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!
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!
Suron Clark
Hi! I'm Suron Clark and I'm excited for my 8th year of teaching! I received both my undergrad degree in Elementary Elementary and Masters in Ed. Psych. with an emphasis in Social Justice from UMSL. I'm working on my Masters+30 in Special Education with an emphasis in Behavior Interventions.
I have a 16-year old daughter and we enjoy traveling, going to the movies and trying out new restaurants. I also have a pet bunny named Graham Cracker and she enjoys being sassy!