LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
Mary Morgan Ryan was announced as the new superintendent of schools for Paris Union School District in late April. On Monday, July 8, Morgan Ryan participated in her first Board of Education meeting since stepping into the role.
The arrival of Morgan Ryan, who came to Paris 95 after working for TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park, Ill., marks a new era for the district. She is excited to be in the position.
“I am really, really happy to be moving to Paris. I have visited the community and talked to people about the school district, and everyone has been supportive and positive about the school district,” she explained in a previous interview with a Prairie Press reporter. “What I want people to know is that I’m excited to become part of the Paris community.”
Morgan Ryan took the reigns from interim superintendent Lorraine Bailey, who stepped into the position after former superintendent Jeremy Larson was placed on paid administrative leave back in June 2023, when FBI agents searched Larson’s home in connection with misappropriated grant funds.
During Monday’s meeting, Morgan Ryan submitted a list of personal goals to be approved by the board. According to the list, she plans to “engage in deep discovery in the district, its students, schools, and people, and report to the board of education on themes that emerge from this learning.” Morgan Ryan also hopes to “develop a communication for the board of education and all stakeholders about the financial status of the district.”
After board members approved the superintendent’s goals, Morgan Ryan brought them up to speed on several Paris 95 programs. First, the new superintendent discussed metrics and data from the district’s 21st Century Grant-funded summer camps.
“There were 19 free summer camps for approximately 230 students. Over 110 Different families participated in one or more camps,” she explained. “And we had kids from pre-k all the way through 12th grade.”
Morgan Ryan also discussed statistics from Paris 95’s Paris Alternative Learning Site (PALS). Per Morgan Ryan, 26 students graduated from the PALS program during the 2023-24 school year. Fifteen students graduated from the PALS adult education program.
Following a lengthy closed session, Morgan Ryan and the board also handled several employment matters. Lisa Marlow was unanimously selected as a volunteer assistant cheer coach at Mayo Middle School, Neil Foor was hired as a special education teacher at Wenz Elementary School in a 4-2 vote and Mary Goddard was hired as the head cook at Memorial School. Angel Newman was hired to fill Goddard’s previous position.
The board addressed several other items, including…