STAFF DIRECTORY
What does movie star Clint Eastwood, astronaut Sally Ride and a Galapagos tortoise named Methuselah have in common?
They all have a connection to Poplar Middle School!
We’re proud to present our amazing team. Their care, enthusiasm and dedication to helping students exceed pushes Poplar Middle School to the next level. We invite you to take a moment and read some FUN FACTS about our staff below.
Click on the UNDERLINED NAMES to access individual staff webpages.
TWILIA BEARCUB
Special Education Grades 7-8
FUN FACT: I am enrolled on the Fort Peck Reservation as a Nakota but am also a Dakota. I help my students succeed in their individual school subjects. Every day is an adventure!
Grade 5 Teacher
FUN FACT: While getting my teachers license in Billings, MT during the spring of 2010, I repelled off of the rims. It was a requirement of the class at MSU-B.
MELANIE FERGUSON
Grade 7 Social Studies
FUN FACT: I owned and operated Ferguson Moving Systems, a residential and commercial moving company, which primarily served United Van Lines in Billings, Montana, for ten years.
TED FULGHAM
Agriculture Education
FUN FACT: I have been to all but 2 of the 50 States in the United States
MANNY GRANBOIS
Physical Education
FUN FACT: I graduated from University of Montana, home of the Grizzlies.
CHRISTINE GRINDSTAFF
Grade 5 Teacher
FUN FACT: I taught at a one room school house in Cleveland, Montana east of the Bears Paw mountains.
KARA GUILEZ
Grade 5 Teacher
FUN FACT: I have three dogs-- two German Shepherds and one Akita mix. Their names are Remington, Ignacio and Luna. I also have a cat named Blythe.
JOE HAMMAR
Industrial Arts
FUN FACT: I am a Volunteer Fireman for Scobey and Poplar as well as a Sheriffs Deputy in Daniels County.
SHERYL KOHL
TRAILS & REMOTE Learning
FUN FACT: While working with NASA to develop educational lessons, I met Sally Ride, the first woman in space.
School Counselor
FUN FACT: My very first job as a school counselor was at Poplar Middle School. At the time, Mr. Norgaard was in 2nd grade and now he is my boss.
JENNIFER LAWRENCEDIXON
HPDP Mental Health Therapist
FUN FACT: I like to take black and white Polariod photographs of things I see in my travels.
LINDA MCCABE
Family and Consumer Science
FUN FACT: On the old place in Texas, I caught a six foot plus diamond back rattler with a snake catcher tool. I had to drop it and re-grab it closer to it's head.
JACKIE MUHS
Special Education Grades 5-6
FUN FACT: I used to have eight weenie dogs. I have five dogs right now and pretty much cannot pass up a dog.
EMILY MURPHY
Grade 5 Teacher
FUN FACT: My husband and I owned a commercial driving school training mostly teenagers how to drive. It was called Buggin’ and Cruisin’. Students drove VW Bugs and PT Cruisers.
STEVEN MURPHY
Science Grade 7
FUN FACT: I've been in 49 states (all except Alaska) and Canada, Mexico and Ireland.
Principal
FUN FACT: I went on an African Safari where I harvested a world class Kudu! While I was there, I participated in a local village tradition where we ate pit smoked Wart Hog.
KRISSY PARKER
Art
FUN FACT: I lived and worked in Japan for over a year, teaching English to grades PreK-9th.
Chante' School Coordinator
FUN FACT: While on vacation, I sat down on a rock, but it turned out to be a huge 100 year old Galapagos Tortoise called Methuselah.
Assistant Principal
FUN FACT: I met Clint Eastwood in Phoenix, AZ when he was filming The Gauntlet. He had me sit down with him and his party, bought me a steak sandwich, and spoke only to me.
KELLY SCARR
Grade 8 Language Arts
FUN FACT: I went to New York to visit my sister when she was in law school and got a tour of Central Park on a rickshaw.
Librarian
FUN FACT: I have gone cave hunting and mountain climbing, and I have seen Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Monument.
STEVEN SCHWARTZ
Grade 7 Math
FUN FACT: I have met Kevin Costner, Lindsay Wagner, Peter Weller and Neil Patrick and a few others.
KENNY SHIELDS
Grade 6 Social Studies
FUN FACT: I was a river guide in the Grand Canyon with Cross Tours and Exploration, Inc. out of Orem, Utah. Each pontoon boat tour took 6 days.
AARON SNYDER
Grade 8 Science
FUN FACT: I served 10 years in the Marine Corps, which allowed me to travel all over the world.
MELANIE SORENSEN
HPDP Drug & Alcohol Counselor
FUN FACT: I served on the city council in Glasgow, MT.
JACOB TURCOTTE
Grade 7 Language Arts
FUN FACT: I have Piggly Wiggly Fries that will cross your eyes!!
MARTHA WATTS
Grade 6 Math
FUN FACT: I was raised in Texas, but I lived most of my life in Atlanta, GA. I worked in the airline industry, and I learned how to fly an airplane before I got my driver's license.
JOHN WETSIT
Technology Education
FUN FACT: We just welcomed our 2nd son, Joshua, to the world on September 16, 2020!! Due to the COVID restrictions, you could say he is technically a quarantine baby.
KENNY WHITEHEAD
Grade 5 Teacher
FUN FACT: I love my grandma because I can count on her to stick up for me.
