Staff qualifications: 2008-09

The children at Bright Ideas are incredibly fortunate to have this highly qualified group of teachers, with a total teaching experience of 223 years! The administrators and their staff have 99 total years of experience. Bright Ideas attracts truly gifted and experienced teachers who continue to bring us their own “bright ideas”.

Carl Plummer has been the Superintendent of Bright Ideas for 10 years. He’s also the PEIMS Coordinator, Technology Director, and now the Judo instructor. He has a BS in Criminal Justice from Midwestern State University and 1 year in law school. He was the land manager for Strategic Resources Corporation for 23 years. He’s been in martial arts for 45 years, and has a 3rd black belt in Judo, a 2nd in Jujitsu, and a 2nd in Kenpo. He’s taught Judo and Jujitzu for 10 years and is a certified national level coach with USA Judo.

PrePrimary: Jamie Newberry has a BS in Elementary Education and a BS in Bible/Theology. She is certified in EC-8th. She has 15 years experience teaching at many Elementary levels including 4 in kindergarten.

Primary: Mary Remer is certified to teach K-6th and has a BS in Elementary Education. She has 7 years experience in Elementary grade levels. She join Bright Ideas this year and will teach 1st-2nd grade.

Intermediate: Kim Jones is certified to teach Elementary. She has a BS in Elementary Ed with a minor in Psychology. She has 25 years experience teaching Elementary and as a Principal. She’s been at Bright Ideas for 6 years and is also the school’s Instructional Leader. She teaches 3rd-6th grade math Ellen Kehs has a BA in Secondary Education and is certified to teach Middle School Language Arts and Social Sciences and 4th-8th. She has one year experience at Bright Ideas. She teaches 3rd-4th grade. Rachelle Stebbins has a BS in Education and 16 years teaching experience and has been at Bright Ideas for 5 years. She also became the Vice-Principal for our new campus, University High School. She teaches 5th grade in the mornings and then travels to the UHS campus for the afternoon.

Middle school: Theresa Reimund has a Bachelor’s of Liberal Studies emphasis in English and Social Science. She has 9 years experience in reserve teaching and in religious education, and one year at Bright Ideas. Her double major proves that she’s highly qualified for 7th, according to federal law. She is certified to teach 4th-8th, and teaches the 6th-7th grades.

High school: Tim Farnsworth has a BS of Science in Occupational Education with an emphasis in Education and Training. He's working on his Master's in Secondary Education. He has a wide diversity of experience teaching all ages. He has 8 years experience as an instructor for the Air Force and 3 years experience as the Youth Minister Coordinator/Music Ministry Leader for the high school students at his church. In Turkey, he was a teacher of religious education to 3rd, 7th, 8th grades, and adults for four years, and Youth Ministry Director for another year. He has one year experience teaching 8th-9th grade at Bright Ideas. He is certified to teach high school English and 4th-8th grade, and will teach the 8th-9th grade class. Mr. Farnsworth is the Technology instructor, and will be the liason for online classes, and teach the Web-Mastering class.

Exie Nicholas teaches math, grades 7-12, has a BS in Math, and is certified in Secondary Mathematics and has just retired from WFISD with 34 years of experience. She has taught at Bright Ideas for 2½ years. Harold Horry teaches IPC, Physics, Hydroponics, and AquaCulture, and has both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology. He’s certified in Elementary Science and in All Level Science. He just retired from Windthorst ISD with 35 years of experience. He’s been teaching here for 2 ½ years.

Senior High School: Robin Hibbard has a Bachelor’s degree in History and is completing her Master's degree in History. She taught at MSU for 2 years and Bright Ideas for 7 years. She teaches high school English, History, Geography, and Speech.

Leslie Fernandes teaches high school Art. She has a Master's degree in Fine Arts and is presently the art instructor at Ranger College. She has been teaching 20 years with 8 years at Bright Ideas.

Karen Newman is our 1st-8th grade Science teacher. She is certified to teach Elementary and Science, has a BS in Elementary Education. She has 18 years experience teaching science at all grade levels. She’s taught Science at Bright Ideas for 10 years.

David Bicsak is the special education teacher. Mr. Bicsak is certified in special education and has numerous years’ experience.

Yana Shamis is our high school Spanish teacher. She graduates in December, 2008, with degrees in Marketing, International Trade, and Spanish. Ms. Shamis will administrate the students’ use of Rosetta Stone. Ms. Shamis speaks 3 languages, and in addition to teaching Spanish, is the part-time administrative assistant.

Walter Hawkey returns to Bright Ideas after 4 year’s absence. He has a master’s in music and a teacher’s certification. He has 39 years experience teaching music at WFISD, both in the classroom and in private instruction.

Frances Edwards writes our Culture Study curriculum. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts. She taught Intermediate at Bright Ideas for 10 years, and then moved to Seattle. She began writing the Culture curriculum in 1990 and has continued to write it for the last 8 years.

Juli Plummer is the dyslexia teacher and the records administrator for regular and special education. She has a BA in Speech and Hearing Sciences and 12 years experience at Bright Ideas with three years teaching dyslexia.

Sharon Elliott is the bookkeeper and does PEIMS data entry. She was the business manager for Seymour ISD for 30 years, and has been working for Bright Ideas for two years.

Stephanie Norris is the Administrator Assistant. Ms. Norris returned to Bright Ideas in December, 2008.