Welcome

“The best teacher is the one who never forgets what it is like to be a student.  The best administrator is the one who never forgets what it is like to be a teacher.” -- Neila A. Connors

I am really excited to have the opportunity to lead Calamus-Wheatland through this era of change in education.  My name is Chris Basinger and for the past nine years I was an English and journalism teacher in the Chariton Community School District. In my eight years at the high school, I taught many classes:  Creative Writing, Yearbook, Broadcast Journalism, Media Literacy, Humanities, Composition II, Modern Novels, Dramatic Literature, British Literature, and Advanced Composition.  In addition to advising the yearbook for six years, I also assisted with academic team, served on the student assistance team, calendar committee, school improvement committee, Iowa Core development team, Microsoft settlement committee, and coached the baseball team.  I also spent my final year in Chariton teaching seventh grade language arts.

I have a Master of Education in English and Journalism Education from the University of Missouri and a Master of Arts in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies from the University of Iowa.

My wife is a former English teacher as well.  We will miss not teaching side by side any more, but she is very excited to be able to stay at home with our children.  Keaton, our oldest, is in second grade and has taken the move to a new school with enthusiasm.  Aidan is four and will be starting preschool this fall.  Reece is 1.5 and loves getting into things we don't want him in.  And we are expecting a girl in the middle of September.

I am looking forward to use this site as a communication bridge for parents and staff to become informed on topics in education that impact the people invested in Calamus-Wheatland High School.