MPE Administrators & Support Staff

Ryan Martin

Principal

Introduction: My name is Mr. Martin. This is my 4th year as principal at MPE. I get excited every year to welcome back the former students and meet the new ones. MPE is a great place to be!
Birthday: May 30th
Hobbies: Anything Illini, Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and Bulldogs! I am a big sports fan.
Class Color or Theme: Orange and Blue
Favorite Color: Orange and Blue
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Ace Hardware
Favorite Places to Eat: Project 47, McDonalds, Los Zarapes
Favorite Snack: Beef Jerky
Favorite Soda or Drink: Sweet Tea
Starbucks Order: White Chocolate Mocha
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Favorite Children’s Book Author: J.K. Rowling
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Send me a positive message.

Dustin Day

Assistant Principal

Introduction: Hello, My name is Dustin Day and I serve as the assistant principal at Middletown Prairie. I am looking forward to getting students back in the building and sharing their excitement for a new year.
Birthday: January 10th
Hobbies: Building, golf, hunting, YouTube
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Rural King
Favorite Places to Eat: Panda Express/Pizza/P-47
Favorite Snack: I’m trying to go healthier
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions:
Favorite Children’s Book Author: Robert Munsch
It means the most to me when the parents of my students:
Other things to share: Thank you to the parents of this community. Your support means a lot to me.

Support Staff

Julie Arnold

Educational Office Personnel

Birthday: October 4th
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Kohls and Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Chili’s, Monicals and Culvers
Favorite Snack: White Cheddar Popcorn and Milky Way bar
Favorite Soda or Drink: Dr. Pepper and water
Starbucks Order: White Chocolate Mocha (hot or cold)
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None

Kendra Barbee

Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Introduction: My name is Kendra Barbee and I am a Paraprofessional at MPE. I’m currently working towards my teaching credential at Millikin University. I have a daughter who is starting 6th grade at Monticello Middle School this year.
Birthday: November 20th
Hobbies: Reading, kayaking, camping
Favorite Color: Yellow
Favorite College or Sports Team:
Favorite Places to Shop: Target and Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Whisk, Breaking Taco, Jimmy Johns
Favorite Snack: Chocolate
Favorite Soda or Drink: Coffee
Starbucks Order: Venti Mocha latte
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Favorite Children’s Author: Eric Carle
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Share their students experiences with me.

Tina Brandon

Special Education

Introduction: I have been working as a special education teacher in the M-S school district for 32 years. Most of those years were spent at Sangamon Elementary until moving to Middletown Prairie Elementary. I love the challenge of working with children with special needs. The best part of my job is witnessing a student’s excitement & pride when they finally succeed at something that has previously been difficult for them. I live in Monticello and have a 22 year old son, Cole. I enjoy spending time with family and friends.
Birthday: June 29th
Hobbies: Reading & shopping
Class Color or Theme: lavender/sage green
Favorite Color: I like them all 🙂
Favorite College or Sports Team: Fighting Illini, St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Places to Shop: TJ Maxx, Costco, Penelope’s Boutique
Favorite Places to Eat: KoFusion, Big Grove Tavern, Chick-fil-A
Favorite Crunchy Snack: Tootsie Rolls, Dots pretzels(original), Banana Laffy Taffy, Caramel Apple Pops, Old Wisconsin turkey snack bites
Favorite Soda or Drink: Water, Sparkling Ice drink (coconut/pineapple)
Starbucks Order: Chai Tea Latte or reg. coffee(cream)
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None
Favorite Children’s Book Author: Beverly Cleary, Eric Carle, Roald Dahl, Mo Willems (a few of my favorites)
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: I want my parents to always feel comfortable contacting me about anything regarding their child & educational experience. We are a team, so communicating and working together for the common goal of helping their child succeed, is what I strive for.

Erin Brodbeck

Social Worker

Introduction: I’m excited to be back for my second school year (first full year) here at Middletown. I’ve been a social worker for 13 years and I love working with kids. My family has been in Mahomet for the past 7 years and my daughter is a second grader here at MPE. I love spending time with my family, reading, organizing projects, and makeup. I’m also training my Golden Retriever named Rosie to be a therapy dog.
Birthday: October 21st
Hobbies: Reading
Class Color or Theme: Boho rainbow: pink and tan neutrals
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Chick Fil-A, Aspen Tap House, KoFusion
Favorite Snack: Reeses or Cheez Its
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet Coke
Starbucks Order: Iced caramel macchiato
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: Can’t do most fruits and veggies
Favorite Children’s Book Author: Anyone who writes books about feelings
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: Show how proud they are of their kiddos 🙂

Mellissa Brown

2nd Grade Paraprofessional

Birthday: July 11th
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Places to Shop: Meijer
Favorite Places to Eat: Texas Roadhouse
Favorite Crunchy Snack: Chips
Favorite Soda or Drink: Pepsi/Dr Pepper
Starbucks Order: Carmel ribbon crunch

Beth Burdette

Paraprofessional

Introduction: Hi! My name is Beth Burdette. I’m excited to join MPE as a paraprofessional! I’m currently working to complete my Special Education teaching certification. My husband, Chris, and I, along with our two oldest children graduated from MSHS. We also have twin girls in 4th grade at LT. Go Bulldogs!
Birthday: March 31st
Hobbies: Baking, reading, making crafts with my girls, watching movies with my family, playing family board games
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illini
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Bath & Body Works
Favorite Places to Eat: Filippo’s, Panera
Favorite Crunchy Snack: Brownies, Mounds, Tobleron, pretzels, chocolate candy, ice cream
Favorite Soda or Drink: Dr. Pepper, Coffee, Water
Starbucks Order: Café Mocha (hot), Vanilla Latte (hot)
Food Allergies/Restrictions: None

Whitney Cisna

Pre-K Paraprofessional

Birthday: August 7th
Hobbies: Crafting, baking
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite Places to Shop: Target, Amazon
Favorite Places to Eat: Los Zarapes
Favorite Crunchy Snack: Cheddar Chex Mix, Starbursts
Favorite Soda or Drink: Diet coke

Kay Coulson

Reading Specialist

Introduction: Hello! My name is Kay Coulson and I am a reading specialist at MPE. I enjoy working with kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade students and helping them to become life long readers. I have worked in the Mahomet-Seymour School District for over 25 years. I have two children. My daughter, Lydia, is married and lives in Nebraska. My son, Ryan, is a student at the University of Illinois. I live in Mahomet with my husband, Bryan, and our two crazy labrador retrievers – Buddy and Tucker!
Do you have an Amazon Wish List link? https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/XCNESJD8VEE7/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist
Birthday: January 31st
Hobbies: Gardening, scrapbooking, making cards
Favorite Color: Pink
Favorite College or Sports Team: Illinois State University, CUBS
Favorite Places to Shop: Cato, Kohls, Amazon, Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, Michaels
Favorite Places to Eat: Panera, Los Zarapes, Red Lobster, Seven Saints, McDonalds (soda)
Favorite Snack: Snickers, Milk Duds, Red licorice, Take 5, Skittles
Favorite Soda or Drink: Pepsi, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper, Lemon flavored water
Starbucks Order: Strawberry frappuccino
Food Allergies/Dietary Restrictions: None – no coconut please
Favorite Children’s Book Author: Mo Willems
For my classroom, I’m looking for: see Amazon wish list
Thank you, but I don’t need anymore: Coffee mugs
It means the most to me when the parents of my students: 1. Read with their child at home 2. Share kind thoughts or stories