Admin shuffles at USD 503

A few weeks ago, the USD 503 Board of Education approved Parsons Middle School Assistant Principal Barney Pontious as the new principal at Garfield School, replacing retiring Principal Misty Russell.

On Monday morning, the board hired Parsons Middle School seventh grade English teacher Olivia Nolting to fill the position of assistant principal and athletic director at the middle school. Those positions were left by Pontious’ move.

Nolting earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary and special education in 2018 and went to work at Parsons Middle School as a special education teacher. 

In 2021, she took over as head volleyball coach at the middle school. She continued her education, receiving her master’s in education leadership from Northwest Missouri University.

Working in administration has been Nolting’s goal since she began in education.

“I’m excited to get to serve the students and staff here. It’s always been what I wanted to do, where I saw myself,” Nolting said. “I’ve been able to be on the leadership team here at the middle school and that has given me some learning opportunities. I’m the seventh grade team leader right now, so there have been opportunities in place so I could share some leadership.”

Nolting said she is a little nervous about being young and this being her first administration job, but she is also very excited.

“I think it helps that I have been here and I know the students and staff and the climate of our building already,” Nolting said. “I think my background of SpEd and elementary and teaching different things now will be good.”

Monday, the board also approved hiring Tyler Thompson as the new Parsons High School assistant principal and athletic director to fill the position of Rob Barcus, who is moving up to the principal position at PHS after Eric Swanson announced his resignation. Swanson is departing to take the principal job at Neodesha High School.

“I feel like Rob was the right person for that job,” Superintendent Lori Ray said. “We had some other applicants, but we feel he will be the best fit for that job.”

Barcus was hired as the assistant principal at PHS in 2018. Prior to that he had worked in the district for 23 years as a teacher and basketball, football and track coach. He earned his bachelor of science degree in education in 1993 from Pittsburg State University. He earned his master of arts degree in American history from PSU in 2006 and completed his building leadership license through Fort Hays State University in 2018.

Barcus started his career teaching in Copan, Oklahoma. After two years, he took a job with Parsons USD 503, where he has worked since 1995. 

He has taught middle school social studies, math and science, has served as athletic director there and has coached through the years prior to moving into administration.

Thompson completed his master in education degree at Newman University in 2015 and his building leadership certificate from Pittsburg State in May 2022. Thompson started his career in education as a coach at Friends University in 2010, the year after he graduated there with his bachelor’s degree in education with a focus on physical education. 

In 2012, he took a position as head boys basketball coach at Coffeyville and taught social studies and fire science.

On Monday, the board also hired Chris Ball as the new Parsons High School construction teacher and assistant athletic director. 

Trevor Maiseroulle submitted his resignation as construction teacher. Maiseroulle, after completing his doctorate in education, accepted an assistant instructional professor position in technology and workforce learning at Pittsburg State University. 

“We added that position at the high school for the assistant AD. We’ve never had that before,” Ray said. “I think that will be very helpful. Being an assistant principal and an athletic director, those are two jobs, and a lot of things the assistant principal needed to be doing had to be put on hold so athletic directing things could be done. If we are going to have a game on Friday night and it’s Friday at 1 o’clock and we have officials that are, ‘Sorry, I can’t come,’  then the AD is busy scrambling to make sure there is coverage so we can have the activities. I think sometimes people forget that they have to get everything lined up and organized, so if there are things that come up last minute, if they are doing things as assistant principal, sometimes those things would have to take a back seat. I think it will be good.”

Ball has extensive experience and has worked for the school district in other positions in the past, Ray said.

“It’s kind of like a welcome home,” Ray said of Ball. “That’s exciting. We are looking forward to having him.”

Jordan Shields was hired as the new elementary art teacher. 

“I feel like the staff, we don’t always have a whole lot of applications, but for teacher staff or administrative positions, but we always end up with quality people,” Ray said.