With the departure of Monty Hill earlier this year, Kristen Shepherd has been tabbed as the district’s new Director of Bands. Shepherd has served as an Assistant Band Director with the district since 2022.
Joining Shepherd in the band program’s new-look leadership team are Andrew Coleman, who will lead the Marion Junior High Band program; Doug Young, who will be an Assistant Director for the high school; and Ethan Andrews, who will be a junior high Assistant Director. All three are continuing with the Marion Band program. Two additional assistant directors will also be hired.
“We have enormous pride in our band program here at Marion, and we are deeply grateful to the Hills for the leadership they have provided and the standard of excellence they helped establish,” said Dr. Glen Fenter, Marion superintendent. “At the same time, we are very confident in the future of the program under Ms. Shepherd’s leadership. Kristen has been an important part of our band’s success, and she brings outstanding experience, pedigree, talent, and vision to this role.”
To read more, follow the link below:
https://www.msd3.org/article/2827746
MHS is pleased to announce Ms. Nancy Sparks as our MHS Teacher of the Year! Ms. Sparks is a 10th-12th-grade Special Education teacher. She has a BSE in Physical Education and an MSE in Special Education. In addition to being an amazing teacher, she has also served as a PE Teacher. Ms. Sparks has been an educator for 33 years, working with Special Education students in Jonesboro (10 years as a PE teacher for the Jonesboro Human Development Center) and in Marion (Special Education teacher). She also serves as the Special Olympics Representative for Marion School District. Ms. Sparks enjoys fishing, traveling, hanging with family, and enjoying life to the fullest with her friends. However, she is passionate about teaching, her son, Bobby Sparks, and God. Congratulations, Ms. Nancy Sparks. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to Marion High School.
Here's Ms. Sparks on her teaching philosophy:
"I believe that our future lies in the hands of the students that we see and teach every day. They will become our leaders, our mechanics, our grocery store owners, our restaurant workers, and so on. We will be able to do the things we do because of these students. I strive every day to smile at them, talk to them, instruct them, and listen to them when there are problems. To teach means I can share my love of life, I can mold young minds, and create in them the passion to become whatever they desire to become.
"Teaching is not a job to me; teaching is my true passion. It is a blessing to get to meet students, watch them grow, and see them graduate. Along the way, as a bonus, I get to make awesome teacher friends, who will always have my back, in good times and bad times, even when the copier gets jammed, they are there to fish out that paper for me. Thank you to everyone who has come into my life, students, teachers, and administrators; you help make me who I am ... A TEACHER!!!!"
Congratulations to the Marion School District bands for their outstanding performances at the Region IV Concert Assessment on Monday! All four bands earned Superior First Division ratings in both Stage Performance and Sight-Reading, earning ASBOA Sweepstakes Awards for their efforts.
To read more about their achievements, follow the link below!
https://www.msd3.org/article/2771757
OPTIONS & PRICING:
- Short-sleeve cotton: $8
- Long-sleeve cotton: $10
- Dry-fit: $10
- All shirt sizes 2x or bigger add $2
HOW TO ORDER:
Orders can be placed with Linda Robinson at the MHS office, or with Amanda Jackson at the MSD Central Office.
DEADLINE:
Orders must be placed by 3 p.m. Wednesday for pickup on Friday. Checks can be made to the MSD Foundation.
Marion High School hosted the 6A-3 Conference Quiz Bowl Tournament today, and the Patriots finished 2nd place overall. Marion’s only loss of the day came to 1st-place Searcy.
Three Marion students were also named to the All-Tournament Team, which recognizes players who averaged at least five solo questions per game:
• Aiden Smith (Marion) – 5.5
• Jude Johnson (Marion) – 5.0
• Gabriel Livingston (Marion) – 5.0
Other All-Tournament Team members were:
• Collin P. (Searcy) – 6.5
• Wave S. (Mountain Home) – 5.25
Congratulations to our students and coaches on a strong showing. 📚👏
The team split into three mini-teams for the event, with Marion Red going 4-1, their only loss coming against Morrilton in the final game. Their performance earned them a 3rd-place trophy, while Morrilton and Valley View Blue went undefeated to take 1st and 2nd place.
Marion Red’s team members were Isabel Schmidt, Blaine Cupples, Jude Johnson (3rd highest scorer in the tournament!), Aiden Smith, Gabriel Livingston, and Sophia Chen.
Congrats to all!
