Grades 2 and 3  | Monmouth-Roseville CUSD #238

Harding Primary School serves approximately 240 second- and third-grade students in the Monmouth-Roseville district, offering a welcoming and student-focused environment tailored specifically to this important stage of early learning. These years are often described as a turning point—where foundational skills begin to evolve into more advanced academic thinking, social confidence, and growing independence. Harding is built to nurture those transitions with care, consistency, and strong community connection.

Students at Harding benefit from a staff of roughly 45 dedicated professionals, from classroom teachers and paraprofessionals to cafeteria and custodial staff, all working together to create a warm, responsive, and inclusive learning environment. The size of the school allows for strong relationships to flourish—not just among students and teachers, but across the entire building.

“We’re really like a small family here,” says Principal Katy Morrison, who has served as principal since 2019 and previously taught second grade in the building. “There’s a sense of community among staff that students feel every day. When a challenge comes up, everyone jumps in—nobody hesitates. That’s the kind of culture we’ve built.”

This collaborative spirit carries over into the classroom. Teachers at Harding are known for the safe, welcoming spaces they create—places where students feel encouraged to explore, to take academic risks, and to support one another. Whether it’s adapting to new instructional strategies or covering for each other during a last-minute schedule change, staff members work together with a shared sense of purpose and flexibility.

Harding’s two-grade focus makes it unique within the district. These are what Morrison calls the “sweet spot” years—when students still need nurturing but are beginning to discover their voices and push forward in their learning. Having taught in the first through third grade range for much of her 19-year education career, Morrison brings both classroom perspective and administrative leadership to her role.

A native of East Galesburg and a graduate of Knoxville High School and Monmouth College, Morrison has deep roots in the region. She speaks often of the benefits of having Monmouth College nearby—not only as an educational partner, but as a source of classroom support and enrichment. “We work with pre-service teachers and visit campus facilities like the educational farm,” she says. “It’s a real asset to have right in town.”

At Harding Primary, the focus is simple but powerful: strong relationships, responsive teaching, and a culture where children feel seen and supported. Whether they're arriving as tentative second graders or leaving as confident third graders ready for the next step, Harding students are met with care, consistency, and a staff that believes in their potential from day one.