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From the Desk of Mr. Garber: Welcome to Middle School!

By Garber, Andrew on July 16, 2019

Dear Students & Parents/Guardians,

I am writing this letter to introduce myself as the principal at Putnam County Middle School. I am both excited and anxious to start my 15th year at Putnam Co. R-I. I thought it would be appropriate to give you some background information about myself.

I was born and raised in Corydon, Iowa graduating from Wayne Comm. High School in 1980. My father, Dr. Keith Garber M.D., practiced family medicine in Wayne County from 1961 to 2007. My mother, Ann Garber, trained and worked professionally as a laboratory technician before turning her long-time hobby of beekeeping into a business, Log Chain Apiary. I have two sisters and one brother. I currently live in Unionville and have four children, Adriana is 22, Gabriel is 14, Jasmine will be 13 in December, and Marleah will be 4 in December.

I attended college at Indian Hills in Centerville for my Associates Degree. In 1984, I received my Bachelors Degree with honors from Friends University in Wichita with a major in biology and a minor in math. I also started on the basketball team all four of my undergraduate years in college. I completed my education courses at Graceland University in Lamoni, IA and have received both my Iowa and Missouri teaching licenses for General Science, Biology & Chemistry. In May 2009 I completed my Master's Degree in Teaching Administration through William Woods University and finished my Specialist Degree in May 2013.

I have worked as a Catering Services Manager for the Wichita Marriott. I have managed several comedy clubs and was part owner of Slapstix Comedy Club in Wichita, Kansas. I have also worked as a beekeeper and in sales and distribution for Log Chain Apiary.

This will be my eighth year as a principal and my tenth year as the District Athletic Director. I spent seven years teaching science at Putnam County High School. I also coached for fourteen years and have many life experiences to draw upon as references for my educational career.

I hold high expectations for the students at Putnam Co. I will do my best to help them develop social and thinking skills that will benefit them on life’s journey. I will do my best to prepare them for the next phase of their life during this transitional time period in their lives. I believe that school should be challenging as well as fun and will do my best to create this atmosphere in middle school.

I am proud to work at Putnam County and hope that I can count on the support of both parents and students in achieving excellence in education at Putnam Co. Middle School. If you ever have questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress, I welcome you to contact me by phone, email, or in-person at school during office hours from 7:45-4:15 PM, Mon. - Fri. I can also be reached by email at agarber@putnamcountyr1.net. Look on the school website, http://www.putnamcountyr1.net , for my monthly newsletter entitled Middle Years that has helpful tips and suggestions to make your child’s Middle School experience a success.

Let’s Go Midgets!!!