William Chrisman High School - Gleam Yearbook (Independence, MO)

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Dr. O. L. Plucker, Superintendent of Independence school system plans with the Board of Education in directing the school activities and the future for the Independence school district. Dr. Plucker has been a member of the system for one decade. His child- hood education was received in Emery, South Dakota. From there he went to Augestine college, the University of South Dakota and the University of Colorado. He believes that increasing the number of faculty members and improving the facilities goes hand in hand with preparing the student for the coming tasks. He further believes: Young men and women launch- ing out beyond the shelter of home and school, today face both the greatest peril and the greatest opportunity of any group in recorded history. It is our sincere hope that the basic knowledge they have gained will serve as a foundation for the vastly expanded learnings needed in years to come. Only as knowledge grows will opportunity, and the ability to grasp it, come to the graduates. Students at Chrisman can look back at the knowl- edge they have gained and see before them opportunities. Dr. O. L. Plucker Superintendent I IJ I L 'L' Sedulous workers, the administrative secretaries, keep personal Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Sharon, and Mrs Tester records of the students as well as individual bus reports. At the man helped greatly in the administrative office, Their skill and superintendent's office, these women kept the business aspect of proficiency were invaluable to the efficiency of the Independence a school system in smooth running order. School 5YSTem- Mrs. Louise Davis Mrs. Dorothy Sharon Mrs. Betty Testerman

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Dr. Guy Carter Administrative Assistant Dr. Guy Carter as administrative assistant aids Dr. Plucker in the supervision of the Independence school district. He is in charge of teaching personnel, trans- portation and pupil attendance. His other duties are in the areas of school finance, school law, state reports and other statistical information as assigned to him by the superintendent of schools. Dr. Guy Carter came to Independence in l954, after receiving his Doctor's Degree in Public School Ad- ministration from the University of Missouri. He had previously served as a high school teacher and coach, he was superintendent of the Manfield, Missouri, public schools. Dr. Carter sincerely believes that school life should be an enioyable and happy experience for all students. The nucleus of the school system Emory C. Parks, director of instruction, has worked in the Independence School system since 1941. During that time he has served as counselor in the Junior high, as vice-principal of William Chrisman for a year, as principal at Ott Second- ary school and as principal of William Chrisman Division II. ln his capacity as director of instruction, Mr. Parks supervises committees who decide upon suitable books for courses, specifies the boundaries of school districts and determines the teaching schedule for each of the schools. In addition, he confers with teachers to decide upon how deficient and excelling students may be separated to facilitate and development of more active minds in accelerated courses while slower students may be helped in remedial classes. Mr. Parks plans curriculum to fit these needs. When a new subject is introduced in the schools, Mr. Parks is responsible for the progress macle. The doors of opportunity are open to the students of William Chrisman because of the fine back- ground laid by the director of instruction. Mr. Parks' job is to lay the background curriculum for the entire school system. Emory C. Parks Director of Instruction

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Joseph F. Benson Principal, Division l Administrators Joseph F. Benson, Division I principal, is very genuine and sincere in aiding students to complete their high school career. Mr. Benson, an athlete himself, is deeply interested in the school's athletic program which helps ioin the two divisions in spirit. Mr. Benson, principal at William Chrisman Division I, has been connected with the Independence school system for eight years. He is a member of the Rotary club. The ambition and desires of the students is Mr. Ben- son's wish, and he does everything possible to aid each student in reaching them. MVS- B0f'f'Ie Allin Mrs. Vernito Bendet M M ' ' C Attendance Secretary Sec,-ego,-y Gregory L. Lefever Vice-Principal, Division I YS. Qflofle OTIUS Ofiice Manager Gregory Lefever, vice-principal of Division l, super- vises the keeping of attendance records, collecting and classifying data for future use and making of periodic reports. Mr. Lefever is also the principal of the seventh grade housed in the annex. ln his position as vice-principal, Mr. Lefever has had experience in observing the value of knowledge and opportunity. As has been said so many times in the past few years, this is an era of knowledge. The era in which knowledge is recognized for its practical utilitarian worth, its dollars and cents worth and even its being the prime requisite for our very sur- vival. Important as this all may seem, there is some-thing far more valuable - wisdom. Knowledge, of course, supports wisdom but without understanding, iudg- ment and discernment, knowledge can be dangerous. What is there to say of opportunity, other than it is limitless, boundless and ever reaching beyond wild- est imagination. We can only approach it with the help of all the knowledge we can amass, applied with wisdom.