Casey Powers was sworn in as Durant Board of Education member Office No. 1 during a meeting Monday.
Powers replaces Paul Buntz, who did not seek reelection, and Powers was the only one to file for the office.
He said he looks forward to working with the school district.
“I’ve got three kids in the school system currently,” Powers said. “My wife and I both went through the school system here in Durant. I’m really eager to give back to the community. I really want to help make sure Durant Schools continues to grow and improve and so I’m really looking forward to working with the team here.”
Also during the meeting, the board was reorganized. Janie Umsted was named president of the board and Joyce Northcutt vice president.
The board named Brian Kader as the head coach for the Durant Lady Lions basketball team for the 2026-2027 school year. He replaces Tony Robinson, who announced his retirement last month. Kader’s wife, Marissa Kader, was named a special education teacher at DHS.
The board accepted the following resignations: Sierra Beal, history teacher at DHS; Sabetha Sands, physical education teacher/ coach at DMS; Kara Denton, ELA teacher at DMS; Morris Sloan, physical education teacher at DIS (retirement); Leslie Gregg, assistant instrumental educator for Durant Schools; Micah Tennison, fifth grade math/science teacher at DIS; Mary Morgan, counselor at GW (retirement); Melina Lud- low, third grade teacher at WI; Crystal Nesbitt, special education teacher at NWH; Lori Peddy, office staff/receptionist at DMS (retirement); Jaiveon Gardner, special education teacher assistant/coach at DMS; Rebecca (JoAnn) Whittenburg, library assistant at DIS (retirement); Paxton Ezell (Fox), computer lab assistant at DIS; Tiffany Watkins, special education teacher assistant at GW, and John Woods, special education teacher assistant at GW.
Anna Carey, Pamela Carey, Mellissa Sherrer, Kimberly Hopkins, Miranda Lowe, Carrie Sorrels, Emma Jacob, Holly Shattuck, Amanda Tonubbee, Molly James and Rachel Shelton were approved as Indian education instructors for the 2026 Summer Enrichment Program.
Cynthia Bourne and Elisabet Garcia were approved as instructors for the DHS 2026 summer school session. Carol Luce was approved as summer services teacher for students with individualized education plans and Reagan Ballard was approved as a speech language pathologist for the 2026-2027 school year. Lindsey (Autumn) Whitaker was approved as a special education instructional coach for the 2026-2027 school year.
The board approved the following employments: Kaitlyn Kavoosi, STEM teacher at DMS; Breanna Self, fifth grade ELA teacher at DIS, reassignment from math/science; Gena Smith, fifth grade science teacher at DIS; Aaron McCoullough, sixth grade math teacher at DIS; Doreen Anderson, STEM teacher at DIS; Pamela Carey, sixth grade special education ELA teacher at DIS, transferring from third grade teacher at WI; Hannah Hicks, special education teacher at NWH; Carley Boucher, special education teacher at NWH; Emma Shelton, kindergarten teacher at NWH, reassignment from pre-k teacher at REL; Mahalee May, third grade teacher at GW, reassignment from kindergarten; Brittany Lovelace, fourth grade teacher at GW, and John Shelton, maintenance employee.
Brandi Wingfield and Brooke Roberts were approved as special education teacher assistants for summer services for students with individualized education plans. Sheri Sharp was approved as nurse and Zoey Shelton, para/nurse for the Indian education summer enrichment program.
