SPS Foundation welcomes two new members to its board

SIKESTON — Two new members have joined Sikeston Public Schools Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

The appointments of Taylor Deere and Clay Driskill were approved March 8 by the Sikeston R-6 Board of Education during its regular monthly meeting. Existing member Michelle Worth was also approved for the three-year term, which began March 9 and ends March 11, 2025.

Worth, who is the Foundation Board chairperson, said she was thrilled about Deere and Driskill joining foundation board.

“Both Taylor and Clay are Sikeston natives which makes it even more exciting,” Worth said. “I think both have exemplary leadership skills, serving on a multitude of boards and holding various offices within them. Their initiative and dedication to our community has been proven through the boards they have served on.”

Raised in Sikeston, Deere is a 2007 graduate of Sikeston High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the University of Missouri-Columbia in December 2010. She also obtained a master’s degree in human resources in 2014 via an online program through Amberton University.

She moved back to Sikeston where she met her husband, Travis, and these days, they stay busy raising their three young sons.

Deere has worked in banking for the past seven years and is currently a mortgage loan originator at Alliance Bank. She said she enjoys being involved in her community, camping with her family and reading.

“I’m very excited to join the SPS Foundation board,” Deere said.

Deere also served as a “big sister” for Big Brothers Big Sisters from 2011-2014. In 2012, she graduated from Leadership Sikeston, and she’s also served on the board for the Sikeston Regional Chamber from 2015-2020. In 2014, she was named Sikeston Regional Chamber’s "Volunteer of the Year" in 2014.

Most recently, Deere served as the chairperson for Sikeston Young Professionals from 2018 to 2021.

Driskill, a lifelong resident of Sikeston, graduated in 2012 from Sikeston High School. In December 2016, he graduated from Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, with a degrees in finance and accounting. He has worked as a certified public accountant since 2018. In September 2021, he began working as the chief financial officer for the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp.

Driskill has served the community in leadership roles and through activities for many years. Since 2015, he’s been a member of the Sikeston Jaycees, where he’s been on the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Association Inc. Board of Directors since 2019 and as the president in 2021. During 2018-2019, he served as president and treasurer of the Sikeston Jaycee Club Executive Board.

In addition, Driskill is currently a member of the Tanner Street Church of God Board of Directors, and he serves on the Southeast Missouri Food Bank Advancement Committee and Sikeston’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Advisory Committee. He’s a 2020 graduate of Leadership Sikeston.

Driskill and his wife, Hailey, were married on Leap Day in 2020, and they have a 2-year-old bloodhound.

Foundation Executive Director Rhea Boyce said she was excited to announce the addition of Deere and Driskill to the board.

“Both Taylor and Clay are very active in the Sikeston community and will bring a new perspective and great enthusiasm to our board,” Boyce said. “I look forward to working with them in continuing to promote educational success for the students of Sikeston Public Schools.”

Worth said she’s also looking forward to working with both Deere and Driskill.

“It’s wonderful to see young professionals getting involved in our community and our schools and them truly wanting to make a difference,” Worth said. “We are very fortunate to have a board filled with this mindset and dedication. I think Taylor and Clay’s commitment and perspective will align nicely with the foundation’s core values and vision for the future.”