Chillicothe R-II School District is proud to recognize three outstanding team members as our “Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread” award recipients—our monthly celebration of staff members who go above and beyond for students, families, and coworkers.
This month, we are excited to honor Kim Kieffer, Mary Jane Stephens, and Melissa Young for the heart, leadership, and dedication they bring to Chillicothe R-II every day.
Kim Kieffer — Chillicothe High School
Kim is the kind of educator who will pull out all the stops—doing whatever it takes to help kids find success at CHS. She fully embraces her responsibility to support not only the students on her caseload, but also the students in the classrooms where she serves as a co-teacher, approaching that work with confidence and genuine love for kids.
Kim consistently believes the best in her students and her coworkers. She is a master at perspective-taking, able to see multiple sides of an issue and help others move forward. She willingly reaches out to everyone involved in supporting students, and while she’s a truth-teller, her honest feedback is delivered gently—earning her trust with coworkers, students, and families alike. Kim also willingly takes on roles that support student success, serving her building and the district with purpose and passion.
Mary Jane Stephens — GRTS
Mary Jane gives 100% to everything she does at GRTS, and you can see her passion for students in the way she shows up for them each and every day. She has a genuine servant’s heart and a real joy for her work that helps her build strong bonds with students—and create a positive, encouraging environment around her.
Everything Mary Jane does is focused on preparing students for life after graduation, whether that means building independence, practicing life skills, or working toward employment goals. She holds students to high standards because she truly believes in them, and she’s right there beside them with the support they need to meet those expectations. You might find Mary Jane in the breakroom helping serve students and staff, or working with students on life skills—and in either place, she’s doing it with a smile.
Melissa Young — Teaching Pathways Leadership
Melissa is being recognized for her exceptional dedication, follow-through, and leadership in helping make the Teaching Pathways program a reality for Chillicothe High School—and for our region.
Melissa has turned vision into action, investing extraordinary time and effort to move the program from an idea into a workable plan that can truly serve CHS students and support surrounding districts. She also leaned in and learned alongside the team, attending the two-day Pathways to the Teaching Professions I & II training to help ensure the program launches well.
In addition, Melissa has pursued resources that make the work possible—researching opportunities and seeking grant funding to help the program get started and remain sustainable. She has built strong connections through extensive networking and communication with administrators, DESE leaders, and education professionals, gathering key data and feedback to ensure the program meets regional needs and benefits students. Melissa consistently shows up as an active collaborator and listener, participating in advisory meetings and recently attending the GRTS area counselor advisory meeting to gather input on how best to promote the program to sending schools.
Melissa has been a steady, positive force—leading, collaborating, communicating, and problem-solving in ways that expand student opportunities and support our mission: “The Best District for the Best Students in the State.” Her work reflects our standards of Student Success & Learning, Strong Culture & Communication, and Staff Engagement.
Congratulations to Kim, Mary Jane, and Melissa—and thank you for making Chillicothe R-II stronger every day.