“I would like to nominate Mrs. Amy Antle. She is a wealth of knowledge and so generously shares this with those around her. The impact that she is having on our school is astronomical! We are so blessed to have her working with us!”
“Mrs. Antle has a direct and positive impact on our children’s ability to read. This is helping them in all content areas, and I am so thankful for the guidance she gives teachers!”
Mrs. Amy Antle grew up in Dixon, Missouri, and graduated as a Bulldog from Dixon High School after being a 13-year student of the district. Mrs. Antle was involved in softball, basketball, and Family and Consumer Science classes and activities, and she graduated in a class of about 80 students. After high school, Mrs. Antle attended Southwest Baptist University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics with an emphasis in Family and Child Development and a minor in Business Administration. From there, Mrs. Antle went on to attend Lincoln University in Jefferson City, where she earned her teaching certificate in Birth through Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education, grades 1-6. Mrs. Antle earned her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Drury University, and she acquired her Reading Specialist certification from University of Missouri-Columbia two years later.
Mrs. Antle started her teaching career in Dixon where she taught third grade for nine years, first grade for three years, and was reading specialist for eight years. Mrs. Antle then moved to Blair Oaks School District to serve as reading specialist for six years and then Waynesville School District to work as a reading teacher for four years. While at Waynesville School District, Mrs. Antle guided teachers in reading instruction while serving as an interventionist. After 30 years in the field of education, Mrs. Antle officially retired, but she joined Licking School District in a Critical Shortage position guiding teachers and staff members through structured literacy in order to help increase students’ reading performance. Throughout her career, Mrs. Antle has been “blessed with many wonderful opportunities”, and she has enjoyed each of her teaching positions. “I loved each of my teaching assignments, but I really found my niche in reading instruction – both as a teacher working directly with students and as a reading coach collaborating with teachers,” Mrs. Antle reflected.
As a reading specialist, Mrs. Antle guides teachers through best practices in reading instruction, models effective instruction, works to help teachers feel comfortable with instructional strategies, and answers individual questions about new Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training. Mrs. Antle says she focuses on the most important outcome whether working with adults or children – helping young people succeed in life. “You have to be able to read in order to function, to thrive, and to have opportunities in life,” Mrs. Antle explained. Someday, Mrs. Antle may continue expanding her influence through teaching at the collegiate level, working in professional development, or helping new professionals in their careers blend reading instruction into course contents at the middle school and high school levels. In the meantime, Mrs. Antle focuses her efforts on using structured literacy to improve the rate at which children experience reading acquisition and fluency.
This July, Mrs. Antle and Mr. Harv Antle will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. They met as next door neighbors in Dixon when Mr. Antle’s parents were stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. A military family, the Antles moved after a couple of years, and Mr. and Mrs. Antle connected again when Mr. Antle was a sports editor in Waynesville for The Daily Guide and Mrs. Antle was a cheerleading sponsor. Mr. and Mrs. Antle have four children: Samuel is a 24-year-old student enrolled in the Communications Department of Missouri State University and an employee of Town & Country Grocery Store in Licking; Gideon is a 21-year-old student enrolled in Athletic Coaching at Ohio University; Malachi is a 19-year-old student at Licking High School preparing for graduation and planning to attend State Fair Community College next fall pursuing a degree in education; and Silas is a 17-year-old junior at Licking High School. The Antle family has a dog named Waylon, named after Waylon Jennings. They are active at First Baptist Church in Licking where Mrs. Antle leads Kids Club, teaches preschool children on Wednesday evenings, and directs Vacation Bible School.
Mrs. Antle enjoys reading, watching her boys on the ballfield, and watching television when times allows for her to relax. Both from families of educators, Mrs. And Mr. Antle understand the demands of this challenging but rewarding profession. “My mom retired after 36 years in elementary and special education, my brother and sister are both teachers, my sister-in-law is a teacher, and my niece is a principal in Wisconsin,” Mrs. Antle shared. Mrs. Antle’s depth of experience and expertise in the field of reading have positively transformed Licking School District, but it is her personal style of delivery that sets her apart as a respected professional. Never overbearing, intimidating, or demeaning, Mrs. Antle demonstrates understanding, provides insight, and is quick to lend a listening ear to colleagues – even if it means sacrificing her own personal time to help others. For these reasons, we are proud to recognize Mrs. Amy Antle as April’s Spotlight Staff Member!