Michaela Magdich waited six years to become a full-time teacher.

The long wait has come to an end for the Hannibal resident as she joined the Wellsville-Middletown R-I teaching staff for the 2023-2024 school year, working as a physical education teacher.

“I’m finally at the goal,” Magdich said.

Magdich and several other new teachers got a chance to look at their new classrooms as well as meet with the students and parents during the Wellsville-Middletown R-I Open House on Aug. 16, just six days before the first day of school.

The other new teachers are Ashley Howard, Ashley Owen, Herb Walsh, Katie Wilkinson and Stephanie Williams. They join a staff that also includes new superintendent Richele Falloon and junior high/high school principal and athletic director Kevin Oligschlaeger.

Magdich held her meet and greet sessions at the W-M gymnasium. She said she enjoyed talking with the parents and teachers.

“It’s wonderful,” Magdich said. “I was excited to meet everyone. I love people. It’s nice to know not just the kids, but their families.”

Magdich graduated with a Master’s degree in leadership and business management at Hannibal-LaGrange University in May. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in physical education from Hannibal-LaGrange.

Wilkinson, who is graduating from Hannibal-LaGrange in December, is the new preschool teacher at W-M. She had help from her mother – who is a preschool teacher at the Louisiana School District – in designing her classroom.

“Preschool is fun,” said Wilkinson, who graduated from Bowling Green High School in 2019. “I always had a heart for preschoolers.”

Howard, who is another Bowling Green resident, is teaching fifth grade after working as an investigator for the children’s division in Pike and Lincoln counties. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Missouri Baptist University in 2021.

Howard, who also worked as a paraprofessional at the Bowling Green School District, said she is looking forward to working with her students this fall.

“I want these kids to succeed,” Howard said.

Williams worked as a paraprofessional for eight years before she was hired to teach sixth grade at W-M. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grand Canyon University in December.

“I always loved teaching because I taught at my church since I was 15,” Williams said. “But I wasn’t quite sure about school settings until I became a para. I thought it wasn’t so bad. So I went back and got my Bachelor’s.”

Walsh, who is working on getting his Bachelor’s degree, will be teaching special education. He will also coach the junior high girls basketball team.
Walsh taught one year at Bowling Green and one year at Vandalia. He said he enjoys his new school.

“I’m liking it,” Walsh said. “Every teacher has been friendly. It seems like we have great teamwork here.”

Owen is the district’s new social worker.