About Ozark Schools
Ozark School District is located in southwest Missouri in the city of Ozark, the county seat of Christian County. The district proudly serves more than 6,000 students in grades PK–12 and is supported by 1,000+ dedicated staff members. Guided by our motto, Excellence Drives Us, Tradition Unites Us, Ozark School District is committed to investing in our students, strengthening our schools, and partnering with our community to ensure success for every learner.
Fast Facts
History of Ozark Schools
OHS Diploma & MVA
Ozark High School Diploma & MVA
Diploma & recognition begins with Individual Career and Academic Planning (ICAP), a fluid plan that helps students pursue their interests and passions while providing a focus on the path they wish to follow.
A Market Value Asset (MVA) is a cornerstone experience that prepares students for future learning and employment. MVAs are authentic previews of the world of work or post-secondary education. While the professional and academic worlds are ever-changing, the outgrowths students develop when they work on authentic projects with real employers and mentors are durable enough to benefit them throughout their lives.
1. Work Experience
2. Entrepreneurial Experiences
3. Industry-Recognized Credentials
4. College Credit
For more information, Diploma & MVA recognition data can be found on our Success Ready Dashboard.
1. Work Experience
- Gain job experience and soft skills through programs such as Agriculture, Automotive, Child Development, Construction Trades, GO CAPS, Marketing & ProStart
- Youth Apprenticeships and Internships - Gain job experience and soft skills through Registered Youth Apprenticeships, Internships and other work-related programs
- Client-Connected Projects - Experience your interests beyond the textbook with real-world learning opportunities
2. Entrepreneurial Experience
- Capstone Projects - Apply your skills, showcase your expertise and prepare for your future by completing a year-long project based on personal interests
- School-Based Enterprise Projects - Learn real-world skills by participating in one of OHS's school-based
enterprises, including Tiger Mart, Krazo Coffee, and Stripes
3. Industry-Recognized Credentials
- Approved DESE Industry-Recognized Credentials - Earn advanced industry credentials through our career and technical education programs to give yourself an edge when entering the workforce
- Vocational Rehabilitation Plans - Create a plan with job shadowing, job coaching or mock interviews through a vocational rehabilitation plan (for students who qualify)
- Military Advanced Enlistment - Enlist as high as an E-3 by completing three credits of JROTC to qualify for advanced military enlistment
- Missouri Seal of Biliteracy - Receive college credit or a foot forward in the workforce by earning the Seal of Biliteracy for being literate in English and another language
4. College Credit
- Get a head start by earning college credit through OTC Fast Track, Advanced Placement, Articulated Credits or Dual Credit
OHS Facts
OZcars
OZcars: Teacher, Staff of the Year Awards
Ozark School District recognizes our teachers and staff annually through what we call the OZcar Awards. There are five awards given at each building in the spring for that school year. Staff are encouraged to nominate their fellow co-workers, and the winners are chosen from a committee comprised of staff members from across the district. From those building winners, a district winner is chosen and announced at our annual Back to School districtwide meeting the following August.
2025: 5th Annual OZcars
Ozark School District held its Fifth Annual OZcar Awards ceremony Aug. 12, 2025, kicking off the 2025-26 school year with a districtwide meeting. Five district winners received awards. Pictured from left is:
- Support Staff of the Year Operations & Business Division - Becky Roesch, North Elementary Administrative Assistant
- Elementary Teacher of the Year - Kristen McGauley, South Elementary First Grade Teacher
- Leader of the Year - Dennis Faught, Director of Custodial/Maintenance
- Secondary Teacher of the Year - Timaree Sorlie, Ozark High School Physical Education Department Head
- Support Staff of the Year Learning Division - Theresa Walls, Ozark High School Paraprofessional
Past OZcar Winners
District OZcar Winners
2024
2024: 4th Annual OZcars
- Secondary Teacher of the Year - Carole Joy Webb, Ozark Junior High Social Studies Teacher
- Elementary Teacher of the Year - Nicki Garner, North Elementary First Grade Teacher
- Support Staff of the Year Learning Division - Mary Anderson, Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center Social Worker
- Leader of the Year - Kent Sappington, Executive Director of Elementary Learning
- Support Staff of the Year Operations & Business Division - Mary Jo Rainey, East Elementary Administrative Assistant
2023
2023: 3rd Annual OZcars
- Secondary Teacher of the Year - Danyel Rickard, OHS English Teacher
- Support Staff of the Year Learning Division - Natalya Istomin, OJH English Learner Teacher
- Elementary Teacher of the Year - Angela Brown, East First Grade Teacher
- Support Staff of the Year Operations & Business Division - Jana Bowline, South Administrative Assistant
- Leader of the Year - Brianna Kelly, Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center Assistant Principal (now at East)
2022
2022: 2nd Annual OZcars
- Volunteer of the Year - Mike Hayward, Ozark Booster Club
- Elementary Teacher of the Year - Lisa Esch, North Second Grade Teacher
- Support Staff of the Year Learning Division - Stacy Johnson, OHS Social Worker
- Secondary Teacher of the Year - Amy Sappington, OHS Math Teacher
- Leader of the Year - Elizabeth Dawson, Tiger Paw Early Childhood Center Director
- Support Staff of the Year Operations & Business Division - Ethan Anderson, Technology Department
2021
2021: Inaugural OZcars
- Support Staff of the Year Learning Division - Paul Goode, South Elementary Counselor
- Support Staff of the Year Operations & Business Division - Keith Mitchum, East Elementary Custodial Coordinator
- Leader of the Year - Dr. Philip Link, Ozark Junior High Principal
- Secondary Teacher of the Year - Suzanne McGowen, Ozark Middle School Band Teacher
- Elementary Teacher of the Year - Robin Hammons, North Behavior Interventionist
Building Winners
2024-2025
Learning Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Kristin Morris, Paraprofessional
- North Elementary - Jennifer Jackson, Speech-Language Pathologist
- South Elementary - Amy Dunn, Instructional Coach
- East Elementary - Officer Jimmy Andela, School Resource Officer
- West Elementary - Emily Schaefer, Academic Interventionist
- Ozark Middle School - Danielle Monsanto, Counselor
- Ozark Junior High - Cameo Hopper, Social Worker
- Ozark High School - Theresa Walls, Paraprofessional
Operations/Business Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Ashley Fain, Administrative Assistant
- North Elementary - Becky Roesch, Administrative Assistant
- South Elementary - Robert Thurman, Custodial Coordinator
- East Elementary - Edda Prater, Administrative Assistant
- West Elementary - Miguel Valencia, Building Tech
- Ozark Middle School - Megan Hampton, Administrative Assistant
- Ozark Junior High - Jacob Mastroianni, Building Tech
- Ozark High School - Cody Kerr, Custodian
- District - Lacie Hart, Data Specialist
Teacher of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Trevor Hale, PE Teacher
- North Elementary - Ali Dollins, Kindergarten
- South Elementary - Kristen McGauley, First Grade
- East Elementary - Courtney Wallace, Special Education
- West Elementary - Chelsea Zafiroff, Science
- Ozark Middle School - Belinda Banta, Special Education
- Ozark Junior High - Carrie Woods, Science
- Ozark High School - Timaree Sorlie, Physical Education Department Head
2023-2024
Learning Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Mary Anderson, Social Worker
- North Elementary - Beverly Smart, Paraprofessional
- South Elementary - Wendi Little, Behavior Interventionist
- East Elementary - Leslie McPheeters, Media Aide
- West Elementary - Karen Bohannon, Literacy Coach
- Ozark Middle School - Alex Beckman, District Board Certified Behavior Analyst
- Ozark Junior High - Abigail Wright, Media Specialist
- Ozark High School - Amber Manning, Senior Counselor
Operations Division/Business Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Morgan Hall, Tiger Care Childcare Coordinator
- North Elementary - Ryan Todd, Custodial Coordinator
- South Elementary - Kimberly Krasko, Administrative Assistant
- East Elementary - Mary Jo Rainey, Administrative Assistant
- West Elementary - Cara Melvin, Administrative Assistant
- Ozark Middle School - Amber Golden, Custodian
- Ozark Junior High - Dawn Ogle, Administrative Assistant
- Ozark High School - Crystal Medlock, Custodial Coordinator
- District - Clyde Ward, Transportation Department Bus Dispatcher
Teacher of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Vickie Chapman, Early Childhood Special Education
- North Elementary - Nicki Garner, First Grade
- South Elementary - Cathy Fox, Kindergarten
- East Elementary - Tammy Myers, Fourth Grade
- West Elementary - Michelle Giles, Kindergarten
- Ozark Middle School - Emily Burns, Sixth Grade
- Ozark Junior High - Carole-Joy Webb, Social Studies
- Ozark High School - Connor Gately, Vocal Music
2022-2023
Learning Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Julie Blackson, Paraprofessional
- North Elementary - Carie Bilbao, Media Aide
- South Elementary - Alicia Juber, Paraprofessional
- East Elementary - Tracey Roussell, Instructional Coach
- West Elementary - Teresa DeWitt, Paraprofessional
- Ozark Middle School - Josiah Johnson, Paraprofessional
- Ozark Junior High - Natalya Istomin, English Learner Teacher
- Ozark High School - Kelly Harmon, Paraprofessional
Operations Division/Business Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Jeanne Friend, Administrative Assistant
- North Elementary - Martha Faucett, Custodian
- South Elementary - Jana Bowline, Administrative Assistant
- East Elementary - Betty Naylor, Custodian
- West Elementary - Mark Stephens, Custodian
- Ozark Middle School - Cain Freese, Custodial Coordinator
- Ozark Junior High - Deloris Adams, Custodian
- Ozark High School - Rhi Strick, Administrative Assistant
- District - Capt. Mark Deeds, Director of School Police
Teacher of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Liz Ruggeri, Early Childhood Special Education
- North Elementary - Tracy Archambeau, Second Grade
- South Elementary - Shelly Chesick, Third Grade
- East Elementary - Angela Brown, First Grade
- West Elementary - Chelsea Noe, Fourth Grade
- Ozark Middle School - Maria Turner, Special Education
- Ozark Junior High - Jody Dalton, Social Studies
- Ozark High School - Danyel Rickard, English
2021-2022
Learning Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Leslie Baca
- North Elementary - Keisha Wurgler
- South Elementary - Kasey Morgan
- East Elementary - Jeanie English
- West Elementary - Michelle Tilley
- Ozark Middle School - Lisa Anderson
- Ozark Junior High - Leah Coffey
- Ozark High School - Stacy Johnson
Operations Division/Business Division Support Staff of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Jayme Derrickson
- North Elementary - Jenny Mulder
- South Elementary - Pam Ferris
- East Elementary - Stephanie Ehly
- West Elementary - Becky Essick
- Ozark Middle School - Crystal Medlock
- Ozark Junior High - Luke Kern
- Ozark High School - Josh Sisco
- District - Ethan Anderson
Teacher of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Kacee Levesque
- North Elementary - Lisa Esch
- South Elementary - Tamara Gerard
- East Elementary - Jennifer Fergerson
- West Elementary - Christa Kimbrough
- Ozark Middle School - Emily Burns
- Ozark Junior High - Lindsey Johnson
- Ozark High School - Amy Sappington
2020-2021
Elementary Staff in a Supporting Role Learning Division
- Tiger Paw - Stephanie Acreman
- North Elementary - Robin Kimery
- South Elementary - Paul Goode
- East Elementary - Ann Poivre
- West Elementary - Abigail Gentry
- Ozark Middle School - Jonette Marshall
- Ozark Junior High - Amanda Ryan
- Ozark High School - Amanda Smith
Elementary Staff in a Supporting Role Operations/Business Division
- Tiger Paw - Heather Carsten
- North Elementary - Jamie Davis
- South Elementary - Stephanie Overton
- East Elementary - Keith Mitchum
- West Elementary - Jeanie Gipson
- Ozark Middle School - Debbie Yake
- Ozark Junior High - Lyuda Kinum
- Ozark High School - Rebecca Buffington
Teacher of the Year
- Tiger Paw - Monica Snodgrass
- North Elementary - Robin Hammons
- South Elementary - Maria Turner
- East Elementary - Melanie Surface
- West Elementary - Jennifer McCary
- Ozark Middle School - Suzanne McGowen
- Ozark Junior High - Julie Doerr
- Ozark High School - Andy Thompson