Ralls County R-II School District's 2026-27 New Staff

August 12, 2026

Hello my name is Jace Bales. I am from a small rural community in central Missouri and am completing my degree in History Education at Culver-Stockton College. During my time at Culver-Stockton, I competed as a member of both the football team and the track and field program. I am excited to join this community and look forward to contributing to a successful and productive school year.

My name is Sierra Beaver and I am originally from Monroe City, Missouri. I graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a bachelor’s of science in agricultural education, a minor in plant sciences, and my floral design certification. All throughout college, I worked at a butcher shop where I learned how to process meat animals. This will be my first year in education as I just graduated this year.

My name is Connor Brazil, and I am heading into my second year of teaching. I was born 02/02/2002 in Tampa Bay, FL. I just got married to my wife, Claire Brazil, this summer on June 6th! I am very excited to be a part of the Ralls County community, and I can’t wait to see what this school year has to offer!

My name is Thomas Brennan. I live in Palmyra with my wife Sarah, and our kids Te’a (6) and Tobias (2). Prior to Mark Twain, I was Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach at Kishwaukee College, HLGU and Johnson & Wales University Denver for 10 seasons. For the last 3 years, I have been the Director of Golf at Norwoods Golf Club in Hannibal.

Gary Crusha is honored to step into the role of principal at Mark Twain Junior High. Bringing 28 years of dedicated experience in education—most recently serving for eight years as the Athletic Director at Paris High School—I have built my career around strong leadership, student mentorship, and community engagement. I earned my Educational Specialist Degree from Northwest Missouri State University, and I am eager to bring that foundation to our school. I firmly believe that a thriving school is built on strong relationships, accountability, and a supportive environment where every student has the opportunity to excel academically, socially, and emotionally. Outside of my professional life, I live in Monroe County with my wife, Anna, and our five children. When I’m not at school, you can usually find me spending quality time with my family or out hunting and fishing. I am truly grateful to join the TEAM TIGER family and look forward to a fantastic year ahead!

My name is Mandi Gregory and I’m excited to join the district as an eighth-grade Reading and Writing teacher after spending 24 years teaching English Language Arts. My husband, Walt, and I live on our family farm. I enjoy reading, baking, traveling, and making memories with our family. I look forward to getting to know my students and becoming part of this wonderful school community.

Kachina Hudson is the new Physical Education teacher at RCE and is joining the coaching staff for JH softball and track. She attended Hannibal-LaGrange University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Physical Education K-12 and earned her certificate in Health Education while playing softball. After graduation, she spent a year coaching softball at Culver-Stockton College. She then had the opportunity to begin her teaching journey at Mark Twain Jr./Sr. High School. She is now beginning her 13th year in education. Some things she enjoys outside of teaching and coaching are running, hiking, cycling, kayaking, writing, reading, and creating art.

Trinity Hummel is excited to be joining Ralls County Elementary as a paraprofessional! This will be my fourth year as a paraprofessional, and I’m passionate about helping students learn and succeed. I’m currently going back to school to become a special education teacher. When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two-year-old daughter. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and being part of the Ralls County community!

Kelly Janes this year will be my 24th year teaching special education. I graduated from Hannibal La Grange University with a Bachelor's of Education, have a Master's of Education from Lindenwood University, and a specialist degree from Arkansas State. I have been married to my husband Justin for 15 years. We have 2 children Jacob 12, and Jayme 10. We are first time pet owners to a 4 month old Maine Coon kitten named Stormy. We are huge baseball fans. We love cheering on the St. Louis Cardinals. My favorite things to do in my spare time are swimming, fishing, and watching Hallmark Christmas movies. I'm looking forward to meeting and collaborating with all the families, administration faculty and staff. I'm excited to support students and ensure that every student has the support they need to succeed.

My name is Kelly Lawzano, and I’m excited to be a full-time substitute teacher in the same school district where I graduated. It’s a special opportunity to give back to the community that helped shape me. Before becoming a substitute teacher, I worked in the banking industry for 24 years. During the past year, I’ve enjoyed working with students and helping them learn, grow, and have a positive school day. I look forward to getting to know your students and supporting them while their teacher is away. I’m grateful to be part of this wonderful school community!

My name is Caitlin Leapley, and I am excited to join the Mark Twain Tigers as a first-grade teacher this school year! This fall marks the beginning of my 10th year in education, and I have had the opportunity to teach students in kindergarten through second grade throughout my career. I earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Hannibal-LaGrange University and my master's degree from Northwest Missouri State University. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two sons, Theo (3½) and Luca (1), who keep me on my toes every day. I also love playing sand volleyball, baking, and getting lost in a good book. Our home is always full of energy with our two boys and two German Shepherds. I am looking forward to getting to know my students and their families and am thrilled to be a part of the Mark Twain Tiger family!

My name is Courtney Lee, and I am excited to join Ralls County Elementary School as the new elementary school counselor. My husband and I recently celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary, and together we have four daughters, three of whom will be attending the Ralls County School District with me this year. I graduated from Palmyra High School in 2007, where I was born and raised. I earned my bachelor's degree in Social Work from Western Illinois University in 2011 and am currently completing my master's degree in School Counseling through Missouri Baptist University, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027. Outside of school, my family and I stay busy camping, fishing, gardening, and spending time together—whether we're on the softball field or playing in the backyard. I am honored to begin serving the students and families of Ralls County as the elementary school counselor and to bring my years of experience as a school social worker and family case manager into this role. Those experiences have given me a deep understanding of the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of children and the importance of partnering with families to help students succeed. One of my biggest goals as the elementary school counselor is to build trusting relationships with students and their families so that every child feels safe, supported, and valued. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Ralls County School District and look forward to partnering with students, families, teachers, and staff to support the well-being and success of every child. I can't wait to become part of this wonderful community!

My name is Cindy Livesay and I will be the new school counselor at Mark Twain High School. This will be my 11th year in education and 9th year as a school counselor. My husband, Wes, is my high school sweetheart and a journeyman lineman at RCEC. We have 3 daughters. Our oldest, Brookelyn, recently graduated with her Associate's Degree and works at Hannibal Dental Group. Our middle daughter, Mackenzie, will be a senior at Hannibal High School and our youngest, Kameryn, is in 6th grade. We love to be outdoors, garden, bake, ride our side by side, and stay active. I love working with high schoolers to ensure they are successful in school as well as in the future!

I am Meagen Mallory and I will be joining MT as a para at the elementary school. I live in Perry and my husband, Daniel, and I have been married for 22 years. We have 4 daughters, two of whom have graduated from Mark Twain. We have 4 German Shorthair Pointers and 1 Mini Dachshund in our family. I previously worked in the school district for 10 years as a para and am so excited to return!! I have been an officer on Mark Twain's Tiger Pride Booster Club for the last 7 years. I love to make jellies and enjoy supporting my girls in all of their activities!

I’m Jennifer Roth; I’m a wife, mom of two, and the owner of Roth Photography. In my free time, I enjoy photography and making memories with my family. I’m looking forward to becoming part of the Mark Twain community!

Hi, my name is Hannah Schwer and I am excited to be teaching English III, Personal Finance, and ACT Prep at the Senior High this year! I am originally from the St. Louis area, but I graduated from Hannibal-LaGrange University this past May and completed my student teaching at Mark Twain. I earned my Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with an Emphasis in English and minored in Psychology. If you ever venture into my classroom, you will notice Spider-Man is everywhere! I am a huge Spider-Man fan because of his enduring perseverance and witty attitude. I cannot wait to see the new movie once it hits theatres! When I am not prepping for class or teaching, I like to write short fiction, watch true crime documentaries, play soccer with my nephew, and read classic novels. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is my favorite novel and serves as partial inspiration for me becoming a teacher, but I mostly have to attribute that to my mom. My mom's motto is "You don't know my story," which encourages me to extend grace and meet others where they are; I hope to carry this sentiment into my classroom this year as I get to know your students!

My name is Tina Seago and I am a 30-year veteran teacher having taught a range of grade levels over the course of my career. I don't really have a favorite grade or subject because it seems that my current teaching assignment is always my favorite. I look forward to my new adventure as a Mark Twain Tiger and I cannot wait to get started.

I live in Palmyra with my husband, Larry. We have two grown and married daughters, Lauren and Kyle live in Utica New York and work for the university there. Emily and Josh live in Hannibal. Emily is an Occupational Therapist and Josh is an HVAC specialist. They blessed us with our very first granddaughter just last year, Hallie Faye. She is such a great addition to this crazy family we have. Larry and I love to travel and visit all of the National Parks. At the end of the summer we will have traveled to 49/50 of the states. Thank you to Mark Twain High School for this new adventure and I cannot wait to meet everyone.

Dawn Snodgrass will be the K-12 Vocal Music teacher for the upcoming year at Ralls County. She originally served as an elementary classroom teacher in her early career, but over the years has filled in for the music program. Mrs. Snodgrass likes to spend time with her family and during harvest works on the farm hauling grain, working ground and even operating the combine! She is excited to be back in the classroom full time.

Stephanie Whaley, 10 1/2 years at Ralls County RII, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology/Minor in Chemistry in 1999, a secondary education certification in Biology in 2005. I am Biology, Chemistry and Physics certified in the state of Missouri. I have been married for almost 32 years to Brian Whaley. Our children, Kaitlyn and Devin graduated from Ralls County RII. I have high classroom expectations of behavior and academic performance. I love everything science!

Hello! My name is Lacie White, and I am excited to join the team as a paraprofessional. I am married to my husband, Brandon. Together we have two daughters, Lilah and Willow. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, fishing, and playing board games. Most of our time is spent watching my daughters play the sports they love. I have a passion for working with children and look forward to helping students learn, grow, and succeed. I am excited to be part of the school community and can’t wait for the school year to begin to get to know everyone this year!

My name is Anaiah Zimmerman, and I am the full-time substitute teacher for both the junior high and high school. I also serve as the high school football cheer coach and the high school student council advisor. I live in New London with my husband, our three children, three dogs, and two cats. If you're driving down Highway 61 and happen to notice the house with the giant skeletons in the front yard, you've found my home! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and our family loves going all out with decorations each year. I am excited for the upcoming school year and look forward to becoming an even bigger part of our school district. I can't wait to get to know our students, families, and staff while helping make this a great year for everyone!