Poplar Bluff native Shelly Ridens has dedicated over two decades teaching in the middle school grade span, and now she will bring that knowledge set to the lower elementary level to help smooth the transition from the neighborhood school to a center.

O’Neal has successfully established a tradition designed to ensure no student is missed during Valentine’s Day, with help from school supporters.

The Poplar Bluff School Foundation unanimously approved $3,000 outside of classroom budgets, the majority of teacher grants submitted, in its annual Innovative Educational Project program during a quarterly meeting held last month.