Purcell welcomed eight new staffers for the school term 2026-27 as class work began on Thursday.

Among the new Dragons are Brian Fitzgerald, Caitlin Picard, Eric Patterson, Laney Wren, Renee Russell, Alyssa Rogers, April Trumbo and Lauren Masters.

Fitzgerald will be the assistant high school principal and athletic director.

A Moore High School graduate, Fitzgerald has degrees from MACU and UCO.

He previously taught at Bethany and Moore.

Fitzgerald and his wife, Lori, have a married daughter that teaches and coaches at Moore and a son that is a senior at East Central University.

“I took this position because I thought it was a great opportunity. I have heard great things about the district,” Fitzgerald said.

Picard previously taught sixth grade special education at Pauls Valley. She will be elementary special services.

A graduate of Derby High School, she holds degrees from McNeese State University and Arizona State University.

“I chose to accept the Purcell Elementary Special Services position because I believe those early years are some of the most important in a child’s educational journey,” Picard said.

Picard and her husband, David, have built a life centered on faith, family and supporting one another through every season.

“I am grateful for the life we’ve created together,” she said.

“Our 10-year-old son, Hudson, is the heart of our family. He loves being outdoors, playing baseball and spending time hunting and fishing. Watching him grow into a kind, hardworking and adventurous young man has been one of life’s greatest blessings.”

Picard also has a passion for barrel racing and horses.

“Spending time at the arena and competing with my horses is something I truly enjoy. It has taught me dedication, perseverance and the value of hard work,” she concluded.

Patterson, who will teach seventh grade geography, is a graduate of Mason High School and the University of Oklahoma.

He has previously taught seventh grade geography and special education.

“Purcell has a great sense of small town community,” Patterson said. He and his wife, who is a nurse, welcomed their first child to the family this summer.

Patterson reports he also enjoys playing golf and being outdoors.

Wren will be teaching seventh grade family and consumer science. A graduate of Allen High School, Wren earned her degree from the University of Oklahoma.

“I always wanted to make my way into education after being a stay at home mom for eight years,” she said.

She and her husband, Colten, have two children, ages eight and six.

Russell, will be a school counselor for third-fifth grades at Purcell Intermediate.

She graduated from high school at Midlothain High School in Texas and earned her degree from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

“I have had the privilege of working with students and families for 20 years in education, social services and counseling in schools in both Oklahoma and Texas,” she said.

Russell and her husband, Kelly, have two sons in college at OU and OBU.

“I love encouraging and supporting students, families and school staff. I am excited to be a part of the Purcell Intermediate family,” she concluded.

Rogers has parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins in Purcell.

“That’s why this place is so special to me,” she said.

“I’ve wanted to be a teacher my entire life and am so excited to start living out my calling at the place I call home,” Rogers said. “I hope to make the same positive impact that my fantastic teachers at Purcell had on me.”

The Purcell graduate earned her degree from East Central University. She will be teaching fourth grade.

Trumbo, who is not actually new to the district, will be teaching sophomore world history. She previously taught computer technology at Purcell High School.

She is a Norman High School graduate who earned her degree from the University of Oklahoma.

“I am really excited for the opportunity to return to Purcell Public Schools. While I truly enjoyed teaching computer technology, this new position aligns closely with my lifelong interest in history and will allow me to share that passion with students,” Trumbo said.

“I look forward to helping students see that history is more than just dates and events to be memorized.

“My husband, Scott, and I have been married for 33 years and raised our three daughters here. We now enjoy spending time with our growing family including our grandchildren and are grateful to call this community home,” she concluded.

Masters will serve as an additional high school counselor.

A graduate of Putnam City North she attended Oklahoma State University, York University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University.

Masters logged five years as a geography teacher in Purcell from 2018-2023 before leaving to gain school counseling experience.

Prior to her stint at Purcell she also taught in the Putnam City district as well as in the Houston area.

“I’ve always respected Mel (Feroli high school counselor) and loved the thought of being able to learn alongside her,” Masters said. “I was thrilled when I was offered the opportunity to interview and then offered the position.

“Additionally, there is something very special about being able to continue working with my previous students,” she said.

She and her husband, David, have an 8th grade girl at PJH and a second grade son at the elementary school.

“As a family, we love to travel. Frequently, you can find us at sporting events, especially wrestling events for Ethan,” she concluded.