Dr. Stacey Yurkovich, director of teaching and learning

What does your job entail?

It’s a responsibility, along with some other people in the department, to oversee curriculum and instruction, and selecting curriculum, and selecting teachers, principals and quality instruction. So, we provide professional development along with that. My specific position has some other responsibilities. I oversee the [English Language Learning] program, I also facilitate full-day kindergarten [and] I’m the hearing officer of the district in the event a long-term suspension of a student is needed. I’m responsible for submitting grant requests and paperwork to the state, and Title I funds, at-risk funds and special programs that support kids in poverty, low-income families.

What do you like about your job?

This is my first year in De Soto and my first year in a district-level position, and I like the variety in my district. I’m really enjoying the people I’m working with in De Soto. I was a building principal until this year, at a middle school. So, that’s a part I miss, being with kids in the day. Now that I feel that I’m in some kind of routine, I hope to get out into the schools, attend school events and be around kids again, at all ages.

What is something people might not know about you?

When I was in college, I won a donut eating contest. I ate a dozen donuts in 60 seconds, and I still love donuts. That was my first job in a public place, was a donut shop.