Purcell Public Schools is welcoming 11 new teachers for the 2024-25 school term including Marsha Ambrose, Corrynn Breidinger, Christopher Dunshie, Jennifer Davis, Andrea Kulessa, Ireen Adams, Elizabeth Ainsworth, Amanda Cloud, Matt Lohn, Karla Rodgers and Nashea Stubblefield.

Ambrose will be teaching third grade. She is a graduate of Maysville High School and earned degrees from OSU for her bachelors and UCO for her masters.

She previously taught first, second and third grades in the Oklahoma City Public School System.

She has two children who are two and five. The five-year-old will be attending Purcell Schools this fall. She accepted the position here since they are moving back to Maysville.

Breidinger will be teaching seventh grade science and aviation.

She is a graduate of Pinella Park High School in Largo, FL and earned her degree from East Central University.

She previously taught school five years at Paoli in math, science and aviation.

Breidinger said she accepted the position at Purcell for an opportunity to grow. She and her husband, Dan Briedinger have a 15-year-old daughter.

She spent eight years on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear trained machinist’s mate.

Dunshie will be teaching seventh grade geography. He is a graduate of Blanchard High School and earned his degree from Southern Nazarene University.

Previously, he taught at Piedmont. He and his wife, Allison, have two daughters, five and two. They moved here for the community and a smaller school system for their children.

Davis will be teaching fourth grade. She is a Choctaw High School graduate that earned her degree from The University of Oklahoma.

“I love everything about Purcell Schools,” Mrs. Davis said. “I’ve been actively involved in the school as a PTO officer, volunteer, parent and substitute teacher. I fell in love with teaching and helping students grow during my opportunity as a sub at the intermediate. I love math and all things numbers so I’m excited to share my passion for math with my students. Math is a skill they will use daily for the rest of their lives.”

She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Stephen Davis, for 15 years. They have three children.

Kulessa, who has been on staff as the girls’ soccer coach, will be teaching fourth grade. She is a graduate of Del City High School and earned her degree from Mid-America Christian University.

“I have always felt drawn to working in the school environment with children,” Kulessa said. “In most recent years as my behavioral intervention skills have grown and expanded across different environments,  I have been even more drawn to bringing these skills to a school.

“After being hired as head soccer coach last year, I knew I wanted Purcell to be my home. When the opportunity arose, I didn’t even think twice,” she continued. “I couldn’t get the word ‘yes’ to come out of my mouth any faster.”

Adams will be teaching kindergarten. She is a graduate of Niceville High School and earned her degree from Northwest Florida State College.

Davis previously taught kindergarten at Hayes Elementary. She chose Purcell due to it being closer to her home. She and her husband, Gary, have three dogs.

Ainsworth will be teaching first grade. She is a graduate of Hartshorne High School and Western Governors University.

“I want to make a difference in the Purcell community,” Ainsworth said.

She has been married to her husband, Chris, for three years.

Cloud will be teaching second grade. She is a graduate of Asher High School and earned her degree from East Central University.

“I have built lifelong friendship with members of the community of Purcell,” Cloud said. “I love the support and involvement of the community.

“I love the passion that is shown in wanting students to succeed in every aspect of life,” she continued. “I can’t wait to get to be a part of that success. It was an honor and full circle moment to accept the position at Purcell Elementary.”

Cloud has a daughter who will be in the sixth grade and be teaching alongside her aunt and cousin.

Lohn is a Purcell alum who will be teaching 9th grade math and algebra. He earned his degree from Oklahoma State University and had previously taught and coached at Lexington Junior High and Moore High School.

Lohn will be the head high school basketball coach for the Dragons.

He and his wife, Chelsea, have two sons.

Rodgers will be teaching sixth grade social studies.

She is a graduate of Elkins High School in Elkins, WV, earning her bachelors degree from Rutgers University and her masters from Arizona State University.

I want to make a difference in the education of children,” she said.

She and her fiance, Terry Sanders, have two girls.

Stubblefield will be teaching  first grade.

A Lindsay High School graduate, Stubblefield earned her degree from East Central University.

She has previously taught at both Ada and most recently at Lexington.

“I chose to teach at Purcell for the environment,” Stubblefield said. “My son will be starting pre-k here and I love the family environment Purcell Public Schools offers. I am excited to be a Dragon.”

Stubblefield and her high school sweetheart husband, Joe, have a four-year-old son, Kyler.