Hope Sickmeier
My name is Hope Sickmeier and I am the Learning Garden educator at Southern Boone County Primary/Elementary. This is my 27th year in teaching and my 21st year at Southern Boone. I teach garden education in the Learning Garden! I have a bachelor's degree in education from Southwest Baptist University and a master's degree in elementary administration from William Woods University.  Ashland has become my home and I’m so happy to be a part of this wonderful community! I have two amazing sons and four fantastic grandkids! I love to do walk races in my free time and to date, I’ve completed 20 races.  I love being an Eagle and look forward to the best school year yet!

Lyra Noce
My name is Lyra Noce and am the instructional aide at the Southern Boone Learning Garden. I am a proud graduate of the Southern Boone School District and a lifelong resident of Boone County. I attended the University of Missouri and hold a bachelor's degree in regional and cultural geography. I have a passion for horticulture, native plants, and small-scale agriculture. I am married with two sons who attend Southern Boone Middle School. I love learning new things every day and helping others do the same. I am thrilled to be in the Southern Boone Learning Garden helping our children make educational connections with hands-on learning in an outdoor immersive environment.