Other Kansas schools, districts recognized for character development

Two Kansas elementary schools are being recognized for their focus on strong character development.

Kansas State Board of Education members received an update from the Kansas Graduation Requirements Task Force on Tuesday, May 10.

Six other students named semifinalists

Three Kansas students are being recognized as 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholars by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.

Awards given during National Child Nutrition Conference in New Orleans

Two Kansas Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsors received national recognition for their hard work and dedication to child nutrition.

Megan Morgan, a library and media specialist at Oliver Brown Elementary School, Manhattan-Ogden Unified School District 383, was awarded a $25,000 Milken Educator Award on Tuesday, April 26, for her work as an enthusiastic advocate for reading and literacy.

Challenge encourages employer-supported volunteering

Ten Kansas employers have registered for the second annual Give Back Kansas Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to engage Kansans in employer-supported volunteering. This annual event is a partnership between the Kansas Volunteer Commission and Volunteer Kansas and runs from April 18 through June 10, 2022.

Ryan Pfeifer, a science educator at Washburn Rural High School, Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437, received a $25,000 Milken Educator Award for his alternative approach to teaching science during a surprise assembly Tuesday, April 26, in Topeka.

Nominations now being accepted for next Kansas LEADS Conference in June

Connection, laughter and learning were all a part of the first Kansas LEADS (Linking Educators Across Districts) Conference that took place earlier this month in the Wichita area. This free event geared toward educators of all grade levels and content areas was the first in a series of conferences that will take place during the next three years, organizers said.

The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 92 schools as recipients of the 2021 Challenge Awards.

Dr. Mischel Miller, director of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Teacher Licensure and Accreditation (TLA) team, told Kansas State Board of Education members during their April meeting it may take some “out-of-the-box thinking” when it comes to teacher staffing shortages.