The twister killed 160 people, injured hundreds, and destroyed thousands of buildings, including Joplin's only public high school. Now after months of cleaning up debris, attending funerals, and trying to rebuild shattered lives, it was time to get back to pop quizzes and homework assignments.
"It's going to take a while to build everything back, but books are a good start," White said while stocking her classrooms with copies of The Great Gatsby, The Kite Runner, and other literary standards.
The school system was hit especially hard by the May 22 tornado. Seven students and one employee were among the victims, including a senior pulled from his car by winds on his way home from the Joplin High School graduation. Six schools were destroyed, seven others badly damaged.
District leaders quickly realized that they would play a huge role in Joplin's recovery, for reasons symbolic as much as practical. They expanded the hours and locations of summer school to give children a reassuring routine and their parents the time to deal with insurance agents, contractors, and social-service agencies.
They cobbled together a hodgepodge of temporary locations for fall classes, from the old ShopKo store to a former Missouri Department of Transportation office. Rival elementary schools combined, and a middle school found space in an industrial park.
The swiftness of the transformation was striking, White said.
"I've always known people are strong here. But this has really brought it home," she said. "People are so strong. They just get up, dust off, and go to work."
