Hagerstown’s FFA members were spotlighted at the Nettle Creek School Board meeting on Feb. 11. Accompanied by agriculture/animal science high school teacher Christy Herr, members shared current projects and upcoming events.
Seniors Leyton Berger, FFA president, and Dawson Bell announced FFA Week for Feb. 22-27. Weekly events include a game night, bowling, the annual farmer’s breakfast and a district volleyball game. Members will collect donations for the local animal shelter as their service project. April 10, they host their annual banquet, honoring their nine senior members and others. The theme is “A Night in Hollywood.”
Seniors Kendrick Herr and Caden Wampler competed in the district competition, securing bids to the state contest. Herr specializes in sheep production placement, and Wampler’s specialty is pig entrepreneurship. The duo discussed how participating in Supervised Agriculture Experiences, FFA’s work-based learning program, has instilled in them skills such as a strong work ethic, decision-making and time management. They plan to participate in the more challenging American Star contest, where they will compete against all placement categories.
Sophomore Landon Thornburg excelled in the welding competition and is part of two teams advancing to state. Contenders are tested on the smoothness and consistency of their work and knowledge of safety protocols. Thornburg has career aspirations in the field.
Sophomore Jaedyn Patton and junior Madisyn Harrison are first-time meat judging contestants. Viewing this opportunity as a learning experience, they were preparing for a three-hour competition at Purdue University held on Feb. 14.
Sophomore Emsley Holcomb and junior Madisyn Shook talked about last November’s Conservation Days. The two-day event hosted over 600 county and Richmond elementary school students to experience various agricultural-related activities. The two hosted a veterinary station that mimicked certain skills with livestock. They also applied for a grant to donate a book about veterinarians to local schools.
District news
Superintendent Emily Schaeffer acknowledged Peggy Muller’s Wayne County Educator of the Year award and praised Athletic Director Scott Snodgrass’s team for coordinating the girls basketball sectionals. She also acknowledged their three school counselors — Julie Arnold, Brad Catey and Lindsay Stuffel — for National School Counselor Week.
In a somber moment during personnel changes, Schaeffer noted the “bittersweet” retirement of 38-year Hagerstown educator Marla Lieberman. Lieberman closes her career serving as the elementary school’s reading interventionist.
Schaeffer spoke of Lieberman’s impact on her leadership, and board member Marcie Houghton said she was “forever grateful” for Lieberman and her family. Lieberman’s son and school board president, Shaun Lieberman, spoke emotionally of his mother’s “24-hour love and devotion” to her career.
Lieberman, who had not planned to speak, talked about her teaching journey and advised others to find a passion and build a career around it. Despite the many changes in education throughout the years, she said that a child’s need to feel like they have worth remains.
“I see it every single day,” Lieberman said.
In other business
- Jr./Sr. High Principal Jordan McCaslin reported that Kent Gray was named January staff member of the month, recognized Abbie Gilbert’s fifth-place state wrestling finish and other team postseason advances, highlighted the girls basketball team’s state-leading improvement in wins, noted a $5,000 athletic department donation, and announced preparations to host the I-Star event March 12.
- Elementary Principal Belinda Locke reported IREAD and ILEARN results at or above grade level, praised the Every Child Can Read program and positive student referrals, and invited the community to Act One’s “Wonka Jr.” on March 13-14, featuring 40 students, with tickets $10 for adults and $5 for children.
- Open enrollment for Discovery Preschool and the summer daycare programs begins Feb. 27
- SAT Readiness Day is Feb. 24; testing is scheduled for March 5
- SB78 passed the House; if approved by the Senate, the bill will prohibit students’ use of cellphones and other wireless communication devices during the entire school day. Currently, the high school bans the use during instruction time.
The next meeting will be on March 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Hagerstown Elementary’s LGI room. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the February 18 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.