“One step at a time, but always forward.”

“The motto for the SHS Class of 1974 was ‘One step at a time, but always forward.’ I can’t recount how many times I have said this over the last 50 years, it works for just about every situation… and it’s certainly the perfect motto for Dragonfly Wings. We may only be taking a few small steps right now, but as long as they are always forward, we are that much closer to achieving our goals for teachers and educational initiatives in Dent County, as well as rural Missouri.

– Lisa Durbin-Hester

Our Mission

To provide rural school educators with the resources and support that are non accessible to them due to budgetary constraints – thereby reducing the economic hardships inherent in a rural teaching career as a result of lower salaries and challenging housing markets.

To provide programs and support for teachers in rural communities, Dragonfly Wings will work with school boards, educators, chambers of commerce, academia, industry, nonprofits, and local, state and federal governments, to build programs and provide resources that will not only provide financial incentives, rewards and affordable housing for teachers, but also grow the our regional economy through the long term retention of teachers in our community.

Our Vision

By initially focusing on Salem, MO and the surrounding Dent County area, our vision includes adoption of our program by rural communities across Missouri and the nation. It is our hope that teachers will not only reach financial security in the earlier years of their career, they will also become long term, vital members and contributors in our community.

Working hand-in-hand with the Salem R-80 Construction Trades Program to renovate existing houses and build new homes for our community, we are empowering our youth with real world skills – skills that will ensure them a job upon graduation, and in turn, provide the skilled trades so desperately needed in rural communities. By providing programs that support and empower teachers and students, we can not only change and ensure the futures of our children, we can also revitalize, and diametrically change, the direction of our community.

What We've Achieved… So Far!

  • Donated $35,000 for new band uniforms in 2023.

  • Funding and ongoing support of the R-80 Construction Trades Program (r-80 CTP) for five years.

  • Purchase of first house at 100 S. MacArthur.

  • Purchase of property at 102 S. Henderson slated for a future Construction Trades new build home.

  • Donation of property (to the foundation) at 102 S. MacArthur Avenue.

  • Donation of $50,000 for the purchase of new band uniforms for Salem Senior High School.

  • Purchase and renovation of Flemings on 4th (by the R-80 CTP) which will become a foundation store to benefit teachers and education initiatives.

  • Commitment to the R-80 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) to operate the soda fountain inside of Flemings as a real world learning experience for the students.

  • New building for Construction Trades Program and new cyber security program.

  • Commitment to work closely with, and support, City of Salem Economic Development initiatives.

  • Commitment for monthly teacher rewards program in 2024-2025.