HCR's Rosie Reader
Specialist Teacher Introductions
Meet our Specials Areas Teachers
Read more about our amazing specialists below!
Mr. Meinershagen - Physical Education
I was born in Oakville, Missouri. I have one sister, who lives with her family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I played many different sports growing up and eventually, Baseball became the sport I pursued outside of High School. I was offered a scholarship to play at Southwest Missouri State University (MO State) but declined it to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays who drafted me out of High School. I ended up playing Professional Baseball for 8 seasons.
Once injuries forced me to retire, I started on my path of becoming a Physical Education Teacher. I graduated with my Undergraduate Degree in PE Certification from UMSL. After that, I continued my education and received a Master's Degree in Education from Southwest Baptist University. I also received a Masters in Education Administration from Missouri Baptist University.
During this time, I married my wife Martha. She is a teacher in the Mehlville School District. She teaches Physical Education. We have two children who are both active in sports and their High School. TJ, my oldest, will be attending the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville this fall. My daughter, Mason, will be a Junior in High School this fall.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family cheering them on with whatever sporting events they are competing. I also enjoy spending time on our Ozark rivers floating and fishing for trout and smallmouth bass. I prefer to fly fish. I spend many hours tying the flies that I fish with. I also enjoy camping on the river banks. My favorite time to visit is during the fall and winter when the river is quiet and free from the summer crowds.
I have been teaching Physical Education in the Parkway School District and at Highcroft Ridge Elementary for the past 20 years. I have been very fortunate to work with such caring and wonderful teachers that make Highcroft home. The Highcroft community and the students that I get to teach are truly remarkable and I am honored and humbled to be a part of it.
Mrs. Norell - Art Education
Dear Highcroft Ridge Community,
I am happy to say I’ll be returning full-time to Highcroft for my second year! This year, I will gradually transition our art room into a student-driven learning model called Teaching for Artistic Behaviors (or “TAB”). I picture an art room where your child’s curiosity and interests guide their artmaking decisions, and they have control over their ideas and how to create them.
I love student-driven learning, as it allows for a curriculum that sparks the needs of each individual learner, and aligns with the National and Missouri Visual Arts Standards. Art created from student choice and direction is both a powerful and a relevant force in their lives.
TAB is a process of guiding artists into thinking and creating like an artist. We will center our learning around practicing the good studio habits of: Observation, Exploration, Developing Craft, Envisioning, Persistence, Reflection, Expression, and Understanding Art Worlds / Histories. Over the year, I will show your artist different ways of using materials so that their own ideas can take form. We will spend time learning how to plan and design art, how to problem-solve, how to expect and reimagine mistakes, and how to share and present our creations with others.
How TAB Works:
After a short skill-building lesson, the TAB process invites artists into different studios, or centers, such as painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, fibers, etc,. Throughout the year, as students gain greater confidence in decision-making and planning, I will open new studios with new materials they can work with. TAB studios are a place where artists choose what they make and determine what materials they need to create what they design.
Because the process of design-thinking is heavily student-driven, and the project plans come directly from the students themselves, the artwork created might be less “polished” as in years past. As students strengthen their skills in a particular studio and embrace their own design-process, their work will get stronger. We will still have teacher-guided projects throughout the year with a finished “product” in mind, but the focus of the art program will be to strengthen students’ belief in themselves, their ability to express their ideas, and to connect with others through art.
TAB Class Breakdown:
A typical class period for grades 3-6 will look something like this:
Greeting at the door and students are asked to sit on the floor in the introduction area
5 minute demonstration with references to the weekly art inspiration; ie. images related by a theme, an artist/artisan, genre, subject matter, style, art history, etc.
40 minute Studio time
5 minute Clean up
5 minute Closure and Discussion (Fill out an exit slip about what they did in art today. Then whole group discussion: Who made an amazing discovery today? Who had a struggle today in their art making? Did you overcome your problem? Did you find a solution to your art making? If not, can anyone suggest a strategy for this artist?)
Note: Kinder through 2nd grade will be using the TAB studio model occasionally to get them slowly used to the changes and will not be asked to fill out exit slips.
TAB for Who?
Kindergarten and 1st grade will have a modified choice-studio setup, as we will focus heavily on skill-building and learning how to use the art room space. 2nd through 5th graders will gradually work their way into full TAB studios, beginning the year with heavy procedure practice and skill builders to pave the way for greater choices in the Spring.
“But Won’t Choices Equal Chaos?”
The number one question people have when approaching student-led artmaking is, “So, does TAB mean students just walk into art and do whatever they want? That sounds chaotic!”
No. Choice does not have to equal chaos. I am a firm believer in the power of learning through mistakes, of reimagining them into something better, and of the power of creating. As students are taught how to plan for an art work, how to determine the materials they need to build their idea, how to use and clean up those materials, and how to share that work with others, the TAB choice studios become a magical place.
On a Closing Note:
Art class plays a huge part in supporting your child’s emotional and social wellness, imagination, fine-motor development, problem-solving skills, and more. I welcome your thoughts and feedback as we make this transition. Also, we are always looking for donated materials such as wooden pieces, electronic bits, scrap containers, storage containers and tubs, buttons, beads, toy parts, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, yarn, and other sculpture-worthy items. Let me know in advance if you plan to bring items by, so I can be sure we have room for them. Please don’t hesitate to contact me by email or ext. #54417 if you have any comments, or if you just want to introduce yourself and say hello.
Wishing you and yours the sweetest of school years,
Mrs. Charis Norell
Mrs. Rakers - Physical Education
My name is Sarah Rakers, I teach Health and Physical Education at Highcroft Ridge. This will be my 22 years teaching PE in the Parkway School District and my 2nd year at Highcroft. I am a product of Parkway and come from a family of Parkway teachers. I was lucky to have teachers and coaches positively influence my life as a student-athlete. Growing up, I had a love for sports and being physically active and a desire to teach. This led to my career in teaching elementary PE. I enjoy building quality relationships with students and helping them find their own success through athletics.
My family is filled with my husband, daughter, son, and two dogs. My kids attend Parkway West High School and are involved in sports and activities there. In my free time, I love to cheer on any Longhorn team as well as watching my kids play. Our family loves to go on new adventures through vacations. We love to explore the roads less traveled, meet new people, learn history and traditions, and especially try local cuisine. My family loves to ski, it’s our favorite thing to do together. We love to ski in Colorado but our favorite place to ski is Atla Resort in Utah. It is like no other and this mountain has given our family some wonderful memories. Our other love as a family is basketball, specifically Kansas basketball. My husband and I both played basketball in college and have a love for the sport. The University of Kansas basketball program has such an incredible history. Our children have inherited this love for the Jayhawks and we enjoy going to Allen Fieldhouse to cheer on the team.
Mr. Spector - Music Education
Hello!
My name is Mr. Spector. I teach music at Highcroft. I am so excited for this upcoming school year. Music is one of my passions in life and I have missed making music with all of you. Over my summer vacation, I had fun spending time with my family in Florida and playing with my new puppy named Pepper. She is the cutest. I hope you are as ready as I am to sing, play instruments, and learn this school year!
See you soon!
-Mr. Spector
Mrs. Stilts - Library Media Education
Welcome to Highcroft Ridge! My name is Danielle Stilts and I am Highcroft Ridge’s Library Media Specialist. This is my 15th year at Highcroft. I taught fifth grade and third grade before becoming a librarian in 2016. I am proud to be a Missouri Tiger, earning a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and an MS in instructional technology. My husband and I have a second grader and a fourth-grader at Highcroft, and truly believe Highcroft is a great place to grow. Two years ago I had the honor of representing Parkway as Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year. Though, the greatest privilege of my career will always be learning, researching, and exploring with Highcroft students.
Students visit the library with their class each week. Along with literature appreciation and book check out, we explore principles of engineering design through makerspace activities. This can include physical design and building, but also digital creation. Students of all grade levels will experience hands-on activities that empower learners as creators.
Media literacy is another important element of library instruction. Through guided exploration, students learn what media is and how to use critical thinking within print and digital media consumption. Lastly, digital citizenship is a key focus of our work in the library. Students engage in activities that help us to be “internet awesome” by learning how responsible digital citizens navigate online safety and kindness.
I can’t wait to read, imagine, think, and create with all Highcroft students. I look forward to seeing you in our beautiful Highcroft library!