Nurses, educators have new roles, Pobst reappointed to board position

Megan Ashby has been named manager of the invasive cardiovascular lab in the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis Medical Center, which is part of Saint Francis Healthcare System.

In her new role, Ashby is responsible for the delivery of care, development of policies and procedures, and standards of care and protocols within the hospital's cardiovascular lab.

Ashby received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University in 2007 and came to Saint Francis from West Park Surgery Center in Cape Girardeau, where she was a nurse administrator for three years. She has a total of 13 years of nursing experience in multiple areas.

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Julie Koppeis-McTearnen

Nurse practitioner Julie Koppeis-McTearnen has joined Farmington Physician Associates, a medical practice affiliated with Saint Francis Healthcare System.

Specializing in family medicine, Koppeis-McTearnen came to Farmington Physician Associates from Midwest Health Group. She has also practiced at BJC Medical Arts Clinic and Parkland Health Clinic, and has a total of 16 years of experience as a nurse practitioner.

She earned an associate degree in nursing from Southeast Missouri State University and a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri, and a Master of Science in family practice nursing at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. During her nursing studies, she received the college Excellence in Professional Nursing Award.

She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the Southeast Nurses Association of Advanced Practice.

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The Jackson School District has announced several administrative changes for the 2021-2022 school year. Among them:

• Bryan Austin has been named the new principal at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School. He was previously the school's assistant principal and has been with the district since 2009. Austin has also served as a classroom instructor and head varsity baseball coach.
• Josh Wahlig will serve as the assistant principal at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, filling the vacancy left by the advancement of Bryan Austin. Wahlig previously served as assistant principal at Jackson Middle School.
• Filling the assistant principal vacancy at Jackson Middle School will be Tyler Abernathy. He has been with the district since 2007. Before being named to his new position, Abernathy was a classroom teacher and coach, most recently the head varsity girls basketball coach.
• Christine Zirges has been named head principal at Orchard Drive Elementary School. A member of the district staff since 2012, Zirges has served as both a classroom teacher and assistant principal. She has also served as principal at Gordonville Elementary for the past two years.
• Shanna Wilson, who has served as an administrator in the school district since 2012, is the new principal at Millersville Elementary School and assistant principal at West Lane Elementary. She has been with the district since 2006.
• Allison Miller will serve as the new elementary assistant principal at Orchard Elementary and South Elementary schools. She was previously a second-grade teacher at North Elementary School for the past six years.

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Merideth Pobst

Merideth Pobst, public information officer with the Jackson School District, was recently reappointed to serve as secretary of the Missouri School Public Relations Association (MOSPRA) Board of Directors.

This is the second year Pobst has served as secretary on the board of the association, which provides professional development and networking opportunities for its members throughout Missouri.

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