First Look: 3 Teachers Fill Important Dist. 300 Roles

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin Board of Education last week filled three high profile positions at the Du Quoin Middle School.

Emily Plumlee will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of DMS music director Jon Montgomery.

Emily is originally from Pinckneyville and lives in Carbondale. She was a December 2010 graduate of Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education.

According to principal Aaron Hill, "Emily has a very strong and diverse background in music from a teaching, performance and organizational background. She has performed with the SIU Marching Salukis, the Southern Illinois symphony orchestra, the SIU-C Choral Union and the SIU wind ensemble. She has all the necessary skills and experiences to continue our strong music and band history at DMS.

Candace Manning will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Jean Ellen Bullock as art instructor in grades three through eight.

Candace lives in Du Quoin and is a May 2009 graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education.

She received her Masters of Art in art education in May 2010 from Eastern Illinois University.

"Candace set herself apart during the interview process," says Hill. "She has great communication skills and a wide variety of work experience for someone her age. She has earned her masters in art and has taught at the university and junior college levels.

Darin Hicks will fill the vacancy created by the transfer of Mr. Jason James from fifth grade to seventh grade social studies. Jason is filling the vacancy of Mrs. Pat Karnes, who is also retiring.

"Darin is originally from Pinckneyville and currently lives in Carterville," said Hill.

"He has worked at DMS as an EOC aide the past two years."

He is a 2009 graduate of SIU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education.

"Darin has done an outstanding job during his tenure at DMS. He has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of rolls outside his assigned duties and has excelled in each of those areas."

These three staffing changes are effective in the Fall of 2011.