• Dogwood Elementary
• Hawthorne Elementary
• Kearney Early Education Center
• Kearney Middle School
• Kearney Junior High
• Kearney High School
• Southview Elementary

These awards recognize the top 15 percent of food service providers overseen by the county. In addition, Dogwood, the EEC, KHS and Southview earned Gold Standard Awards for earning the Food Safety Excellence Award three years or more in a row.

Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) provides all services in KSD’s school cafeterias. SFE’s KSD staff is led by Director of Food Service Angie Lyman.

“Congratulations to Angie and the entire SFE team for their outstanding diligence and hard work on behalf of our students, staff members and visitors,” Superintendent Emily Miller said. “This is another example of how we go above and beyond to serve our families.”

The Food Safety Excellence Award recognizes food establishments that continue to successfully follow the Clay County Food Code, exhibit outstanding food safety and sanitation practices, and achieve exceptional inspection results during the calendar year, according to a press release from the public health center. To qualify for the award, honorees must meet multiple criteria such as having been open and operating for the full year with no repeated violations, no follow-up inspections needed, and no confirmed cases of foodborne illnesses.

“We are grateful for the hard work these establishments put in last year to not only meet but exceed the health department’s high standards of safety,” said Robert Gilliland, section chief of Environmental Health Protection. “We appreciate their partnership in protecting our community from foodborne illnesses, waterborne illnesses and other hazards.”

In 2023, the Environmental Health Protection section of Clay County Public Health Center conducted 1,530 routine food establishment inspections and 297 temporary food event inspections, and investigated 114 food-related complaints.

The post Several KSD Schools Honored for Food Safety Excellence appeared first on Kearney School District.

Kearney, Mo., May 24, 2023: Kearney School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Dan Miller as the new principal at Kearney Middle School.

Dr. Miller will transition from his current position as an Assistant Principal at Kearney High School starting on July 1. His appointment was approved during a special session yesterday by the Kearney School District Board of Education on the recommendation of Superintendent Emily Miller (no relation).

“Dr. Miller brings with him a wealth of experience, a passion for education, and a commitment to student success,” Dr. Emily Miller said. “His leadership skills and dedication to creating a positive school culture make him an ideal fit for the KMS community. Dr. Miller’s collaborative approach and his ability to build strong relationships with students, staff, and families make him a dynamic and inspiring leader.”

He recently earned a Doctorate of Education from William Woods University. That was in addition to his bachelor’s degree in education from Missouri State University, a master’s in educational administration from William Woods and a specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

As an assistant principal at KHS since 2018, Dr. Miller successfully implemented various initiatives to enhance student engagement and academic achievement. Before that, he taught social studies and led the department at KHS starting in 2010. His skills in the classroom led to a 2015 Northland Regional Excellence in Education Award nomination.

As principal, Dr. Miller’s primary focus will be to foster a supportive learning environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. He is deeply committed to promoting a culture of academic excellence, while also nurturing the social-emotional growth of each student. With a steadfast dedication to inclusivity and open communication, Dr. Miller aims to foster strong partnerships with parents, guardians, and the wider community to ensure the success of every child.

“I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to serve Kearney Middle School as principal next school year,” Dr. Miller said. “I have watched this building from afar during my time in Kearney and have always admired the strong culture and outstanding teachers. I look forward to getting into KMS to learn the middle school philosophy and build relationships with students, staff, and parents. Go Bulldogs!”

Dr. Miller’s appointment is the result of current KMS Principal Bart Woods’ recent retirement announcement. Mr. Woods has been a member of Team KSD for nearly three decades. In that time, he has helped generations of students successfully navigate those often-challenging middle school years. He has also mentored uncounted teachers and school leaders. Everyone in KSD is deeply grateful for his service to our entire community. Mr. Woods will always be part of the Bulldog family.

We warmly welcome Dr. Miller to the KMS family and have no doubt that he will contribute significantly to the school’s continued growth and success. Dr. Miller will be making himself available to meet with staff, parents/guardians and students in the summer and fall to introduce himself and share his vision for the school.

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Kearney, Mo., November 10, 2022: Not being able to see was an eye-opening experience for Kearney Middle School seventh-grader Peter Jensen.

Mr. Jensen wore a ski mask with taped-over lenses and attempted to strike a kickball under the guidance of his maskless partner in the KMS gym on Monday, Oct. 31. The exercise proved challenging, but that was part of the point. It was all part of a two-day program to provide every student with the experience of playing sports adapted for individuals with special needs.

“This was difficult, for sure,” Jensen said. “It’s valuable because it helps you feel what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes, someone with special needs. It also helps you learn how to rely on your other senses.”

The program was led by staff members with Midwest Adaptive Sports, which is headquartered in Dearborn, Mo. The non-profit organization is primarily focused on positively impacting the lives of those with physical, cognitive, emotional or behavioral challenges through adaptive recreational and competitive sports.

After KMS PE teacher Troy Resler shepherded a flock of seventh graders into one corner of the gym, Midwest Adaptive Sports President Stan Weston talked them through what they were about the experience and why it was important.

“That little word, ‘adapt:’ it means, ‘to change.’ We help people who need things changed a little bit in order to enjoy these sports,” Mr. Weston said. “We’re here to show you how easy it is to do something good for somebody, to make a small change that makes a big difference. And they don’t have to be special needs. You can do something good for anybody.”

One group of students was taught how to play basketball while in wheelchairs, under the guidance of Midwest Adaptive Sports Wheelchair Basketball Director Matt Bollig. The other group played blind kickball, with Weston showing them how to follow the directions of their sighted helpers and to use audio signals – loud clapping and ringing made by other students – to locate the bases.

Kearney School District Physical Therapist Anne Hayter invited Coach Weston and his staff to lead the program at KMS in order to help the students learn how to engage positively with classmates who have special needs. She had significant support from KMS PE teacher Kristen Campbell.

“We know that one of the best ways of building empathy and understanding is to have students get a sense of what people with special needs experience every day,” Ms. Hayter said. “This Midwest Adaptive Sports program is perfect because it’s fun but also very effective. You can see that these kids really get it, and that awareness will impact how they interact with their classmates moving forward.”

Visit www.midwestadaptivesports.org to learn more about the program available through Midwest Adaptive Sports.

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Kearney, Mo., November 9, 2022: Kearney School District students Marshal Johnson and Tristen Holt have demonstrated authoritatively that Bulldogs play well with horses.

Mr. Johnson, a sixth grader at Kearney Middle School, and Ms. Holt, a ninth grader at Kearney Junior High School, each walked away with national awards after participating in the United Professional Horsemen’s Association’s Exceptional Challenge Cup on Tuesday, Nov. 8 during the American Royal Horse Show at Hale Arena.

The UPHA Exceptional Challenge Cup was established in 1998 for physically and mentally handicapped riders. The first National Championship was held at the 1999 American Royal Horse Show in Kansas City, according to the association.

Johnson earned the Reserve Champion award in the level three division, among several other honors. Holt garnered the same award in the level five division. This was the first time either rider had competed in any equestrian event.

A soft-spoken though clearly proud Johnson reflected for a couple of seconds when asked how it felt to be a national champion. He brought his ribbons and trophies to school that day to share the good news with his KMS classmates.

“It feels good because it takes a lot of work to learn how to handle a horse like that,” he said. “It’s helped me learn to be a lot more confident in other areas of my life. That feels important.”

Holt was similarly humble during her interview at KJH.

“I know this is important, but I do it because I really enjoy it,” she said. “When the award was announced, I could hear my family clapping and yelling. They made a big deal out of it.”

This accomplishment is indeed a big deal. The competition involves mounting an American Saddlebred horse that can reach several feet tall and weigh about 1200 pounds and then guiding these animals through a series of maneuvers in front of judges in the arena.

Both Johnson and Holt said their favorite thing to do with the horse is “trotting.” This requires the students to prompt the horse with verbal clicks and gentle kicks to canter at a lively though controlled pace while demonstrating excellent riding technique.

“I like trotting because I like the speed and running,” Holt said. “I got involved in horse riding five years ago because I just love getting together with friends and going on long rides together with my horse, Rusty. The best part is when you can let your horse run.”

Johnson has only been riding for about a year, but is already hooked. He always looks forward to spending time with Zep, the horse he typically works with.

“My little sister rode horses. I saw her ride and thought it looked fun,” Johnson said. “This is definitely something that I would encourage other students like me to get involved with.”

Johnson and Holt are part of the competition team that represented the Northland Therapeutic Riding Center at the UPHA event. The center is located in Holt and is focused on improving the quality of life for persons with special needs through equine-assisted activities and therapies. Learn more at www.ntrcmo.org.

The post KSD Students Earn National Horse-Riding Awards appeared first on Kearney School District.

Kearney Special Olympics needs Bowling Buddies to support our student-athletes during their upcoming season. Bowling Buddies can be sixth-graders or older. This is a great opportunity for a student to earn community service hours and build their resumé. Most importantly, these volunteers help our Olympians achieve their goals.

Anyone interested in serving as a Bowling Buddy should complete the form linked below. The application deadlines have been extended, but not for long. Questions should be directed to GiGi Leighr at leighrg@ksdr1.net.

LINK: Special Olympics Bowling Buddy Application

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Kearney, Mo., June 2, 2022: Kearney School District is welcoming home one of its own and lifting one of its own up into new leadership positions.

The KSD Board of Education formally approved the appointment of Dr. Amy Baugh as the Principal of the Early Education Center (EEC) on May 18.

Kearney Elementary School Principal Mitch Masker currently splits a portion of his time at the EEC. Dr. Baugh’s arrival will allow both buildings to have fully dedicated administrators.

“I’m very pleased that Dr. Baugh is joining our team of school leaders,” Interim Superintendent Todd White said. “She has outstanding experience and skills, and she already loves the Kearney community. This is a great addition and we’re all excited to see her take our early education program to the next level.”

Baugh earned two bachelor’s degrees from Northwest Missouri State University, a master’s degree from the University of Missouri and an Ed.D. in leadership and learning from Aspen University. She started her public education career as a special education teacher for nearly five years in KSD.

“I am honored to have this opportunity to serve the staff, students and parents of the Kearney Early Education Center and the greater district community,” Dr. Baugh said. “I feel tremendously blessed to be returning to the district I remember so fondly as the foundation of my career in education.”

She spent five years focused on teaching students with autism in Park Hill School District before becoming a Process Coordinator for Smithville School District in 2017. That job demands mastery of a wide range of complex procedures, rules and regulations generally related to providing services for students who need special education or who are considered at-risk. This experience will be particularly important at the EEC, where the Acorn Patch program includes many students who qualify for those types of services. Baugh’s work in Smithville earned her the school district’s 2021 Excellence in Support of Education Award.

“This position is a dream for me,” Baugh said. “It combines my years of experience in special education with my passion for supporting staff and students to achieve their goals.”

The school board also approved the selection of Brian Webster as the new Assistant Principal for Kearney Middle School. Mr. Webster is currently a sixth-grade math teacher at KMS, a position he’s held for more than 15 years. Before that, he taught science at the school. He spent the first two years of his career as a fifth-grade teacher in Excelsior Springs School District.

“Brian will be able to hit the ground running as our new assistant principal because he’s already a part of the KMS team,” Principal Bart Woods said. “He’s got great relationships with our students, families and staff.”

Current KMS Assistant Principal Erek Noland was recently tapped for the new Director of Operations position. After about two decades in classrooms at KMS, Webster felt fully prepared for the shift to school leadership.

“At this point in my career, I felt the time was right for me to transition into an administrative role,” Webster said. “For this leadership role to occur at Kearney Middle School is an amazing opportunity since I have spent the majority of my career at the middle school level in Kearney.”

Webster earned his bachelor’s degree from William Jewell College, a Master of Education Administration from Park University and an advanced specialist degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

The post A Bulldog Comes Back to Lead Early Education Center appeared first on Kearney School District.

Kearney, Mo., April 25, 2022: A fierce and talented corps of Kearney Middle School students proved they know how to build an education while breakings things apart.

“Chosen One,” a robot designed, built and operated by KMS students, battled its way to fifth place during the BotsKC 2022 competition on April 22-23 at Rockhurst High School. The Bulldogs were the only middle schoolers at the event, and they faced down an impressive field of high school teams. A second KMS robot, named “Wall-E,” also participated in the event and took 19th out of 26 squads.

“When you think about the fact that this was our very first battle ‘bot competition and our kids were facing high schoolers, this is an outstanding result,” Activity Advisor Mindy Gray said. “Everybody on our team won at least one match, which is great for those students and a fantastic way to launch a new activity!”

Ms. Gray and fellow Activity Advisor Tricia Mendel had both wanted to create a BotsKC team for some time. They had some previous experience with Lego robot competitions, but thought that their middle school students would enjoy the intensity of the battle-oriented machines that are used for BotsKC events.

“Battle ‘bots” are designed with defensive armor and offensive tools designed to disable their opponent machines. Two machines face each other in an enclosed arena while being operated by team members.

The KMS squad was launched last fall after Gray and Mendel selected 12 team members from the 42 students who had applied. Manufacturing Engineer Jeff Carlson of Martinrea International volunteered to help guide the team members as they designed and built their robots.

“The whole process was a great learning experience for our students,” Mendel said. “They learned a lot about teamwork, workflow, time management and accountability. Those are lessons that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

The KMS activity advisors are particularly proud of the fact that their squad had more girls – three – than nearly any other team at the BotsKC competition.

“Our girls did very well,” Gray said. “They weren’t bashful at all. And they are all sixth graders, which means they will be returning next year and serving as mentors for the new students who join the team next year.”

BotsKC aligns directly with Kearney School District’s Real World Learning program, according to Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw. The Kansas City National Tooling and Machining Association started BotsKC to encourage and prepare students to pursue high-quality careers in manufacturing in this region. Visit botskc.org to learn more.

BotsKC 2022 Competition Video Coverage:

Day 1 Livestream

Day 2 Livestream

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Kearney, Mo., March 28, 2022:  Kearney School District is ready to celebrate the very best of Team Bulldogs.

The following KSD staff members have been selected to receive 2022 Teacher of the Year Awards or Support Staff of the Year Awards for their schools:

2022 Teacher of the Year Awards

• Dogwood Elementary School – Cami Aebersold (Counselor)
• Hawthorne Elementary School – Amanda Timmer (Dynamic Learning Center Teacher)
• Kearney Elementary School – Beth Pickle (Second Grade)
• Southview Elementary School/LENS – Danica Ballard (Kindergarten at Southview)
• Kearney Middle School – Brad Wollard (Math)
• Kearney Junior High School – Tanner Wendel (Special Education)
• Kearney High School – Dustin McKinney (Vocal Music)
• Kearney Early Education Center – Sara Woods (Early Childhood Special Education)

2022 Support Staff of the Year Awards

• Dogwood Elementary School – John “Rocky” Holsten (Custodian)
• Hawthorne Elementary School – Syndee Johnson (Paraprofessional)
• Kearney Elementary School – Lori Walker (Nurse)
• Southview Elementary School/LENS – Kim Watkins (Nurse)
• Kearney Middle School – Candice Walker (Nurse)
• Kearney Junior High School – Kim Evans (Administrative Assistant)
• Kearney High School – Melissa Stokes (Nurse)
• Central Office – Doug Sublett (Facilities Manager)

This year’s award recipients were selected by their co-workers and school leaders from a list of nominees submitted by students, parents/guardians and community members. The award selections were based on the nominee’s excellence in service to students, parents/guardians, co-workers and the community.

All of KSD’s school-level award recipients will be recognized during the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Banquet on Tuesday, April 26 at the KCI Expo Center.

“Our school staff members are world-class across the board, so these award recipients truly represent the best of the best,” Interim Superintendent Todd White said. “We are grateful for their extraordinary service on behalf of our students and families, and we ask the entire community to join us in celebrating these public educators.”

The 2022 school-level award recipients are now in consideration for the district-level Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year awards. KSD will announce those honorees on Friday, April 1, along with the Volunteer of the Year and Business Partner of the Year award winners.

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Amid an uptick in fatal and near-fatal overdoses linked to the recreational use of pills laced with fentanyl, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Community Drug Education Summit in partnership with the Kearney School District.

The summit will begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 28 in the auditorium at Kearney High School, 715 E. 19th St.

“The overdoses we’re seeing lately – especially among young people – are unacceptable,” Sheriff Will Akin said. “We want to do everything we can to educate our community about what’s happening, and how it can be prevented and treated.”

In addition to detectives from the Sheriff’s Office’s Drug Squad, the summit will feature addiction prevention and treatment resources from community partners like Tri-County Mental Health and Signature Psychiatric. New at this summit: a mother who lost her son to a fentanyl-laced pill will share her experience.

After the presentation portion, attendees will be invited to meet with detectives, deputies and treatment providers to ask questions or get help one-on-one.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a rare public alert in September 2021 about counterfeit prescription medications laced with fentanyl. In 2021, the DEA seized more than 20 million counterfeit pills, which was more than the last two years combined. These pills are widely available on social media and e-commerce platforms. Most concerning, the DEA found that 42% of pills seized (or 2 out of every 5) contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. These pills look like genuine prescription drugs and cannot be distinguished by appearance alone. Around the country, fentanyl also has been found in other illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

In 2021, The Sheriff’s Office Drug Squad investigated more than a dozen overdose cases involving fentanyl-laced pills and nine deaths. They investigated just two overdose deaths in all of 2020.

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Kearney, Mo., February 17, 2022: Kearney High School senior Keyton Ramsey knows how to engineer an education.

Mr. Ramsey was one of several KHS students who gave Kearney Middle School sixth-graders a glimpse this week of the opportunities they’ll have to prepare for careers in engineering and medical fields as part of Kearney School District’s Project Lead the Way (PLTW) program.

“Take some time to learn about these types of programs,” Keyton told students in Ulrike Hayes’ broadcast media class. “There are some great options and experiences, and you might be surprised by what you end up loving.”

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Schools across the district are all doing career-related activities, according to KSD Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw.

“The PLTW Biomedical and Engineering students have been speaking to the sixth graders this week about the programs and careers and they have been doing a phenomenal job,” Ms. Holtzclaw said. “It’s exciting to see how our students and staff are really embracing the spirit of what we’re trying to do this month.”

School librarians have created displays of career preparation books. Seventh graders are learning about planning and all of the BeyondKSD opportunities available to them in high school. KJHS and KHS students are watching exploratory videos with professionals from a variety of fields.

“This is really about helping our students build a bridge between what they are learning in their classes and their future careers,” Holtzclaw said.

Students have a number of clearly delineated career pathways they can explore when they reach KHS. Those pathways include classes and experiences in digital arts and media, healthcare, construction, engineering and advanced manufacturing, agriculture, marketing and management, and public service.

Career pathways are part of a wider Real World Learning initiative to provide market value assets for every KHS graduate. Those assets can include industry-recognized credentials such as a Certified Nursing Assistant license or Adobe certifications.

Keyton talked about how following the engineering pathway and taking PLTW classes taught him how to design and build a contraption to carry all the tools he uses between jobs for his lawn care business. Ms. Hayes’ students passed around a three-dimensional drawing as he described the process of conception to construction. His experience in the PLTW program at KHS has put him in a position to study engineering at Kansas State University starting this fall.

“This is why education is important,” he said. “You’re learning how to turn your ideas into reality.”

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