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2nd Grade

 


Brianna Cooper
cooperb@ritenourschools.org

Hi! My name is Brianna Cooper, and I am excited about starting my 8th year of teaching! I have worked in two districts: Columbia Public Schools and Ritenour School District. I taught third grade for 2 years, and first grade for 2 years, and this will be my 4th year in Second grade! I have a German Shepard who is 8 years old. My nephew named her Watermelon. She goes by “Mellie” for short. I also have a leopard gecko named Hedwig. I named him after Harry Potter’s pet owl. He is our classroom pet, so you will be able to meet him! I love playing games, going on trips or being by a pool in the summer, and doing outdoor activities with friends and family. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to working with you and your child for a successful year!

Herd

Cindy Herd
herdc@ritenourschools.org

My name is Cindy Herd.   I have taught elementary for twenty years. Twelve of those years were in second grade at Wyland. I graduated from Missouri State University and received my Master's in Elementary Education at UMSL.  I love teaching and my family. My husband, Barry, and I have three daughters.  One of them teaches fourth grade in Fort Zumwalt. We have a wonderful dog named Ryder and two sweet cats named Bella and Mochi. I love taking walks with my family, reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, and enjoying the outside. I look forward to teaching this year and building new relationships with my students and their families. 


Lauren Murphy
murphyl@ritenourschools.org

My name is Lauren Murphy and I am excited to be teaching second grade for my fourth year at Wyland! I  went to the University of Kentucky for my Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and have my masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Northwest Missouri State. I've lived all over the country, including New York, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Kentucky. I went to high school in St. Louis and I love getting to spend time with my family and friends in this amazing city. I have two dogs, Tito and Brody. I love reading, working out, and being outdoors, but my happy place is the beach. I can't wait to meet my students and start the new school year!

Pontious, Jennifer

Hello, my name is Jennifer Pontious. I joined the Wyland team in 2025, and this will be my 7th year teaching second grade. As a Missouri native, I attended K-12 St. Louis area schools during my childhood and graduated college from St. Louis higher educational programs. Currently, I hold a masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Missouri Baptist University and obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri St. Louis in Elementary Education. My family and I enjoy going to the lake or beach during school breaks. While we are at home during the school year, my family and I enjoy movie nights with our dog Daffy and the three cats. I am a dog woman while my son is "The Cat Man." My passions are physical activities, outdoor recreation, and church missions to serve the community. I look forward to starting a new journey with the Ritenour School District!