Meet your Palmyra R-1 School Board member, Amber Gottman! 🏫
My name is Amber Gottman. I am married to Jeff Gottman and we have four children in the Palmyra School District: Gabbie, Graysen, Brayden, and Brody. I am a nurse practitioner at Blessing Health Palmyra. My family attends the Apostolic Church in Taylor, MO.
Why did you choose to serve on the school board? 💬
I ran for the Palmyra School Board with goals to ensure our kids have the best educational opportunities available to them. Learning and success looks different for every student. My aim continues to be to provide programs, platforms and instruction to help stimulate and encourage our children’s physical, intellectual and social growth. I also wanted to help ensure our educators had the resources they needed to provide a positive learning environment.
What do you love most about our district? 💬
The support our community shows our students and educators.
Fun Fact? ⭐
My first job was the Tastee Freeze in Palmyra and I enjoy doing puzzles.
Fast Five with Amber: ⭐
Coffee or Tea?- Tea 🍵
Early Bird or Night Owl?- Early Bird 🌅
Favorite School Event?- Any event that brings the community out that showcases our students talents. 🎉
Favorite Subject in School?- Math 📚
One word that describes our district? Superior 💯
PHS Graduate? 🎓
Yes, Palmyra High School Class of 2004
👏 Thank you, Amber, for your leadership and commitment to making Palmyra R-1 a great place for our students! 🧡🖤


Our 4th grade basketball tourney is in full swing as the teams rotate and play games throughout the day. When they are not on the court, students are hard at work running the concession stand, raffle table, and drink station—learning teamwork on and off the court!
A big shoutout to our high school basketball players who stepped up to referee and run the scorer’s table. We love seeing our Panthers support one another! 🧡🖤
Job well done Panthers! 👏










What a great day at PES! The Science Fair was held Thursday, showcasing the 60 students in 1st-4th grade that participated! It was a busy morning, full of experimentation and learning.
Ribbons earned by participants will be presented during the school’s Awards Day in May. A Science Expert for each grade level will also be awarded at that time. Ms. Knoche and Mrs. Gard thank all of those who helped make the Science Fair a success, especially the judges: Kaitlynn McElvain, Ken Zielinski, Tanner Thornburg, Andre Castiaux, and Liane Hetherington-Ward from BASF.
PES will be open during the basketball tournament for public viewing of the Science Fair projects in the cafeteria.
A summary of all projects has been compiled in this YouTube video.
https://youtu.be/bg72WzwPx7s








Kathy and Tiffany had the opportunity to visit with our legislators and share the impact and importance of Parents as Teachers programs in our communities.
PAT is grateful for the opportunity to share our voice and proud to be champions for children! 🧡🖤
📸 Pictured: Diane Addison (Hannibal Parents as Teachers), Tiffany, Kathy, and Representative Greg Sharpe
📸 Pictured: Kathy, Representative Louis Riggs, Diane, and Tiffany



Mrs. Zook is currently the junior high Math and Science teacher at Marion County R-II School. She previously served as the Special Education Coordinator at Marion County, PE and Health teacher for the Hannibal School District.
Mrs. Zook began her career as a Special Education teacher in 2007 after graduating from Hannibal LaGrange University and earned her Masters degree from William Woods University.
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Zook to the Palmyra R-1 School District! 🧡🖤

We are excited to welcome in our next group of Panthers into Kindergarten! 🧡🖤
Be sure to get ready by joining us for these important events:
📅 Call to schedule your appointment for Kindergarten Round Up April 13–17
🚌 Come ride a bus and meet the teachers on April 22nd – Panther Prep Night
☀️ Sign up for Kindergarten Academy happening June 1–5
🐾 We can’t wait to meet our future Panthers!
Now, let’s spotlight one of the amazing Kindergarten educators - Mrs. Griesbaum!
✨ 22 Years in Education
🍎 Favorite Thing About Teaching Kindergarten:
I love to see how much the kids grow in knowledge and social skills in one year! I love their excitement to be here and learn!
📚 Favorite Children’s Book/Author:
"Socks for Supper" (an old book from when I was a kid) ; "Turkey Trouble"; & "Room on the Broom"
🎉 Fun Fact:
I have been a Parent Educator w/PAT & was a teen parent educator in Hannibal; taught 5-8th grade reading; 6th grade CA; 3rd grade & early childhood special education; & Kindergarten.
❤️ What Families Can Expect in Kindergarten:
Your child to learn & become more independent & initially exhausted from a big busy days of games & learning!
It is the people in our classrooms who make our district shine every day. Thank you Mrs. Griesbaum! 🧡🖤


Fresh air, hands-on learning, and a little sunshine make for a great day to be a Palmyra Panther! 🧡🖤
#PantherPrideInTheClassroom @ Palmyra Middle School

Thank you to everyone who joined us Monday night for our community meeting! 🏫
We appreciate those who were able to attend and the thoughtful conversation around school finance, upcoming legislation, and how it may impact our district at the April election and beyond. Your engagement and support mean so much to our schools and our future.
A summary of the topics discussed can be found in our most recent school board press release. The full press release can be found on our website under Board of Education, Board Meeting Press Release.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this topic further, Mr. Harper would be happy to take the time to answer your questions! Call the Palmyra R-1 Central Office at 573-769-2066 or email: harperj@palmyrar1.us.
We are proud to partner with our community as we work together to support and strengthen the future of Palmyra R-1 School District.



Integrated Science students took on an engineering challenge by designing roller coasters for their marble “cars,” using potential and kinetic energy to create the ultimate ride. Each coaster had to include at least four thrills — hills, loops, curves, tunnels, jumps, or spirals — and a creative theme for extra points!
🏆 Chloe R.’s water park-themed coaster took 1st place with 7.04 seconds of fun
🥈 Edie W. & Jenna H.’s Candy Land coaster followed with 6.68 seconds
🌿 Best Theme went to Coby M. & Larson B. with their jungle/nature design
Students learned about structural supports, velocity, and problem-solving through trial and error — and discovered that persistence pays off!
#PantherPrideInTheClassroom @ PHS








Spring fever is in the air—perfect day to compete and enjoy the sunshine! ☀️


Hi, my name is Leisa Hinkle. My husband, Richard, and I have been married for 35 years and live in Taylor, MO. I am a retired teacher from the Palmyra School District, business owner of The Urban Nest and an active community member. All four of my children - Emilee, Austin, Katee and Cooper - graduated from the Palmyra R-1 School District. My favorite hobby is spoiling my beautiful granddaughters, Oaklee, Piper, Naomi and Natasha.
As a parent, educator, business owner, and community member, I bring a well-rounded perspective and a deep loyalty to our district. I believe Palmyra is a wonderful place to raise and educate children. 🎓
Fast Five with Leisa: ⭐
Coffee or Tea: Neither
Early Bird or Night Owl: Early Bird
Favorite School Event: Basketball
Favorite Subject to teach: Graphic Arts or Yearbook
One word that describes our district: COMMITTED!
Are you a Palmyra graduate?
No, but worked for the district from August 1994 - May 2019.
Fun Fact? ⭐
Mrs. Hinkle did not provide a fun fact or throw back pictures, but thankfully one of her first (and maybe even a favorite) Palmyra student is on staff and was able to find some pictures from the past to share. Mrs. Hinkle's fun fact is she has not changed a bit since her early days at PHS!
👏 Thank you, Leisa, for your years of dedicated service, your leadership, and the lasting impact you have made on our students, staff, and community—we are truly grateful! 🧡🖤



This weekend, Palmyra FFA was proud to host a contest, welcoming schools from across the area to compete and showcase their skills!
Thank you to all the schools who participated and to everyone who helped make the event a success! 👏






Students put in the work at our ACT Crash Course and are ready for PHS District test day! 💪📚
Good luck Panthers!







This Saturday, our PHS Quiz Bowl team competed in the Clarence Cannon Conference Tournament at Clark County and represented Palmyra well! 🧡🖤
The Varsity team kicked things off with a strong win over Macon, battled in a close matchup with Centralia, and finished the day with a victory over Monroe City to earn 3rd place overall! 👏
We are also proud to recognize our All-Tournament selections:
✨ Levi – 3rd Place JV All-Tournament Team (40 PPG)
✨ Joseph – T-5th Place Varsity All-Tournament Team (33.3 PPG)
✨ Matthew – T-3rd Place Varsity All-Tournament Team (50 PPG)
Great work by all of our Quiz Bowl competitors! 📚💡
📸 Coach Hopke



We are proud to celebrate this incredible achievement as Ms. Knoche was named New Adviser of the Year at the recent MO FCCLA State Leadership Conference—an honor recognizing outstanding advisers with fewer than five years of experience.
In just four years of teaching Family and Consumer Sciences, she has truly raised the bar. Ms. Knoche doesn’t just promote FCCLA—she lives it through her classroom instruction, mentorship, and dedication to service.
Thanks to her leadership, students have had the opportunity to shine on a national stage, competing in National LifeSmarts and National STAR Events. She is also committed to innovation, securing grants to bring cutting-edge resources like a 3D printer and VR headsets into her classroom—creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for students.
Please join us in congratulating Ms. Knoche on this well-deserved recognition! 👏


Spring break has come to an end - school resumes Monday, March 23.
Also, we will hold a community meeting Monday at 6:00 PM in the PHS gym to discuss school finance legislation and the Homestead Property Tax Credit/Senate Bill 3 that will be on the April ballot.
Hope you had a great break, Panthers, we look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

Our students will showcase their creativity, curiosity, and scientific thinking at the PES Science Fair on March 26th! 🧪💡
📅 Thursday: Students will present their projects to judges and classmates
🏀 Friday: Community viewing will take place during the 4th Grade Basketball Tournament
We are excited to see all the hard work our Panthers have put into their projects—be sure to check them out! 🧡🖤

I’m a 1995 graduate of Palmyra High School. After graduating, I moved away to attend Missouri Western State University, but my heart was always in Palmyra. I eventually returned home, knowing this was where I wanted to build my life, raise my family, and invest my time and energy. 🎓
Nineteen years ago, I was honored to step into the City of Palmyra’s first full-time Parks and Recreation Director position after the passage of the quarter-cent sales tax supporting our parks. That opportunity shaped not only my career but also my life, allowing me to serve a community I care deeply about.
Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to stay involved in several areas that help strengthen our community. I currently serve on the Palmyra Main Street Committee and have been involved with American Red Cross Aquatics education for the past 25 years. I’m also proud to be a Missouri Master Gardener. In addition to my work with the City, I have had the privilege of serving on the Palmyra R-1 School Board for the past 11 years. 🤝
One of the ways I enjoy staying connected to our school community is volunteering in the press box on Friday nights during football season, helping run the music and contribute to the game atmosphere.
My wife, Carla, also serves our community through her work and her longtime leadership with the Palmyra Booster Club. Together we’ve raised three children here in Palmyra, and I’m incredibly proud of the paths they are carving out.
Our oldest son, Zane, is a Palmyra High School graduate and a young and successful business owner in Palmyra. He is now in his third year as a barber after opening Meyers Barber Co. Our second son, Zeke, also graduated from Palmyra High School and went straight into the workforce. He now serves the community as a full-time mail carrier with the United States Postal Service here in Palmyra. Our youngest, Zola Grace, is a freshman at Palmyra High School, a three-sport athlete, and very active in school activities.
Palmyra has shaped who I am. My commitment to this community has never been about titles, but about service, stewardship, and making sure Palmyra remains a place where families are proud to live, work, and build their future.
Why do you choose to serve on the school board? 💬
I choose to serve on the school board because strong schools are the foundation of a strong community. Our schools shape not only the education of our children, but also the character, opportunities, and future of our town. Serving on the board allows me to help ensure that Palmyra students have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed. It’s also a way for me to give back to a community that has given so much to my family. Being involved in decisions that impact our students, teachers, and families is a responsibility I take seriously, and I’m proud to help guide the future of our district.
What do you love most about our school district? 💬
What I love most about our school district is the strong sense of community and pride that surrounds it. Palmyra schools are supported by dedicated teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and community members who truly care about our students. It’s a place where people show up for one another—whether that’s in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, or in the stands. Our district provides opportunities for students in academics, athletics, and activities, helping them grow into well-rounded individuals.
Fast Five with Doug ⭐
Coffee or Tea: Coffee
Early Bird or Night Owl: Night Owl
Favorite School Event: Friday night football games, there’s nothing better than the whole community showing up under the lights.
Favorite Subject in School: Recess… which probably explains why I ended up working in Parks and Recreation.
One Word to Describe Our District: Pride
Fun Fact? ⭐
Over the past 15 years, I’ve planted more than 500 Missouri native trees throughout Palmyra landscape… and I still have a pretty good fastball from my fast-pitch softball days.
Are you a Palmyra graduate?
Palmyra High School Class of 1995
👏 Thank you Doug! We are grateful for the time, commitment, and heart you bring to serving our Panther and Palmyra family. 🧡🖤


We are excited to welcome in our next group of Panthers into Kindergarten! 🧡🖤
Be sure to get ready by joining us for these important events:
📅 Call to schedule your appointment for Kindergarten Round Up April 13–17
🚌 Come ride a bus and meet the teachers on April 22nd – Panther Prep Night
☀️ Sign up for Kindergarten Academy happening June 1–5
🐾 We can’t wait to meet our future Panthers!
Now, let’s spotlight one of the amazing Kindergarten educators - Mrs. Churchwell!
✨ 31 Years in Education
🍎 Favorite Thing About Teaching Kindergarten:
The kids! Being around their honesty and enthusiasm is truly special. Seeing how they perceive the world is always a joy, and it’s a privilege to play a role in shaping the next generation.
📚 Favorite Children’s Book/Author:
For the past 10 years, Mo Willems has been a favorite—especially the beloved Elephant & Piggie series!
🎉 Fun Fact:
This teacher has experience across many grade levels and subjects, including Kindergarten, 2nd, 5th, and 6th grade, Middle School Art, FACS, and Title Reading!
❤️ What Families Can Expect in Kindergarten:
Students will grow in independence, building confidence as they learn to rely less on parents and more on their own abilities.
Join us in celebrating the dedication and passion that make our classrooms so special! 🧡🖤

