SPRINGFIELD, Mo. —The countdown is over, and summer break has come to an end for Springfield Public Schools students. Tuesday is officially the first day of school.

Students and teachers across the Ozarks are in class for the first day, and some of them for the first time, including Madison Cunningham.

Ms. Cunningham is starting her first year teaching kindergarten at Boyd Elementary, while her students are starting their first year in the classroom. Ms. Cunningham completed her student teaching at a different SPS elementary school and said she knew this was a district she wanted to stay in.

She says it has been a busy summer setting up her new classroom and a busy week leading up to the first day, meeting with her team, and finishing up final touches.

Ms. Cunningham is expecting 17 st

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