Tri-Lakes Education News

BRANSON SCHOOLS

Buchanan Intermediate welcomes new assistant principal

Buchanan Intermediate will welcome a new assistant principal for the 2026-27 school year.

Mr. Preston Carson has been named the new Assistant Principal for Buchanan Intermediate. Carson replaces Mr. Tyler Prochazka, who will move into the role of Principal at Buchanan Intermediate.

Carson has been with Branson Schools since 2023 and currently teaches physical education at Buchanan Intermediate. He earned his undergraduate degree from Southwest Baptist University and is expected to complete his Master’s in Educational Leadership through Evangel University in May 2026.

"It’s an honor to serve Buchanan Intermediate in this new role,” said Carson. “As a physical education teacher, I've had the chance to build strong relationships with our students, and I look forward to continuing to support their growth while partnering with our staff and families to help every student succeed.”

He will begin his new duties July 1, 2026.

Branson sixth grader earns spot at National Spelling Bee

Cedar Ridge Intermediate sixth grader Emmalyn Franks has earned her place on the national stage after winning the A.C.E.S 9th Annual Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 7, in Rolla, Mo.

Franks secured first place with the word “ozone,” earning the opportunity to compete in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee this summer in Washington, D.C. Ten Branson elementary and intermediate students competed in the Regional Bee.

This was Franks’ third time competing at the regional level. She previously qualified in third and fifth grade, each time representing the Cedar Ridge campus, but had not placed in the top three until this year.

“I remember when the judges said ‘Correct,’ I genuinely didn’t know what to do, or how to react,” said Franks. “It honestly took about 10 minutes of my mother repeatedly telling me, ‘No, you won, I swear,’ and me realizing the trophy was in my hands before I actually believed I was going to nationals in D.C.”

Franks also credited several teachers who helped spark her interest in language and supported her preparation. “I’d also like to thank my first grade teacher, Mrs. Poor, because she taught me what a prefix was, which helped me greatly,” she said. “And Mrs. Alms, the CRI librarian, for opening up the library in the mornings as a spectacular study environment.”

The 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee will be held in May in Washington, D.C.

Branson Public Schools Pirate Proud March 2026 recipient

We’re thrilled to celebrate our March Pirate Proud recipient: Lupita Wiley, kitchen manager at Cedar Ridge Elementary!

For 13 years, Lupita has been a cornerstone of the CRE family. As kitchen manager, she does far more than prepare meals - she helps create a culture of care, connection and community for students and staff every single day. Serving more than 550 meals daily, Lupita leads her team with calm, steady leadership, working right alongside them to ensure students receive delicious meals that help fuel their learning.

CRE Principal Dr. Michelle Collins shares that Lupita is “at the heart of our kitchen team and a true champion for students and our school family.” Her service reflects excellence, consistency and integrity - and she models a spirit of putting others before self in everything she does.



Nutrition Services Director Jill Morey adds that Lupita’s leadership, attention to detail and dedication to her team make her an outstanding manager. And when asked about her work, Lupita simply says, “I love my job!” - and it truly shows.

Do you know a Pirate who goes above and beyond for students, staff or our community? We’d love to hear about them! Every employee is eligible to receive the Pirate Proud honor. Please submit their name with some reasons why you think they should be a Pirate Proud honoree. We're looking forward to celebrating our staff through your nominations! The Pirate Proud nomination form link is: https://bit.ly/3AytT1S

---

REEDS SPRING SCHOOLS

Reeds Spring robotics teams advance to world competition

Two Reeds Spring Middle School robotics teams have earned the right to compete at the VEX Robotics World Championship. They qualified at the state competition, held in St. Louis.

Reeds Spring Schools had six teams compete at state. Four teams competed in the Elementary Division and two in the Middle School Division. The RSMS team of Ava Schneider Behn, Nate Waters, Jameso Staugaard and Lucas Welton won the Teamwork Champion Award, Skills Champion Award and Think Award. The RSMS team of Alexis Lanham, Elliott Linegar, Kaan Sahin and Jax Ratliff won the Excellence Award and third place in Teamwork. All four elementary teams set personal bests, with one team winning the Think Award and another winning the Amaze Award.

The VEX Robotics World Championship will be held April 28-30 in St. Louis.

Reeds Spring students qualify for State Speech and Debate competition

Three Reeds Spring High School students qualified for the State Speech and Debate competition. They placed in the top four at the district contest.Mikayla Baker placed second in Dramatic Interpretation, Colbie Cypret placed second in Humorous Interpretation and fourth in Original Oratory, and Violet Hall placed fourth in Storytelling. The state competition will be held on April 25 at Missouri State University.

Golden Friends luncheon a huge success

Approximately 200 people filled the Reeds Spring High School Auxiliary Gym for the district's annual Golden Friends Luncheon on Wednesday, March 11. Guests enjoyed a meal prepared by the district's food service department and served by members of the RSHS National Honor Society. 

There were also performances by the RSHS Choir, RSHS Jazz Band and the Elementary Singers. The district holds this free event every year to thank the community for its constant support.

---

TABLE ROCK CAREER CENTER

Engineering students invited to state science fair

Table Rock Career Center students earned first place at the Ozark Science and Engineering Fair. Kaden Colman, Emilee Coleman, and David Scott created a desktop biological laboratory.They have been invited to represent Southwest Missouri at the inaugural Show-Me Science Fair in St. Charles Community College in Cottleville, on April 14-16. They also earned $1,000 scholarships to Missouri State University and a lunch date with MSU staff.Table Rock Career Center and Reeds Spring High School had additional noteworthy entries at the competition.

Elizabeth Inselman and Johnny Smith placed second in Environmental Science. Stephanie Westerhold placed third in Astronomy and Physics, and Connor Love earned Honorable Mention in Biochemistry.