The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by Grace Lessen, The Quill
Sara Ryner
Sara Ryner spent her childhood riding her bike around the small town of Little York completely unsupervised. "It was safe and I sold girl scout cookies to every single house. Sara and her family moved to Monmouth after her 6th grade year at Yorkwood. Sara says, "I love my rural small town upbringing". Sara attended Monmouth high school. "I was a Zipperette!". following her my older brother, Sara obtained her undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Sara's teaching certification and Master's degree are from Western Illinois University.
Sara is married to Joe Ryner and has been for 25 years. Sara says, "We are celebrating this milestone this summer with a much anticipated trip to the Sequoia National forest, Kings Canyon and Yosemite". Together, they have 3 children, Sam 23, Lilly 21 and Max 16. Sam works for Collin's concrete. Lilly just graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in psychology and will begin her specialist degree in school psychology this Fall back at Illinois State University. Max is enjoying sports and school at Macomb High School.
Sara Ryner is the principal at La Harpe Elementary and Junior High School. "What are some of your favorite parts about education?" Sara says, "Working with young people is a JOY! I hope I always get to work with young people. I feel like education is the one place you have the possibility to change the future and make a positive difference". During Sara's freetime she enjoys,
Fishing, exploring nature, entertaining (not lately due to a pandemic) baking, reading and watching sports. Sara Ryner's advice to students is, "Own up to your mistakes. Do not make excuses. Be kind no matter what. And, use the information you learn in school to make positive changes in our world".