

Non-Certified Positions for 2026-2027 Academic Year

Dishwasher - This positions beings at $17.00/hr and includes health insurance and retirement benefits.

Bus Drivers - This position begins at $19.50/hr and includes health insurance and retirement benefits.

Please complete a Non-Certified Application for these positions. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Stephanie Barbagiovanni, 573-226-3252 or via email at stephanie.barbagiovanni@redwingsk12.org.

Eminence Elementary has had a strong and productive start to the fourth quarter, with high student engagement, solid academic performance, and active family involvement. Attendance remains a key strength, averaging around 95% year-to-date, and students are being recognized for both attendance and academic achievement, including over 100 students earning Honor Roll distinctions. Teachers continue to focus on essential standards and are preparing students for upcoming MAP and Terra Nova assessments, supported by recent iReady diagnostic testing to guide instruction.

The school has also emphasized literacy and instructional improvement through LETRS professional development, equipping teachers with research-based reading strategies. A wide range of events, such as Career Day, family engagement activities, screenings, and extracurricular sports, have helped build a positive school culture and strengthen community connections. These opportunities, along with field trips and special programs like Special Olympics, contribute to well-rounded student experiences.

As the school year approaches its conclusion, the focus remains on supporting student success, completing assessments, and celebrating achievements through end-of-year events. Staff and students are working diligently to finish the year strong, with continued support from families and the community playing a vital role in maintaining positive and successful learning environment.

The high school is progressing steadily through the spring semester with a focus on student engagement, planning, and preparation for next year. Attendance currently stands at 94.5%. Students have participated in several meaningful activities, including a safe driving assembly, mock interviews, Job Olympics, and various academic reward events. Staff have also been actively involved in meetings such as Title Planning for 2026-2027, CSIP, and transition planning with Oak Hill School.

Academically, iReady testing has been completed, with a goal of achieving at least 75% student growth in the 7th & 8th grades. Data from these assessments will guide upcoming Student Support meetings focused on services and strategies, including support for high-achieving students. The MAP testing window runs from mid-April to early May.

Student participation in extracurriculars include a successful golf season, with the team earning conference champion honors. Our students also enjoyed Prom and Project Prom on April 17, thank you to all of our staff and volunteers for pulling off such a magical night! Overall, the school remains focused on continuous improvement, student success, and readiness for the 2026-2027 academic year. We're looking forward to celebrating our seniors at graduation on Friday, May 8th!

Stay up to date with game schedules, tournaments, and athletic highlights. From volleyball and basketball to baseball, golf, and cross country, you'll find all the details here to support our student - athletes.

Upcoming Athletic Events

April 29 - Clearwater Golf Invitational @ Piedmont

Speak up, save lives. Reporting school violence can make a difference. Report your concerns at www.courage2reportmo.com, via the mobile app: Courage2ReportMO, or by calling 866-748-7047. #StopSchoolViolence #SpeakUp

If you are interested in utilizing one of our district facilities (FEMA Building, Elementary Gym, High School New Gym, High School Old Gym, etc.) you can now submit your request online or in person. Eminence R-1 School Facility Usage Request

You may want to consider reaching out the building office to confirm that the dates/times you are requesting are available.

Elementary School Office: 573-226-3252 (Press 1)

High School Office: 573-226-3252 (Press 2)

Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has launched a new website: www.missouri988.org. The site provides information for anyone who may be experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis.

The newly designated 988 phone number went live nationwide on July 16, 2022. Since that time, it has routed thousands of individuals to local, trained crisis specialists at Missouri’s 988 centers. The 988 crisis line connects anyone experiencing a mental health, suicide, or substance use crisis to compassionate, accessible care and support, available 24/7. Support is free and confidential.

Mrs. Stephanie Barbagiovanni

Superintendent

Email: stephanie.barbagiovanni@redwingsk12.org

Phone Numbers:

Central Office: 573-226-3252 (Press Option 3)

High School Building: 573-226-3252 (Press Option 2)

Elementary Building: 573-226-3252 (Press Option 1)

Website: https://www.redwingsk12.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Redwingsk12