Wichita Public Schools - Spring 2020
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The Good Apple Award program allows schools and administrative support centers to recognize employees, volunteers and partners who provide exemplary service to the district and its students. Award recipients are nominated and selected at the building where their efforts are most profoundly felt. The Wichita Board of Education is honored to recognize the following Spring 2020 Good Apple Award recipients. School principals provided these brief excerpts from their Good Apple recipients’ nomination materials.
District Partner and Administrator Awards The Partner Good Apples below were selected based on their support of the entire district and its students. Administrator Good Apples are being recognized for the first time through a collaboration with Wichita Education Administrators Association (WEAA). FRIENDS UNIVERSITY Friends University has provided new ways for our students to access Dr. Amy Bragg Carey college affordably through the Early College Academy with Northwest President, Friends University High and the STEM Promise - free tuition for eligible graduating Deb Stockman seniors. And they have sponsored and supported fine arts in our Vice President of Enrollment Management schools for many years. Preston Todd Associate Academic Dean Joan Griffing Chair of Fine Arts WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY Wichita State University actively supports our strategic goals through Dr. Jay Golden Reading with the Shockers for 3rd graders, Gear Up to support college President, Wichita State University access, the College of Applied Studies educating our future teachers, Kaye Monk-Morgan and the Multicultural Greek Council adopting North High for Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs volunteerism. Go Shox! Dr. Shirley Lefever Dean, College of Applied Studies Corinne Nilsen Executive Director, Kansas Kids @Gear Up Quentin Hendershot Academic Coordinator Rani Somers Coordinator of Fraternity and Sorority Life WSU TECH Our partnership with WSU Tech is constantly growing. They are piloting Dr. Sheree Utash new ways of connecting students of all ages to career awareness, President, WSU Tech providing high-quality technical education for dual credit, partnering Scott Lucas on the aviation pathway, and connecting their students to ours, Vice President, Career & Technical Education supporting literacy. Jena Roth Associate Dean, High School Partnerships & Community Outreach Britten Kuckelman Director, Library & Information Services Megan Madasz Director, Employee Relations 1
ELEMENTARY ADMINISTRATORS 2020 These administrators were nominated for their leadership and service to students, staff, families and community. Their passion and ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS commitment to student and staff success is evident in the way they Cynthia Chrisman build relationships and facilitate growth in all as they encourage and Chisholm Trail Elementary School support along the way. Jody Foster Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary Audrey Miller Harry Street Elementary School Tara Parton Caldwell Elementary School Cody Shew Gammon Elementary School Brenda Willis Beech Elementary School PRINCIPALS Patricia Brown Woodland Health and Wellness Magnet Elementary Patty Daman Caldwell Elementary School Kristi Franks Park Elementary School Stacey Hall Chisholm Trail Elementary School Tara Hall White Elementary School Jeanna Hernandez Ortiz Elementary School Matt Snodgrass Cessna Elementary School Leslie Turner Black Traditional Magnet Elementary School Jeanie Watkins Gammon Elementary School Tina Young Payne Elementary School Michele Zahner Benton Elementary School 2
SECONDARY & DISTRICT ADMINISTRATORS These administrators were nominated for their leadership and service 2020 to students, staff, families and community. Their passion and commitment to student and staff success is evident in the way they ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS build relationships and facilitate growth in all as they encourage and Tara Allen support along the way. Wilbur Middle School Monique Arndt South High School Loren Hatfield Southeast High School Nicole Herrera Christa McAuliffe Academy Tamara Gallatin Stucky Middle School Kristina Murray West High School Steve Parks Northwest High School David Self North High School PRINCIPALS Lura Jo Atherly Jardine STEM and Career Exploration Magnet Leslianne Craft Stucky Middle School Toby Martin Mead Middle School John Penka Dunlap Transition Campus at Chisholm Ron Stubbs Hadley Middle School Stephanie Wasko Curtis Middle School DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR Shannon Krysl Chief Human Resource Officer District One Good Apples Adams Elementary School THE BRIDGE CHURCH Our friends at The Bridge Church volunteer at our school Emily Daze events, both mornings and evenings, read and have lunch Jeff Daze with kids, and year after year make donations that support Courtney DeJong our students’ academic and social emotional needs. These La Donna Fleming stars also go to great lengths to celebrate our staff. We love Brandon Redic you! Amber Turner Derek Young 3
Adams Elementary School Officer Jeff Andres Officer Andres has taken very good care of Adams students Wichita Police and staff for many years. He often attends evening events Department serving snacks and keeping everybody safe, he brought other officers to read with kids, and he attends field trips with Kin- dergarten every year. We’re so lucky to have his support. Brooks Center for STEM WEIGAND-OMEGA Weigand-Omega Management joined Brooks in a new and the Arts Magnet MANAGEMENT collaborative partnership. This partnership includes service to Middle School Bob Hanson students, staff, parents and the community. This collaboration Chief Executive Officer supports the district’s strategic plan to engage in community Craig Hanson collaboration. President Lynn Lavallee Omega Senior Living, COO Alejandro Nieto Lakepoint Wichita, Director Dunbar Support Center EARLY CHILDHOOD Heroes for our “LITTLE ONES!” That’s what they are! This TEACHING SPECIALISTS team works their magic supporting teachers, students and Christy Carter families in our Pre-K programs. They work diligently to ensure Stehanie Goertz that curriculum, assessments and our new scales align with Erica Hartzler our state and district strategic plan! Early Childhood Teaching Specialists Mirta Hamersky Mirta is committed to serving students and guardians of Migrant Advocate, migrant status. She is a knowledgeable and caring advocate Multilingual Education who strives for their academic success and ability to thrive Services in the community. She is responsive to their unexpected needs and collaborates positively with North High staff. Mirta received her award from North High School. Gammon Elementary Andrea Primm Andrea has made such a strong impact with our Gammon School Behavior Interventionist students. She works hard to ensure students are able to find a safe and productive way to express themselves. She holds all kids accountable for their actions and makes sure they feel loved and supported. She is truly a champion for our students! Rochelle Stutzman Rochelle is an advocate for all students she teaches, and Interrelated Teacher provides the support they all need. She builds positive relationships, letting them know that they are loved and valued. She holds each student accountable for their own learning, while preparing them for middle school. She’s amazing! Gordon Parks Academy SIMPLY A LADY, INC. Ms. Crowley works weekly with our 5th grade girls with a Kianga Crowley program called Simply a Girl. The girls are learning life skills CEO like sewing, public speaking and other skills for success in life. We are so fortunate to have Simply a Lady be a part of the village at Gordon Parks Academy. 4
Gordon Parks Academy SIMPLY A LADY, INC. Ms. Williams volunteers weekly at GPA to teach life skills. Amber Williams The girls look forward to seeing her. The skills are life skills, Program Facilitator etiquette classes and soft skills. We have seen positive behaviors and increased academic achievement for these students. Thank you for making an impact. YOUTH EDUCATIONAL The team from YEEP/Teenview magazine has been a partner EMPOWERMENT at GPA for a year. During this time, Ricky Lasley has been PROGRAM, INC. supporting our students and is an integral part of building Ricky Lasley media arts and writing skills for our students. His ability to Vice President connect with and understand our students is first rate. Information Services and Laurie Newton Through her work on Standards Reference Grading, she has Technology Instructional Technology facilitated much of the back-office work on Otus for elemen- Specialist tary schools and our efforts for SRG for secondary schools in Synergy. She is an ideal candidate as she brings the necessary “connecting the dots” for the success of students. William (Dennis) Osborn His technical skills and ability to learn are amazing. This was Tech 8 Network Services most recently on display during our move to Office 365. This was a high profile project that affected every employee in the district. He showed great dedication and attention to detail in making sure the project was smooth for all users. Jackson Elementary Brandy Bartlett Brandy is a wonderful technology teacher. She has a School Tech Lab Teacher welcoming atmosphere in her lab. She is continually building relationships with students and staff. Brandy is innovative and willing to try new ideas, websites and projects with students she works with. Brandy is truly a STOIC teacher!!! Jenny Stebral Jenny promotes learning in her library as she works to build Library Media Specialist relationships with students and staff. She has brought unique experiences to our students through an author visit and a field trip to see Jeff Kinney. Jenny also works diligently with her Battle of the Books teams to help them be successful. MIXED ABILITIES This group of professionals works diligently each day to CLASSROOM educate their students. Together they are a well-oiled Jennifer Nagel machine providing the structure and consistency essential Special Education Teacher to student growth. Upon entering their classroom you will - Mixed Abilities see their hard work, dedication and persistence as students Mary Gragg flourish. Alicia Malget Tae McNealey Toyan Sims Special Education Paraprofessionals 5
L’Ouverture Career Kim Thomas Kim is a volunteer who comes to L’Ouverture on Wednesdays Explorations and Reading Volunteer and brings 1 of her service dogs to listen to 2nd graders read Technology Magnet aloud. We call the program, “Read with the Dog.” Students Elementary School love practicing their reading fluency with the dog! L’Ouverture appreciates her time and dedication to literacy. Mueller Aerospace and Christina Eck Christina is a phenomenal and outstanding teacher. She is Engineering Magnet 4th-Grade Teacher very passionate about serving the 4th grade babies in her classroom. She creates a warm, caring and productive classroom environment. It is clear that she sets high expectations and expects all her students to strive and aim for college. Jeryssa Harper Jeryssa is the perfect kindergarten teacher. She is fun, Kindergarten Teacher energetic, and full of enthusiasm. Her high energy level is contagious to all who enter her classroom. When you walk in her room, you either wish you were in kindergarten or that you had a child who was a kindergartener in Ms. Harper’s room. Vanita Washington Vanita is the ideal administrative assistant. She is very Administrative Assistant positive and greets everyone who enters the Mueller office with a smile and a positive attitude. She puts our babies and their family needs first. She is very patient, willing to assist anyone who needs her help, and is a Mueller Star! School Service Center Lisa Edgar Lisa is a very important asset to the Operations Division, as Administrative Assistant, well as the entire SSC building. She always has a welcoming Operations smile and is willing to step up to accommodate the needs of others while consistently performing her job with humor and professionalism. Thank you, Lisa! Duane Jacobs Duane ensures custodians have necessary equipment to Custodial Maintenance maintain a clean and safe environment for students, staff and Repair Technician visitors. He’s a lead custodial technician, a mechanic and a Veteran who gives his absolute best each day and is a remarkable asset to the Facilities Division and USD 259. Spaght Science and Felicia Bynum Felicia takes great pride in her job. She has the biggest smile Communications Magnet Paraeducator and greets everyone she encounters. She has high Elementary School expectations for students and is very calm, caring and thoughtful. She offers ideas willingly and implements new learning into her instruction. We are so blessed to have Felicia on our team. Tom Grieb Mr. G. is the fantastic director of our growing latch key Physical Education program, organizes our Fresh Fruit and Veggie Grant and Teacher jumps in to support students and staff without hesitation. He demonstrates the epitome of teamwork by helping wherever he sees a need. Thank you, Mr. G! 6
Spaght Science and Melinda McNown Melinda surpasses all expectations in regards to the support Communications Magnet MTSS Facilitator she provides for our staff and students. You will always find Elementary School her supporting staff, troubleshooting issues and connecting with kids. She motivates us all toward success every day. Spaght is a better school because of her devotion. Washington Accelerated Valerie Ahlf-Vazquez Valerie Ahlf-Vazquez is well respected among the staff at Learning Elementary Social Worker Washington, fiercely loved by the students, and is a life-line to our families. District Two Good Apples Beech Elementary School Candice Heinrichs-Ung Candice is a wealth of knowledge for our staff. She support Speech Pathologist our students with speech services, visual schedules and social stories. In addition, she is active on committees in our building, collects box tops and heads up our recycling. Candice is an integral member of our CST! Robyn Russell Robyn is masterful at helping students get themselves Behavior Intervention regulated. She cares deeply for our students and understands Para their needs. Robyn provides a safe place for students to calm down and reflect on their choices before returning to class. She is truly amazing and we are lucky she is a Beech Bobcat! ADMINISTRATIVE The office staff at Beech has done a fantastical job this year! ASSISTANT TEAM They have worked tremendously hard to provide great Brenda Maldonado customer service, help staff and care for our students. They Sheila Roberts are quick to volunteer to help out in whatever capacity is Kathryn Sargeant needed. Our staff could not do without these ladies! Administrative Assistants Bostic Traditional Magnet Chris Moore As Bostic’s Gifted Teacher, Mr. Moore is a tremendous Elementary Gifted Teacher encouragement to students! Chris will often spend his Saturday and Sunday working with parents to support Bostic’s Chess and Robotics Team! Thank you, Mr. Moore, for volunteering your time so students can learn from these unique experiences! Christa McAuliffe Dan Benefiel Dan is a silent hero such that his kindness and hard work can Academy 4th-Grade Teacher go unnoticed. He gives his heart to his students at all times. From engaging lessons to tether ball or basketball with challenging students he takes every opportunity to connect and build positive relationships. Dan gives his all! Kylie Vest Kylie joined our staff just days before the start of the school Substitute Teacher year to fill a long-term sub job. She greeted her kindergarteners with love and enthusiasm every day. She worked well with all the staff and families at CMA. Kylie created a family atmosphere in her classroom! Thank you, Kylie! 7
Christa McAuliffe Kiela Wood Kiela has taken on the task of guiding the pilot of SRG at CMA. Academy Instructional Coach Through the challenges of leading a change initiative Kiela has remained positive and cheerful. She has provided constant guidance and support to staff. Kiela is also a leader of restorative practice believing in all of our students! Coleman Middle School Heather Brown Ms. Brown left her reg ed classroom to pursue a graduate Positive Behavior Support degree in SpEd while teaching in the PBS program. She builds Teacher connections between the PBS program and the rest of Coleman, believing that it is positive change for our program, the kids and for the rest of the school, too. Thank you, Ms. Brown! Jennifer Laflamme Ms. Laflamme is a veteran teacher whose passion for Positive Behavior Support working with the toughest, most vulnerable students lead her Teacher to change career paths and return to grad school to become a PBS SpEd teacher. Her ability to build relationships has greatly impacted her students. We truly appreciate Ms. Laflamme! College Hill Elementary Austin Bumgarner Austin is an amazing teacher. He is only at College Hill twice School Physical Education a week yet has all standards assessed and in order. It’s hard Teacher keeping track of kids from 2 schools, but he does it flawlessly. He just took over when the full time PE teacher was out due to a family death. He rocks! Robert Poole Robert is a positive unofficial teammate. Many subs would Guest Teacher just listen and use the plans of others, but not Bob. He is the first to share ideas and resources. As a retired teacher, the passion for educating children is still running thick in his blood. It’s a relief to have Bob for your sub. Binh Tran Binny has been a fabulous volunteer the 2 years her daughter Volunteer has attended College Hill. She uses her own time and resources to organize parties and donate materials for math and science. She always thinks of the staff as well. The lounge often has some of Binny’s fabulous macarons. Thank you, Binny! Hyde Int’l Studies/Comm. Rebecca Giggy Rebecca is everywhere at Hyde. She is on the Leadership Magnet Elementary 5th-Grade Teacher Team, teaches fifth grade and is our AVID coordinator. She is a co-coordinator for latchkey. Rebecca loves connecting with her students and being the resource they need to be successful. Hyde is blessed to have her. Sean Marshall Mr. Marshall is an outstanding coach. He dedicates himself Physical Education to his students and has embraced the culture and traditions Teacher of Hyde Elementary, while cultivating the joy of physical education and activity into every lesson, by creating many new opportunities for them. He’s our Good Apple! 8
Hyde Int’l Studies/Comm. Elizabeth Stark Elizabeth has an enormous passion for students and their love Magnet Elementary 1st-Grade Teacher of learning. She continually shares all that she has with other staff as well. Her ambitions, intelligence and accomplishments make her highly deserving of a Good Apple award. We appreciate all she does for Hyde! Minneha Core Knowledge Dan Cortez Danny is proud of his new role as head custodian. He fixes Elementary School Head Custodian anything that needs attention and makes sure that Minneha presents a great face to our public. He thinks ahead of problems and has solutions already in place to keep our building clean and safe. No job is too big or small for Danny. Rosa Tregellas Rosa brings calm, order and cleanliness to Minneha every Lead Night Custodian evening. She take great pride in her job as night lead and shows her co-workers how to do their job more efficiently and with love for our school. She focuses on making sure our halls sparkle and shine each morning. Rosa is loved by all! CHILD STUDY TEAM The CST at Minneha is phenomenal. They are always available Camille Fanner to help with any situation, regardless if it is behavior or aca- Speech Clinician demics. They are prompt with providing support and efficient Elizabeth Hohl in every situation that comes their way. They are the most Counselor positive group of individuals that are about KIDS first! Nikki Inman Nurse Georgia Peintner Psychologist Kimberly Webber Social Worker Price-Harris Danielle Armstrong Ms. Armstrong is extremely positive and energetic, asking Communications 3rd-Grade Teacher questions and reflecting to improve her students’ learning. Magnet Elementary She has taught very difficult students and shown tremendous patience, helping them grow and improve their attitude toward school and learning. LEWIS FAMILY TEAM Todd and Anne Lewis are parent volunteers who continue to Anne Lewis make outstanding contributions to our school. They recruit Todd Lewis and organize speakers for our annual Career Day, guest Volunteers readers for Read-a-thon, and promote our school to new families personally at Showcase and Kindergarten Roundup. Betsy Schumann Mrs. Schumann works very hard with her students and 3rd-Grade Teacher parents to build positive and effective relationships. She does a great job collecting data to show students’ growth and improve her teaching. Ms. Schumann takes time to get to know students’ needs and caring about what is best for them. 9
Robinson Middle School Charlie Jenney Inspiring a passion for science and inquiry based learning is Science Teacher what Mr. Jenney does best! Whether it’s for his class, Math Counts, Science Olympiad, or the Eco Club, the students are all in when it comes to wanting to be a part of these activities with Mr. Jenney. Thanks for making science and math fun! Seltzer Elementary School Abbey Ward Abbey is one of the first people to arrive at work and one of Teacher the last to leave at night. She creates engaging lessons that the kids enjoy and brings a variety of teaching styles into her classroom. She coordinates STEM Night and Girls on the Run. Abbey makes us #WPSProud! Southeast High School Christie Fallin When students take the time to talk about their favorite English Teacher teacher, often times Christie Fallin’s name is mentioned. Christie is calm, kind and caring but at the same time has the ability to challenge her students to perform to their highest levels. Ms. Fallin is one of the best! Jason Wysong As a science teacher, Jason’s classroom is a laboratory for Science Teacher learning, collaborating, investigating and rigor. Students who have the good fortune to be in his classes work with a caring adult who always goes the extra mile to see students succeed. Thanks, Mr. Wysong! District Three Good Apples Alvin E. Morris Corie Bishop Corie is a rock star! She consistently provides support and Administrative Center Campus Support insight for our school. She is efficient, knowledgeable and caring. Corie makes us feel special. She cares about our school, staff and students in a personal and professional way. She will do anything we need and prioritizes us all. Corie received her award from Riverside Elementary School. Julie Cailteux Julie supports district speech-language pathologists so they Program Specialist have the professional development and resources necessary to support students so that they can be successful in the general education curriculum. She is a problem-solver, a relationship-builder and a fierce advocate for students. Kory Gregg Kory’s excellent work ethic and attitude reflect his Custodian determination to keep his building in tip-top shape for all his customers. He deals with routine maintenance as well as the more unusual issues such as catching bats and other critters. He is quick to respond to any request and is a team player. Rachelle Scharnhorst Rachelle is the quintessential team player! She handles all of Administrative Assistant the day-to-day support for every single K-8, middle and high school activity that needs district level permission or funding. She is patient, understanding and passionate about serving our building leaders. 10
Anderson Elementary 3RD-GRADE TEAM The 3rd grade team at Anderson has been a stellar example School Anna Barrera Macal of the direction Anderson is going. They lead in showing how Karsen Carter restorative practices are done and are pillars in how to build Margie Hartwig strong, meaningful relationships with students. Their Amber Werth cohesiveness as a team sets the standard in excellence. 3rd-Grade Teachers Jason Edwards Jason joined Anderson this year and immediately had a Custodian strong impact. Not only is he strong in his custodial work, his strength lies in his relationship with staff and students. He mentors, protects and leads students and staff wholeheart- edly. His humor and get-it-done attitude are a key piece at Anderson. Caitlyn Hull Caitlyn is willing to take any student in any grade under her Para wing to help them learn to succeed in academics and life. She defines what it means to do what is best for students. She is supportive in tough moments and uses her calm and consis- tent approach to help teach missing skills to students. Caldwell Elementary Tony Marshall Mr. Marshall has been a wonderful addition to the Caldwell School Art Teacher staff. He is very explicit in his expectations and has created a wonderful scale system for behaviors in class. He not only brings a smiling face and positive attitude to our school, he has taught Caldwell students a lot about art. Stephany Mendez Stephany has dedicated herself to the students that she Deaf/Hard of Hearing serves. Stephany selflessly gives her time, energy and Teacher resources to ensure the students’ needs are being met academically, socially and emotionally. Stephany’s excitement for teaching is contagious! Caldwell is lucky to have her. Kim Williams Kim has dedicated herself to improving the lives of students 5th-Grade Teacher that she serves. Kim selflessly gives her time, energy and personal resources to ensure the students’ needs are being met academically, socially and emotionally. Kim is a valued member of our Caldwell Team. Clark Elementary School Diane Gensch Diane Gensch has been a volunteer at Clark Elementary for Volunteer several years. She tutors students as well as helps one of our teachers in the classroom each week. She also gets her church involved in appreciation lunches for the teachers each quarter as well as collecting school supplies. Nathan Isom Nathan Isom has been a tutor at Clark Elementary for the Tutor past two years. He enjoys tutoring our students and helping them grow in their love for learning. He also has started “Launchpad,” an after-school club wanting to give students an opportunity to learn and love the world of science. 11
Clark Elementary School Tracy Masterson Tracy Masterson really goes the extra mile for our kiddos and Physical Education staff members. Any problem..from kids’ broken shoes, to Teacher scraping our icy windows in the parking lot, he’s the man to go to! He really is a bright presence at Clark, always smiling and always helping out. Colvin Elementary School COLVIN PTO These three amazing moms are leading the Colvin PTO. They Maranda Asche have connected with many other moms and dads to help the Laura Martinez school with many family events. Their efforts are supporting Michaela Tomsen our students and staff in countless ways. We want to thank Volunteers them for their love and commitment to our school. Curtis Middle School AVID CO-COORDINATORS Crystal and Elizabeth deserve recognition for providing Elizabeth Jackson continuous improvement in our AVID program, supporting an Crystal Liermann increase in WICOR strategies building-wide, and continuing to Teachers/AVID grow our AVID team. Their time, effort and leadership behind Co-Coordinators the scenes has a great impact on our students’ futures. Ossatha Kang Mrs. Kang plays a vital role in Curtis’ after school program. Paraeducator She is dependable, makes the program fun, leads MATHia labs, tutors ESOL students and is frequently requested for homework help due to her knowledge and connection to students. Curtis’ after school program couldn’t function without her! Tracey Smith Tracey is an amazing teacher whose impact reaches far Technology Teacher beyond the walls of her classroom. She spearheads Student Technology Leadership program, leads students in the design of the yearbook, facilitates school-wide photographs, and still manages time to mentor new teachers. We truly appreciate her!! Gardiner Elementary Jeff Arellano (Mr. A) Mr. A. is always willing to jump in and lend a helping hand School Physical Education wherever and whenever needed. Besides being a great Teacher teacher, he helps with scheduling, technology, mentoring, and is always happy to help colleagues. Mr. A. is a joy to have around our school and an amazingly kind and wonderful person! Theresa Klausmeyer Theresa, our school psychologist does so much more than School Psychologist testing students! She has a great heart for all students and provides awesome support for academics and behavior. Her dedication to problem-solving and providing interventions is outstanding!! We are thrilled to have her on the Gardiner team! Melissa Little Melissa is thoroughly dedicated to keeping our school clean Custodian and is always positive, even when there are 1000 things to do. Our school looks great and she contributes to our school in many ways. She communicates well, is a hard worker, and most of all, she is an amazing person. Melissa=Rock Star! 12
Harry Street Elementary SOCE NEIGHBORING Adam and his team joined forces with our Harry Street Family School MOVEMENT in 2018. From that moment, their arms have been open and Adam Barlow-Thompson hearts have been willing to help our school and community Executive Director grow. They volunteer their time, share resources and are always up for a brainstorming session! We are thankful for their support! PANDO INITIATIVE Crystal is a one of kind, kid-loving, family supporting, Crystal Botts relationship building extraordinaire. She works tirelessly to support our students and their families. Crystal is a continuous emotional support for our families who trust and love her. Our Harry Street Family is better because she is here! Kristen Mott Kristen plays a significant role in the success of our Harry MTSS Facilitator Street staff and students. She works diligently to build strong relationships, provides exceptional learning opportunities for all Harry Street staff, and works hand in hand with our parents and community to build a positive school culture. Jardine STEM and Career Adam Payton He is working with our ASP to facilitate Generation STEAM Exploration Magnet Generations STEM Artist/ projects throughout the year. In facilitating these projects and Middle Academy Engineer sharing his love of STEAM with our students, he goes above and beyond by building positive relationships with students and encouraging them to do their best in all they do. Jefferson Elementary Abigail Bryant As a 1st year teacher, Abby’s enthusiasm and love for her job School Music Teacher and students is evident from the time she walks through the door. From her procedures to songs, rhythms and musicianship, she works hard to reach all students. Our staff and students adore her and feel so lucky every day she is at Jefferson. Taran Langston Taran often spends her weekends helping the Newcomer ESOL Para families at Jefferson. She makes sure they have basic needs such as food and clothing as well as taking students places to give them new experiences. Taran does an amazing job building relationships with Newcomer families, they all know and love her. Linwood Elementary PE TEAM Patrick and Mason work tirelessly at making a bond with each School Mason Biehler child in the building. Patrick started a leadership club that Patrick Loganbill meets every Wednesday morning. His club works on social Physical Education skills and the things needed to succeed in the future. They Teachers both volunteer to help out in common areas. Laura Brown Laura “Nana” dedicates her life to helping the children at Volunteer Linwood get the chance to experience opportunities they may not get at home. Nana volunteers in the library weekly, provides concessions at events, and is currently working on getting our students’ artwork displayed in the community. 13
Mead Middle School LEADERSHIP TEAM Mead’s building leadership team is simply extraordinary. Michael Allen This outstanding group of knowledgeable, veteran educators Data Leader collaborate, coordinate, communicate and cooperate as they Sarah Rosales lead our building toward greatness. Thank you, Michael, Social Studies Teacher Jennifer, Kim, Susan, Sarah and Wendy. You are absolutely Susan Grommesh awesome! Wendy Russell Science Teachers Kim Epley Jennifer Thorpe MTSS Facilitators Lillian Cenicola Mead’s cafeteria manager, Lillian “Suz” Cenicola, is an Cafeteria Manager essential part of the Mead Middle School family. She is punctual, efficient, dependable and organized. Suz does an extraordinary job of running our cafeteria where friendly words and warm smiles are always on the menu. Thank you for all you do. District Four Good Apples Allison Traditional Magnet Kris Kontny Kris soars above the rest at Allison! She is the behind the Middle School Secretary scenes support ensuring Allison students, staff and families have what they need to be successful. She has dedicated her professional career to Allison. Kris, your decades of committed service and knowledge are greatly appreciated and valued. Cessna Elementary School Jeananna Barnes Jeananna is a bright shining star at Cessna. She shows Paraprofessional compassion, generosity, kindness and hard work daily. Her ability to show each person they are loved and valued is second to none. Jeananna’s heart holds a special place for those less fortunate. We would be lost without her. Candace Decker It is difficult to describe the impact Candace has not only 2nd-Grade Teacher on her students, but the school community as a whole. Her willingness to support, her dedication to teaching, and her impact on the social emotional development of those she comes into contact with is second to none. Lisa Dubray Lisa is a true team player; she is always willing to help Paraprofessional others no matter the job. She is constantly going above what is expected of her. Lisa’s positivity and kindness lifts everyone around her. Cleaveland Traditional Cathy Dugan Ms. Dugan is dedicated to both staff and students of Magnet Elementary Social Worker Cleaveland. Her support for all helps both staff and students to be successful in all endeavors. She has been a part of many of the building transitions and does not hesitate to step up and do the extra no matter what it is. 14
Cleaveland Traditional Karina Rodriguez Karina is the backbone of the school. Her knowledge of Magnet Elementary Administrative Assistant Cleaveland and what it needs is priceless. She is devoted to both the students and staff and assists in any manner that she can to help all of Cleaveland be successful. BUILDING LEADERSHIP This team has lead multiple changes throughout the building. TEAM They have lead procedural changes to help keep staff and Cynthia Bauer-Iseman students safe. They have also helped in how we look at our Speech Language daily instruction in meeting the needs of all students through Pathologist daily conversations and building inservices. Jeri Carson MTSS Coach Amber Chambers 1st-Grade Teacher Amy Greiner 5th-Grade Teacher Chelsea Haley Interrelated Teacher Savannah Issa 3rd-Grade Teacher Hamilton Middle School Lorylyn Bailey Ms. Bailey is a wonderful ELA teacher but she is so much 8th-Grade Language Arts more. Lorylyn does a fantastic job of managing the Teacher after-school tutoring program. She has a strong voice in the language arts department and her colleagues look to her for instructional advice. She makes Hamilton a better place every day. Brenda Benter Brenda Benter is the MTSS Committee Chair for the Positive 6th-Grade Math Teacher Academic/Behavior Support Team. Her initiatives include Student of the Month, the PRIDE of Hamilton program, and she organizes the Rock the Test parties. She makes sure that Hamilton students get recognized for their success. South High School SECURITY TEAM In a time of heartache due to the loss of a friend and staff Ron Arehart member they came together to protect our school Ervin Garnes community. Safety remained a priority during this time. They Stephanie Willig continually checked on staff and students. This team models Security Officers excellence and works to help everyone be in a safe learning William Davis environment. District Security Lead Margaret has faithfully tutored our South High students in the GEAR UP area of math for four years. Margaret started with the Class of Margaret Harris 2020 when they were freshman. She not only tutors but also Tutor mentors our students and encourages them to be successful in the classroom in everything they do! Thank you! 15
South High School Kyle Haught Kyle spends countless hours working with coaches, athletes Athletic Director and parents. He began a student advisory council to lead and listen to athletes. He spends hours posting on social media to keep our community updated and celebrating the great things Titans are doing! He models excellence for all. Thanks, Kyle! Stanley Elementary Kathy Elson Kathy helps students search for books that they are School Volunteer interested in and suggests books to enhance their reading material. Kathy supports the library in many ways including: monthly window displays, administrative duties, and Stanley Elementary is very fortunate to have Kathy Elson in our building. West High School Kim Cotton Kim is all about West High. She can be found helping with Special Education Para busses, working the hallways and making sure all our students are taking care of their business. Kim has a huge heart for our kids and goes out of her way to make sure they have every resource needed to be successful. You Know! Aharon Geddis Aharon is appreciated by his teachers as he is a true resource Special Education Para in the classroom. On top of that he seems to be all over the building working with students. He is positive, builds relationships and is a great role model for our kids. He will be a great teacher in the future. Thank you, Aharon! Tierra Poyner Tierra is a non-traditional teacher who has worked tirelessly Science Teacher to complete her licensure. She has done a great job building relationships with her students leading to an actively engaged classroom. Plus, Tierra jumped in at the last minute to coach our volleyball team. Go Tierra!!! White Elementary School PHYSICAL EDUCATION Alex and Brennyn embrace restorative practices, and take TEAM time to develop relationships and empower students. Both Alex Bumgarner have used teacher feedback to make the gym welcoming and Brennyn Pankratz build a positive community. These two PE teachers are a slam Physical Education dunk when it comes to helping students achieve their goals! Teachers Sherri Carter-Marks Ms. Sherri has been retired from the district for years, but Substitute you’d never know it! Since she began at White two years ago, she has charged the atmosphere with her bright and bubbly personality! She does more than just sub-so many things, there is not room to list them all! We love Ms. Sherri! Woodman Elementary ADMINISTRATIVE The office staff at Woodman is nothing short of AMAZING! School ASSISTANTS TEAM Everyone that walks through our doors is greeted with a Trisha Berry smile, a warm welcome and made to feel at home. These Rebecca Garwood ladies work hard and genuinely care about the community Teresa White they serve. They provide excellent customer service on a Administrative Assistants daily basis! 16
Woodman Elementary Julie Nelson Mentor, leader, high expectations, compassionate and caring School 3rd-Grade Teacher are just a few words that describe Julie. She is also knowledgeable, beyond positive, willing to share, and staff looks to her for guidance. She is a shiny star that shines bright on all that know her. She is loved by many. Jacque Randle Jacque is driven by her strong desire to see all students 2nd-Grade Teacher achieve their potential. She always gives 110% and works relentlessly to ensure her students are excelling in everything they do. She has outstanding classroom management and her passion is contagious to all who know her. District Five Good Apples Benton Elementary BENTON ELEMENTARY The Benton PTO team is new this year, but you would never School PTO LEADERSHIP TEAM know it by their consistently high level of commitment and Nancy Estep enthusiasm to grow the partnerships, parent involvement and Alex Beasley family community at Benton. Their fresh approach has meant Sarah Belyeu a lot and we are grateful for their kindness and support. Elizabeth Sanborn Jennifer King The demands placed on a school nurse are varied and at School Nurse times exhaustive. Nurse Jenn handles these demands with unparalleled professionalism, consistency and an undeniable skill that keeps all Benton students, including those in our ALS program safe, healthy and ready to learn. We love Nurse Jenn! Vona Richardson A para must balance changes and building relationships with Paraprofessional students from varied backgrounds and needs. Benton para Vona Richardson consistently commits herself to connecting students to their work and growing their brains. While also contributing to a positive work environment for all Benton staff. Black Traditional Magnet Crystal Belt Crystal Belt surpasses all expectations in the roll of a paraed- Elementary School Paraeducator ucator. She creates resources for Tier 3 students, has ideas on collecting data, she is always cheerful and willing to help in any capacity. Crystal is a model of relationships first and the belief that all kids can learn! Cody McIntyre Cody McIntyre is someone who truly has a heart for serving Pre-K Paraeducator others. Cody stepped in last school year in a time of great need to lead a Pre-K classroom, he continues to be a priceless team member for students as well as our building STS. We are grateful to have Cody at BTM! Dodge Literacy Magnet Ray Bercaw Ray has been a tremendous support to the music program at Elementary School Diamond Collector Dodge Literacy Magnet for about 6 years. He is always finding instruments to donate to our students. He especially finds guitars and amps to help students in our guitar program. He has provided opportunities for students to practice at home. 17
Dodge Literacy Magnet Jessie Harper Hays She is dedicated to providing quality support to all students. Elementary School Paraprofessional She strives to go above and beyond to meet the needs of all students. Nicole Larson She works well with all students to help them be successful Paraprofessional with their behavior and academics. She is flexible with her schedule and willing to jump in and help anyone at any time. She builds relationships with every student she works with and aims to continue the relationship over time. Kensler Elementary Laura Engel Laura has hit the ground running in her first year as a School Counselor counselor. She is an advocate and cheerleader for all and strives to continue to grow and learn in her role. Kensler is lucky to have her! Lisa Prideaux Lisa provides snacks and drinks for our class and donates her Volunteer time every Tuesday helping students on their reading skills. She is a kind and loving presence in our classroom and is known as “Nana” to all of our students. We are fortunate to have a such a great volunteer helping our students! 2ND-GRADE TEAM The 2nd grade team at Kensler strives to provide positive and Shelby Loganbill personal attention to their students. Their hard work and Megan Maggard perseverance as they faced changes and challenges this year Katie Warren are truly an inspiration to others! Heather Weidner 2nd-Grade Teachers Lawrence Elementary Jane Ballard Jane Ballard is a kind, gentle and compassionate nurse who School School Nurse always goes the extra mile! She builds strong relationships and promotes healthy living, so students are ready to learn each day. She rarely misses a day of work and takes on challenges with grace. Jane is a true asset to WPS! ROTARY CLUB OF WEST The Rotary Club of West Wichita has wrapped their arms WICHITA around west side schools including Lawrence Elementary. Vern Klassen They provide support for a variety of needs for our families, President as well as support teachers and students through Allan Sands recognitions, books, bookcases, donations and a variety of Community Service Chair other services. Joe Nero When you look up hard work and great attitude, you could Custodian find a picture of Joe Nero! Joe’s smile and laughter are contagious. He is willing to step up to assist staff, students and families in any way needed. His flexibility, work ethic and integrity make him stand out as an employee. Mayberry Cultural and Judy Jones We have been beyond lucky to have Judy’s energy, kindness, Fine Arts Magnet Middle 6th-Grade Teacher expertise and positivity at Mayberry for the last 31 years! Judy School Jones encompasses everything that we are, we strive to be, and that we are so very proud to say that we are at Mayberry! Judy Jones IS Mayberry! 18
McCollom Elementary Debi Pugh Debi takes her recess duty seriously; she builds relationships School Lunch Aide with the students and knows many of our 400 plus students by name. She makes sure they are safe both physically and mentally, she is quick to give a hug, tissue, Band-Aid or whatever they need. We appreciate you Debi for so many reasons! Sherrie Smith Sherrie makes us laugh even in the most stressful of times. IR Teacher 4-5 She is a dedicated teacher who loves and builds relationships with her students. Sherrie co-teaches, provides CWC and has several students for pull out. Always just a page away if additional assistance is needed, and does so with a smile. Mindi Weidenheimer Dedicated, passionate, trustworthy, creative, loves her IR Teacher K-3 students, always pitches in whenever and where ever help is needed with an enthusiastic attitude and a smile on her face. McCollom is blessed to have Mindi as part of our school family. Peace & Love! Northwest High School FOR THE CULTURE These ladies started a group named For the Culture to give Goldie Davis African-American students at Northwest High a place to be Social Worker heard and where they feel they belong. Serving over 100 Precious Mathenia students, its membership continues to grow as students English Instructor celebrate diversity and gain connections for success beyond Teketa Paschal NWHS. College & Career Center Coordinator OK Elementary School MIXED-ABILITIES PARAS Being a Low Incidence para can hold many challenges that Danielle Evans these two ladies are able to handle with grace and pride. Nadine Guevara Grace that each of their students are trying their hardest Paras SPED Low Incidence and pride when they accomplish what they were asked to do. They each have built important relationships with their students. Kendra Friedberg Kendra is not only part of the OK staff but she is also at Cloud. Interrelated - Elementary She is able to juggle two schools, multiple IEP’s and come to work each day with a smile. Kendra works to find a solution for any barrier that may be in place for a child so that they can be successful in learning and life. Ashlei Matthews With the implementation of SRG this year, Ashlei has taken MTSS Facilitator on the challenge of teaching and coaching the OK staff to be prepared and think teaching practices. We appreciate what Ashlei brings to the OK staff through PD and through her own teaching experiences. Peterson Elementary Sharon Beck Sharon diligently works during the school day to engage her School Teacher students in rigorous lessons. After school, she works with students and staff to ensure that we have a safe and engaging latchkey program. Mrs. Beck is definitely an intricate part of the Peterson Community. 19
Peterson Elementary Diane Harman Diane is a dedicated and passionate educator. Her School Teacher relationships with students and families are admirable. Mrs. Harman meets the educational needs of her students in the classroom and ensures that students have opportunities to volunteer within our community. LEADERSHIP TEAM Our team works diligently to ensure the alignment of Penny Blattner Peterson’s vision and beliefs throughout our community. D’Ann Davis They analyze data, plan family and staff engagement events, Emily Foltz meet the needs of their students throughout the school day, Monica Martens plus countless other day-to-day tasks to ensure student Paula Waterbury success. Teachers Jeri Carson MTSS Facilitator Amanda McCurdy Counselor Wilbur Middle School Scarlett Mora Scarlett has worked diligently to make a seamless transition 6th-Grade Teacher to SRG’s and write curriculum for the Science Dept. She is a professional in every way, supporting the vision of the district and school and effectively communicates all information to her team and department. Thank you, Scarlett! Jacinda Roberts Jacinda is a fabulous librarian. She works with staff and Librarian students to find books they will enjoy, even for those students who say they hate reading. She brings in authors to speak to students and has made our library a safe space for everyone. She is a joy to work with and we greatly appreciate her. District Six Good Apples Chisholm Trail Elementary Bri Hanson Bri Hanson is always going above and beyond during PD days. School Art Teacher She is a team player and an uplifting coworker. She has the greatest connections with students and staff. Her smile is contagious and can brighten any room. CTE is so grateful to have such an amazing art teacher. Tracy Henderson Tracy has gone above and beyond the job of the average Assistant Para assistant para. She has been a constant rock and support system for our students and staff. She is kind, caring and compassionate. She always puts student needs first. Our school is so lucky to have her as she has been a SUPERHERO this year. Cloud Elementary School Emily Kaspar Emily shows genuine love and care for each and every Kindergarten Teacher student in her class. She focuses on academics while teaching them great values and how to be a good person. Her room is inviting and colorful which makes for a safe, calm learning environment. All of her efforts are noticed and appreciated. 20
Cloud Elementary School Gloria Pitts Gloria is relentless in advocating for students. She is ESOL Teacher constantly striving to be their cheerleader, their motivator, their North Star. Her support for classroom teachers is unending. Her work ethic is phenomenal, never taking a day off, always present for all. Seven staff members nominated Gloria. Jo Verkinderen Jo consistently works to ensure that students are receiving Reading Interventionist appropriate instruction. She differentiates to ensure students experience success. Her passion for literacy and reading is only surpassed by her passion to teach and connect with students. We are so lucky to have her at Cloud! Earhart Environmental Kim Pope Former Earhart parent, Brad Wooster has been volunteering Magnet Elementary Brad Wooster for camp since 2003! He has continued to tent camp 3 days Former parents/Current and 2 nights, twice a year, to support the 4th and 5th graders. grandparents His wife, Kim Pope joined him in 2010. Between the two, they have logged over 50 camps. Thank you! Rachel Schober Rachel has helped so many kids throughout her years as a Volunteer volunteer at Earhart. She volunteers to hold key support roles at her child’s camps, makes treats for kids on all occasions, like Kansas’ birthday, and helps on days that we have special events going on. She helps make Earhart a special place. Isely Traditional Magnet KANSAS OPPORTUNITY Mariam Jensen, LMFT, and Freida Andrews make-up our KOSP Elementary School SUPPORT PROGRAM team at Isely. They are solution oriented and work alongside TEAM staff to find the best results for kids. Through care, support Freida Andrews and empathy everyone grows by working with our KOSP Behavioral Health School team! Liaison Mariam Jensen ComCare Therapist Kelly Cleary Kelly Cleary has many impressive qualities but the one that 2nd-Grade Teacher stands out is the ability to remain calm in stressful situations and always smile when smiling can be hard. On tough days, Kelly is the first one to pick up a teammate and help carry them through the day with helpful advice and ideas. Addison Kingrey Addison Kingrey’s efforts in the Mixed Abilities program are Mixed Abilities Para highly conducive to the student progress in academics, socialization and life skills. Miss Addi brings joy to our students’ faces by celebrating their success with them, caring for them and most of all…believing in them. Marshall Middle School Jennifer Davis Jennifer Davis is a recipient of the Good Apple because of Instructional Coach her abilities to work with teachers, especially with the new Language Arts curriculum. Jennifer always makes time for teachers during their plan and team times. She goes into their classrooms and observes, giving them constructive feedback. 21
Marshall Middle School Rebekah Forsyth Rebekah Forsyth is a recipient of the Good Apple because of Instructional Coach her abilities to work with teachers, especially with the SRG. Rebekah always makes time for teachers during their plan and team times. She helps teachers develop plans and ties the curriculum into the SRG and organizes incentive awards. McLean Science/Tech Janell Carr Janell is so loved by her students and staff! Janell is a great Magnet Elementary Interrelated Teacher team member, and always willing to step in and help when needed. She is a great mentor to others. Her calm demeanor is always a breath of fresh air and an inspiration to others! We feel Janell is deserving of this fabulous honor! FIRST GRADE TEAM 30 years. These ladies have been an amazing team, educating Donna Lee young minds together for the last 30 years. More than 1300 Joann Randall children have learned the love of reading and how to be a 1st-Grade Teachers better human through their work. Their teamwork, friendship, and dedication to McLean are second to none. We love them! Brandon Phillips Brandon has made such a positive impact on McLean Paraprofessional students! He is kind, caring and is a great mentor to the students at McLean. Joy radiates in the students’ faces when they talk and interact with him and you can see the strength in the relationships he builds to help all students reach their dreams. North High School Mike Long Mike goes out of his way to make sure teachers and Technololgy Teacher coaches are communicated with great detail. Athletic events are successful due to Mike’s hard work and dedication. Mike is friendly and dependable and makes sure his students and players feel like they are the most important people in the room. Regina Rorabaugh Regina is a positive, inspirational, motivating leader at North Math Teacher High. She is well-respected and trusted by teachers, students, and parents. Her classroom is always full of life. She is the embodiment of someone who leads by doing, paving the way for the success of everyone at North High. Northeast Magnet High Philip Creasser-Taylor Mr. Taylor is the drama and vocal music teacher at Northeast School Teacher Magnet. He consistently inspires students to do great work in all of his productions. Plus, he builds outstanding relationships with his students and his colleagues. Ashley Jacobs As a special education teacher at Northeast Magnet, Ashley Teacher does an excellent job of meeting the needs of her students. She has high expectations for all. As a result, students exhibit tremendous growth in her classes and take pride in the work they do. Susan Meyer As our assessment and data leader, Susan Meyer does a great Data/Assessment Leader job at Northeast Magnet. She is organized and creative. Her plan to handle our assessments is always good, but this year it has been exceptional. 22
Pleasant Valley DREAM TEAM Both ladies stepped in to help a long term sub for an entire Elementary School Tami Meier semester: making lesson plans, providing instruction, grading ESOL Teacher student work using the proficiency scales, as well as, inputting Suzanne Broddle data into the OTUS system-all in addition to their regular jobs. Reading Intervention All in the interest of what’s best for kids. Teacher Pleasant Valley Middle Michelle Mueller Mrs. Mueller is the quintessential embodiment of a School Nurse model school nurse. She not only serves the medical needs of students but also their social emotional needs. The expertise that she shares at Child Study Team and during IEP’s is excellent. She is highly valued by all at PVMS. Riverside Leadership Carol Kilbhane Mrs. Kilbane is committed to Riverside. She is the best Magnet Elementary Substitute Teacher substitute we could ask for. She drops everything to come in and support the staff who are absent or need to leave in an emergency. She uses that teacher’s plan time to volunteer to help other teachers who may need an extra hand. We’re blessed! Robin Neas Mrs. Neas works hard every day to ensure that her students 2nd-Grade Teacher are making great gains. She strives to learn everything she can about our standards and scales to help her students be their best. She upholds the beliefs that are important to our school and community. She is a wonderful colleague and friend. Stucky Middle School Jayla Fergel Ms. Fergel provides a positive environment where every 6th-Grade Math Teacher student not only learns but enjoys learning. Students feel safe to make mistakes and are encouraged to support each other. It is not possible to listen to her lessons and not learn and feel successful. She is an inspiration to all! Judy Hankins Ms. Judy is an awesome bookkeeper! We appreciate her Bookkeeper attention to detail, excellent customer service, and genuine care for students, staff and families. She is always professional and efficient. We will miss her greatly as she begins her retirement in June. Thank you, Ms. Judy! Janelle Zluticky New this year to Stucky Middle School, Ms. Zluticky has not 8th-Grade ELA Teacher missed a beat! She has provided her students with a structured and rigorous learning environment that fosters accountability and engagement. She has also helped many students in understanding their worth through mindfulness activities. Woodland Health and Payton Calabria Ms. C is everything a Good Apple recipient should be! She is Wellness Magnet 1st-Grade Teacher one of the most loving teachers in our building and would do Elementary anything for her kids. Ms. C has a contagious positive attitude and puts so much effort into everything she does in her classroom. She is truly a first year teaching rock star! 23
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