Kearney, Mo., April 30, 2025: On April 28, Kearney High School hosted a special appreciation luncheon to recognize and thank local businesses and professionals who generously supported high school student internships throughout the year.

The event brought together internship hosts, students, and staff for an afternoon of celebration, reflection, and gratitude. Guests enjoyed a light lunch while viewing student-created tri-fold portfolios, which showcased the variety of internship experiences, learning outcomes, and professional skills developed during the program.

A highlight of the luncheon was the student spotlight speeches, where selected interns – Caroline Jury, Lauren Rose and Venus Closser – shared personal stories and insights about their internship journeys. These speeches provided a meaningful glimpse into the impact the program had on their career exploration and personal growth.

“This luncheon is a small way to say a big ‘thank you’ to the mentors and organizations who invest their time and expertise into our students,” KHS Internship Teacher Alyssa Stevens said. “Our community partners play a vital role in preparing students for future careers.”

This year’s internship partners included:

The internship program continues to grow each year, providing students with valuable real-world experience in a wide range of fields. The school looks forward to continuing its strong partnerships with local businesses and expanding opportunities for student success.

For more information about the internship program or how to become a host partner, please contact Stacy Holtzclaw at holtzclaws@ksdr1.net.

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Kearney, Mo., December 4, 2024: A great education can start by learning that a German dog says, “wau wau.”

A group of foreign language students from Kearney High School visited classrooms at all four Kearney School District elementary schools today. The teens led 20-minute lessons in Spanish and German for the younger students.

Beth Pickle’s second graders at Kearney Elementary learned about how Christmas is celebrated in Spain and then sang the traditional “Feliz Navidad” song in Spanish; that was followed by a lesson on the names of various animals in German and how they sound in that language. Similar scenes played out at Hawthorne, Dogwood and Southview elementary schools.

This “sociocultural project” was conceived of by KHS foreign language teachers Stacey Getz and Brittini Starzl as a creative way to help their students earn a Seal of Biliteracy when they graduate, according to KSD Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw.

“In the past, our students have completed essays as part of the process of qualifying for the Seal of Biliteracy,” Mrs. Holtzclaw said. “This year, instead, they did cultural research, developed lesson plans and visited the elementary schools to share their knowledge with those students.”

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation, according to the coalition that created the program. The goal is to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual.

A Seal of Biliteracy is a valuable credential for students as they pursue their college and career goals. It is considered a Market Value Asset (MVA) under Kearney School District’s Real World Learning initiative; all graduates will be required to have an MVA to graduate starting with the Class of 2025.

In addition, a number of colleges, universities and businesses offer incentives for students who have earned the seal. At Missouri State University, for instance, students with the seal can earn foreign language credits without having to take those classes.

Having the high school students teach at the elementary schools also helps nurture interest in studying foreign languages among younger classes, Holtzclaw added, and aligns with KSD’s goal to foster future public educators.

LINK: KHS Seal of Biliteracy Sociocultural Lessons Photos

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Kearney, Mo., May 9, 2024: In the spirit of spring, Kearney School District is planting seeds to grow teachers from Bulldog soil.

KSD continued the implementation of its “Grow Your Own” program this school year to provide significant financial support to help students and staff members pursue high-demand career opportunities as public educators. These efforts are all part of the district’s long-term strategic goal to fill all open positions and retain at least 90 percent of our staff.

“We believe that it’s important to develop the next generation of public educators,” Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Zach McMains said. “We do things a little differently here in KSD, and our performance speaks for itself.  Imagine a future where our incredible students are not just great learners but also great teachers, passing on our culture of excellence to generations to come. Our vision is to nurture and empower our students to become the best version of themselves!”

Dr. McMains credited Kearney High School teacher Mendy Salmonson for her leadership of the district’s Grow Your Own program. This initiative culminated with a “Future Educators Signing Day” event hosted by Ms. Salmonson and held on Tuesday, May 7, at Kearney High School. At this event, five KHS seniors were each awarded $600 scholarships to pursue teaching degrees at the colleges and universities of their choice. 

KSD’s 2024 Grow Your Own Scholarship recipients included:

• Aubrey Boguske – Park University
• Madison Gartin-Schwab – Northwest Missouri State University
• Jaden Hensley – Metropolitan Community College 
• Samantha Swafford – Northwest Missouri State University
• Abigail Wymore – Metropolitan Community College

Those five scholarship recipients and four other students were all part of Ms. Salmonson’s Education Internship class. KSD paid $3,564 this school year for those nine students to earn dual college credit from the University of Central Missouri. The district also covered the cost for Ms. Wymore and Ms. Hensley to take and pass the paraprofessional certification exam, plus fingerprinting and background checks.

“It’s been great to start equipping all of these students with the skills they will need to become great public educators,” Salmonson said. “I’m so excited to see what they accomplish. Our students are our future and we need to make this investment.”

In addition to planting the seeds for future educators among KHS students, KSD lifted up our current team members by granting $1,200 college scholarships each to paraprofessionals Kari Dingus of Kearney Elementary and Penny Dunker of Hawthorne Elementary that they will use to earn their teaching certifications.

This KSD program was fully funded with a $10,000 “Grow Your Own” grant from Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The state provided $2.5 million in one-time aid to 125 Local Education Agencies last winter to support these types of initiatives. KSD’s grant proposal was written by Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp.

“Investing in young teachers isn’t just about education; it’s an investment in the future of our society,” Mrs. Kopp said. “By nurturing their potential, we shape generations to come, fostering innovation, empathy, and progress.”

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Thirty-eight KHS FBLA members participated in this competition. Students competed in a variety of events that included testing, performances, interviews, and role-play case studies.

Some current KHS medalists may also move into state qualifying positions over the next couple of days as more saturated events open up wild-card qualifications.

State Qualifiers:

• Lia Wilson – 1st Advertising, 2nd Job Interview, 2nd Marketing
• Avery Aller – 2nd Marketing, 3rd Public Policy and Advocacy
• Amanda Tran – 2nd Networking Infrastructures
• Kenzie Coble – 4th Personal Finance
• Kieran Creedan – 3rd Computer Problem Solving, 1st Website Design
• Tanner Brock – 1st Website Design
• Nathan Wolfer – 3rd Human Resource Management
• Gavin Warren – 5th Human Resource Management
• Charity Smith – 3rd Intro to Business Concepts
• Josie Quick – 2nd Intro to Business Procedures
• Travis Jarrett – 4th Intro to Business Procedures

Straight to State Competitors:

• Avery Janiak and Jane Martens – Visual Design
• Manny Linthacum, Canton Woods, JP Filger – MIS
• Avery Aller – Future Business Leader
• JoJo Kutch – Electronic Career Portfolio

Medalists:

• JP Filger – 9th Sports and Entertainment Management
• Canton Woods – 9th Sports and Entertainment Management
• Finn Simmons – 6th Journalism, 5th Banking and Finance
• Cadence Modin -5th Banking and Finance
• Malarie Sheley – 10th Agribusiness, 6th Impromptu Speaking
• Cecilia Roth – 8th Business Law
• Tanner Brock – 8th Computer Problem Solving
• Emily Stokes – 6th Healthcare Admin
• Lauren Karel – 10th Intro to Business Concepts, 6th Intro to Financial Math
• Tatum Gregory – 8th Intro to FBLA

Congratulations to all of these outstanding Bulldogs!

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Kearney, Mo., May 11, 2023: Dogwood Elementary School students are proving to be very savvy investors.

The SIFMA Foundation recently announced that fifth graders at Dogwood had earned the top two spots at the elementary school level of the Spring 2023 “Stock Market Game” competitions in Missouri. Dogwood’s first-place team included Gavin Smith, Aiden Boever and Brig Hung; the second-place team included Penny Hall and London Goodwin.

Dogwood’s fifth-grade teachers held a celebration and awards ceremony for their students on Wednesday, April 10.

“I am so proud of our teams!” teacher Lindsey Thomas said. “All of you worked incredibly hard and got great results.”

Students participating in SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market Game learn first-hand the value of long-term investing via an online educational program used by Missouri teachers to boost students’ math, economics, and personal finance knowledge, while also improving their test scores and instilling essential skills for financially independent futures.

“The Stock Market Game is a great example of how we are integrating Real World Learning at our elementary schools,” Kearney School District Elementary Curriculum Coordinator Ali Stewart said. “This is the kind of authentic education that our students are experiencing every day.”

Playing individually or in teams of up to five, students use a simulation with an imaginary investment of $100,000 to trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds on the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. Students conduct research and follow global news that can impact financial markets, then place trades in real time via computer or the SMG smartphone app, competing with peers in their classroom and with teams across the state to increase their portfolio value.

“Congratulations to all the student teams that reached the top spots this semester and during our year-long session,” SIFMA Foundation President Melanie Mortimer said in a press release. “It’s an honor to partner with local schools to provide resources that equip young people in our communities with the critically important skills they need to succeed in their careers and family lives. Our gratitude goes out to the educators who meet the highest standards of excellence and who have changed the lives of so many with their leadership and passion.”

The Stock Market Game curriculum, lessons, hands-on student activities, and virtual events combine content, critical thinking, research, and analytical skills in a real-world simulation. The online Teacher Support Center offers more than 1,000 lesson plans that reinforce Missouri teaching standards, STEM requirements, and 21st-century skills. The lessons and professional development opportunities for teachers are designed to help students learn the fundamentals of long-term saving and investing. Students enhance their knowledge in core curriculum subjects including math, language arts, economics, and social studies, and develop life skills such as financial preparedness, teamwork, and social-emotional learning.

The SIFMA Foundation is committed to closing the opportunity gap by fostering greater knowledge of the financial markets for young people of all backgrounds. Drawing on the support and expertise of educators and the financial industry, the Foundation provides financial education to strengthen economic opportunity across communities and increase awareness of the benefits of the global marketplace. For more information on the SIFMA Foundation, visit www.sifma.org/foundation.

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Kearney, Mo., May 11, 2023: Kearney High School’s foreign language teachers continue to prove that they speak the language of success.

Eight KHS students have earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy this spring, according to German teacher Stacey Getz. This is the first year that KHS has offered the program, and it’s one of the few high schools to do so in the Northland.

The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district, or state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation, according to the coalition that created the program. The goal is to help students recognize the value of their academic success and see the tangible benefits of being bilingual.

This year’s Seal of Biliteracy recipients at KHS include:

• Kendall Ernzen (Senior) – Spanish
• Julia Holmes (Senior) – Spanish
• Ella Mack (Senior) – Spanish
• Kate Martens (Junior) – Spanish
• Ben Rivas (Senior) – Spanish
• Zachary Proctor (Senior) – German
• Evan Janiak (Junior) – Spanish
• Grace Troncin (Senior) – Spanish

All of these honorees first had to score proficient or advanced on the English II End-of-Course exam. Next, they each submitted an essay explaining why sociocultural competence and biliteracy are important and valuable for the entire community. Those essays are evaluated by an anonymous team of graders.

The final part of the process is a battery of tests in the second language, during which they must demonstrate intermediate or better mastery of reading, writing, listening and speaking in order to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. Twenty-eight KHS students participated in the process.

“Our students embraced this challenge and did an amazing job,” Getz said. “They all deserve recognition and congratulations. This is an incredibly difficult undertaking.”

A Seal of Biliteracy is a valuable credential for students as they pursue their college and career goals. It is considered a Market Value Asset (MVA) under Kearney School District’s Real World Learning initiative; all graduates will be required to have an MVA to graduate starting with the Class of 2025.

In addition, a number of colleges, universities and businesses offer incentives for students who have earned the seal. At Missouri State University, for instance, students with the seal can earn foreign language credits without having to take those classes.

“I appreciate all the work everyone has put into adding the Seal of Biliteracy as another outstanding option for our Kearney High School students,” Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp said. “This is a great addition to our Real World Learning initiative.”

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The KHS team included (from left to right in the picture above) River Cahill, Adalynne Worley, Riley Lisec, Lydia Bobadilla Torres, Nathan Freestone and Max Thene. They are coached by Life Skills teachers Lacy Vassmer and Ashley Weston.

Job Olympics is a competition for high school students centered on vocational simulations. The competition allows students to compete in events that showcase their individual employability skills. Community members to act as judges over the vocational events.

“I’m always inspired by these students because of their work ethic and focus,” Ms. Vassmer said. “This is an amazing experience for all of us and I’m very, very proud of them!”

KHS Team Results

• Adalynne Worley – third place for animal care
• Nathan Freestone – first place for light assembly
• Lydia Bobadilla Torres – first place for gift card stocking & first place for sorting mail. 
• Max Thene, River Cahill and Riley Lisec – ribbons for scoring high in all of their events

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Kearney, Mo., October 18, 2022: It’s time to enjoy some mysterious mayhem at Kearney High School.

The KHS theater department is presenting its fall play, “The Plot, Like Gravy, Thickens,” starting at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 18, and continuing every night through Saturday, Oct. 22, in the school auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at bit.ly/khs-drama-fall22.

This madcap mystery follows a playwright’s alter ego as he plots a nefarious deed in his imagination. It features great storm effects, spiffy costumes and lots of fun.

Productions like these are unique opportunities to experience Real World Learning, according to KHS theater teacher Wendy Fish.

“Nearly 60 students have overcome many obstacles this fall and worked many after-school hours to bring this show to performance level,” Ms. Fish said. “The cast, crew and Drama and Stagecraft classes have learned all about lighting, stage makeup, costuming, memorizing, acting, set building, set painting and all sorts of problem-solving tasks to prepare for the show!”

View the production trailer below:

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Kearney, Mo., October 6, 2022: Kearney School District is spreading the word about new opportunities and high expectations for students as part of the BeyondKSD Real World Learning program.

KSD will be sharing important updates and guidance for students and parents/guardians during two informational sessions on Wednesday, Oct. 26. The first session will start at 5 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Kearney Junior High, followed by the second session at 6 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Kearney High School.

These sessions will be led by Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services Jennifer Kopp and Career Readiness Coordinator Stacy Holtzclaw. The topics will include recent changes that will have a significant impact on the path to graduation for all current and future KSD students:

• KSD’s Portrait of A Graduate – Key characteristics that every student should attain by the time they graduate
• Latin Honors System – Replacing traditional class ranks, every student has the opportunity to earn a Suma Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Cum Laude designation in this system
• Tiered Diplomas – Recognize the value of both college and career pathways
• Market Value Assets – Opportunities that allow students to gain Real World Learning experiences and required for every KSD graduate starting with the Class of 2025

KSD is also seeking community support to expand Real World Learning opportunities for all students. Ms. Holtzclaw is creating a contact network of individuals who would like to help grow the district’s BeyondKSD program in a number of ways, including:

• Serving as a guest speaker/subject-matter expert
• Providing job shadow opportunities
• Providing internship experiences
• Partnering with students and/or classes to solve authentic real-world problems (Client Connected Projects)

Currently, experiences related to healthcare careers are particularly sought after for students, according to Holtzclaw.

“While we desire business partners in all career paths, obtaining internships in the medical field is more challenging,” Holtzclaw said. “If you know of anyone in the medical profession who would like to partner with KSD, please let us know!”

Anyone wishing to partner with KSD on any of these activities or to recommend a potential partner should please complete the online BeyondKSD Contact Form.

DOWNLOAD: BeyondKSD Info Sessions Flier

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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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