the Report Inside
A message from the former SUPERINTENDENT SUPERINTENDENT
The 2024-25 school year was filled with remarkable growth, resilience and dedication from our students, staff and community. The very first days of school ushered in an undeniable energy in our classrooms and hallways. That momentum carried through the year as our students reached new academic heights.
Our students rose to meet new challenges and set the bar for academic excellence. Advanced Placement (AP) scores reached an all-time high, with more students than ever choosing to take on the rigor of AP courses. State assessment scores continued an upward trend, showing meaningful progress across grade levels. These academic milestones are a testament to the determination of our students and the expertise of our educators.
But success in Blue Valley is about more than test scores. We believe in supporting the whole child. Whether through classroom instruction, Mental Health First Aid training or everyday interactions that build confidence and connection, our schools are communities where students feel valued, seen and supported.
Our staff focused on data-informed instruction, individual student support and continuous growth, as they know these drive student success. Our educators’ passion and purpose are visible in every classroom, hallway and school building — they are the reason students not only achieve, but thrive.
This year also marked a milestone in planning for our district’s future. Thousands of voices helped shape our new Strategic Plan, which outlines a clear vision grounded in cultivating academic excellence, student well-being and a supportive community. I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to this important work.
As we looked to the future, we also navigated a moment of transition. In November, I announced my retirement at the end of the school year. The decision was not easy, but it came with profound gratitude for 26 years in a district I love deeply. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your
superintendent, and I leave knowing that Blue Valley’s future is bright.
The Board of Education took great care in selecting Dr. Gillian Chapman as the district’s next superintendent. I’ve known Dr. Chapman for many years, and I know she will continue to champion students and support Blue Valley’s exceptional staff with vision and heart.
The school year ended in a celebratory manner as 1,786 graduates walked across the stage, prepared to take on their future, thanks to the support and dedication of our staff and community. Thank you for being a part of the reason the 2024-25 school year will be one I remember and cherish forever.
Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent from July 2020 to June 2025 Blue Valley Schools
2024-25 Superintendent’s Cabinet
Collier
Meet the 2024-25
Board of Education
Providing leadership, vision and support
Dr. Sonya Evans (NE Area, Member 4)
Jodie Dietz (S Area, Member 3)
Patrick Hurley (NW Area, Member 2)
Jan Kessinger, Vice President (NE Area, Member 1)
Gina Knapp, President (NW Area, Member 5)
Jim McMullen (S Area, Member 6)
Clay Norkey (At Large, Member 7)
STRATEGIC PLAN
INACTION
Student achievement, staff excellence and innovation define 2024-25 school year
STRATEGICALLY AGILE SYSTEMS
We will create strategically agile systems to fulfill our purpose.
EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
We will ensure engaging, meaningful and extraordinary educational opportunities for all students.
EXEMPLARY EDUCATORS
We will assure every Blue Valley student has exemplary educators assisting in their transformation.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
We will foster cultures of balanced health and well-being.
Strategically Agile Systems
Created a district steering committee of community members, students, certified and classified staff, administrators and board members who met regularly throughout the school year to develop the new Strategic Plan.
In its first year, the All in BV sponsorship program established contracts with 16 community business partners, bringing in $215,150 in new revenue to enhance and equitably support high school student
Extraordinary Educational Opportunities
Provided students with opportunities to create digital content and form client-connected projects within the high school business marketing and broadcasting classes.
Launched school-wide Multi-Tiered System of Support structured expectations and training support for all levels.
Adopted an elementary literacy resource.
Examined the rigor of high school English Language Arts 9th and 10th grade classes.
Exemplary Educators
Adhered to class size guidelines while providing an indexed certified salary schedule in conjunction with 7.4% average compensation increase for all employee groups.
Approved an overall increase of 7.4% into the certified salary schedule in the 2024-25 school year that included the highest starting and ending salaries in Johnson County.
Approved a wage increase of 7.4% for all classified
Blue Valley
BY THE NUMBERS BY THE NUMBERS
22,734 students
102 languages spoken
The top non-English home languages reported include Spanish, Telugu, Chinese, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi.
1,786 #1 in Kansas TOP 1% in the Nation Blue Valley leads in 2024 Niche rankings &
graduates in the class of 2025
11 Career Ready Programs
5
Demographics
9
22 high schools middle schools elementary schools
3,363 employees
DRIVENSucceed TO
22.8
of teaching staff with a master’s degree or higher
Forbes ranked Blue Valley Schools as one of the best employers in the state of Kansas. The district has been named to the list every year since the award’s inception.
65% of high school students participate in athletics/activities
Post-secondary certificates Degrees earned 9 ACT Scores PERFECT 783 70% of graduates earned a Market Value Asset while in high school 96.2%
41 National Merit Semifinalists of Blue Valley students reach a post-secondary milestone within 2 years of graduation 80%
Post-secondary enrollment for 2+ years
Industry-recognized credentials
Blue Valley students achieve postsecondary success at a higher rate than all other Kansas districts and private schools with 10,000+ students.
of excellence and looking toward the future,
Blue Valley hires next superintendent BUILDING ON A LEGACY BUILDING ON A LEGACY
The 2024-25 school year marked a new chapter in Blue Valley’s history as the district prepared to welcome its next superintendent. After a comprehensive national search and meaningful community engagement, the Blue Valley Board of Education unanimously selected Dr. Gillian Chapman as the district’s next superintendent.
Dr. Chapman brings more than 25 years of experience in public education and a deep commitment to studentcentered leadership. She most recently served as superintendent of Teton County School District #1 in Jackson Hole, Wyo., where she led the district through significant academic innovation, strategic planning and staff development. In 2023, she was named Wyoming Superintendent of the Year, a reflection of her impact at the local and state levels.
said Gina Knapp, Board of Education president. “Her experience building cultures of trust, driving academic and operational excellence, and championing innovative, student-centered learning makes her the right person at the right time for Blue Valley.”
I am honored to join a community where students are at the heart of every decision.
-
Dr. Gillian Chapman, New Blue Valley Superintendent
Prior to her time in Wyoming, Dr. Chapman spent 21 years in the Shawnee Mission School District, including 10 years in district-level leadership and seven years in schoollevel roles. With strong roots in Kansas and a track record of collaborative leadership, she brings a valuable blend of regional understanding and national experience to Blue Valley.
Throughout the search process, Dr. Chapman stood out as a leader whose values closely align with the vision and priorities of the Blue Valley community.
“In Dr. Chapman, we found a leader who embodies the vision, values and voice of our community,”
Dr. Chapman earned a Bachelor of Arts from Pepperdine University, a Master of Science in education from the University of Central Missouri and a doctorate in education from Saint Louis University. She has held leadership roles on both state and national platforms, including serving as president of the Wyoming Association of School Administrators from 2021 to 2022.
As she steps into her role as superintendent, Dr. Chapman is focused on listening, learning and building strong connections across the district.
“I am honored to join a community where students are at the heart of every decision,” Dr. Chapman said. “Blue Valley’s commitment to academic excellence, personalized learning and strong community partnerships aligns closely with my values. I look forward to working together to support every student’s success in school and life.”
Dr. Chapman succeeds Dr. Tonya Merrigan, who retired at the end of the 2024-25 school year after 26 years in Blue Valley.
Blue Valley cultivates a shared vision for the future
through new strategic plan
After nine months of meaningful conversation, input from 5,000 community members and collaborative work, the Blue Valley Board of Education approved the district’s new Strategic Plan. This plan, Cultivating Blue Valley, represents more than a vision — it’s our collective roadmap for the future.
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
ADVANCING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE & EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EXPERIENCES
We provide all students with rigorous, equitable learning and engaging experiences that prepare them to thrive.
STRATEGIES
• Quality Instruction
• New and Expanding Programs
FOSTERING SUPPORTIVE & HEALTHY SCHOOL COMMUNITIES
We prioritize safety, wellbeing and belonging so every student and staff member feels supported to grow.
MISSION STATEMENT
Cultivating lifelong learners prepared to navigate their future with purpose.
CORE VALUES
EMPOWERING EXEMPLARY EDUCATORS & STAFF
We invest in exceptional people — supporting growth, well-being and a shared purpose to make a difference.
STRATEGIES
• Climate
• Behavior Support
• Community Partners
• Physical Health
• Student Connectedness
STRATEGIES
• Exemplary Staff
• Supportive Work Environment
FOUNDATIONAL COMMITMENTS
Foundational commitments ensure that the district’s day-to-day operations are not working in isolation but are integrated and synchronized to advance the overarching goals of the strategic plan.
• Learning with Technology Tools ACADEMICS FACILITIES
ACCOLADES Award - Winning District
TOP 1% NATIONALLY
Blue Valley Schools was once again ranked within the top 1% of school districts in the nation by Niche in its 2025 rankings. The district was also recognized as the #1 school district in Kansas and the #1 district with the best teachers in Kansas.
FORBES EMPLOYER RANKING
Blue Valley Schools was ranked as one of the best employers in the state of Kansas for the sixth consecutive year by Forbes. The district has been named to the list every year since the award’s inception.
NATIONAL MERIT FINALISTS
With 41 seniors named finalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program, Blue Valley Schools had the most of any district in Kansas. Of those, 22 students were named scholarship recipients by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
AP SCHOLARS
Blue Valley Schools had 783 students receive an Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar award for tests taken in the spring of 2024. Of those, 359 students earned AP Scholar with Distinction, 158 students earned AP Scholar with Honor and 266 students earned AP Scholar. All five Blue Valley high schools earned AP School Honor Roll distinctions.
BEST COMMUNITIES FOR MUSIC EDUCATION
Blue Valley Schools received the 2025 Best Communities for Music Education Award from the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation, becoming one of only four in Kansas to receive this honor.
RECORD-BREAKING BVEF SUPPORT
The Blue Valley Educational Foundation raised a record-breaking $420,000 at its 34th annual Community Breakfast and a record-breaking $137,000 at its 13th annual Battle of the Bands.
Exemplary Educators
• Blue Valley High’s Casey Engel was named a 2025 Kansas Master Teacher, one of just seven selected statewide, after she and Valley Park Elementary’s Jill Bergee chosen to represent the district for the honor.
• Cottonwood Point Elementary’s Alex Muninger and Aubry Bend Middle’s Kim Vail were selected as Blue Valley’s nominees for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year award.
• Mission Trail Elementary’s Brevin Armstrong and Prairie Star Middle’s Audrey Burgoon were selected as Blue Valley’s nominees for the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award.
• Blue Valley Northwest’s Jim McCrossen was named a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the Journalism Education Association, becoming one of only eight recognized this year.
• Blue Valley Schools’ Chief Communications Officer Kristi McNerlin was selected as a finalist for the 2024 SchoolCEO Excellence in School Marketing Award.
• The Blue Valley Early Childhood team was selected as the 2025 Whelan Kansas Leadership Award honoree.
• Timber Creek Elementary’s Courtney Cohan, Pleasant Ridge Middle’s Allie Mason and Blue Valley North’s Tom Holland were selected as the 2025 recipients of the Blue Valley Educational Foundation Champion for Students Award.
• Harmony Middle’s Michelle Sutton was honored as the Holocaust Educator of the Year by the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education.
Gavin Spake, district coordinating teacher at Blue Valley’s Wilderness Science Center, was named a recipient of the Educator Award for Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education by the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education.
• Aubry Bend Middle’s Brandy Glass was named Blue Valley’s School Health Excellence Award honoree for the fall 2024 semester, and Timber Creek Elementary’s Molly Mahoney was named the honoree for the spring 2025 semester.
• Sunrise Point Elementary’s Nathan Wiens, Wolf Springs Elementary’s Kristin Ray and Blue Valley North’s Kimberly Hoglund achieved new National Board Certified Teacher certifications.
• Valley Park Elementary’s Courtney Tegtmeier and Blue Valley North’s Janie Huo were selected as the 2025 recipients of the Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s Innovative Educator Award.
• Blue Valley North’s Juan Ocon was named the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan for June.
• Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan was honored with the Diversity Advocate in Education award at the 21st annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy and Scholarship Awards dinner.
• Blue Valley’s Communications department earned nine awards in the Kansas School Public Relations Association’s 2024 Publication Contest.
• Blue Valley High’s Adam Bien and Blue Valley Southwest’s RJ Palmgren received the 2024 Mark Huppe Award at the Eastern Kansas League’s Coaches dinner.
• Prairie Star Elementary’s Bethany Walter was recognized as the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat honoree at a Kansas City Royals game.
• Stilwell Elementary’s Melissa Sherwood was named FOX 4 Kansas City’s Teacher of the Month for December 2024.
• Prairie Star Middle’s Natalie Svilarich was selected as the Kansas teacher honoree for the Hy-Vee Chiefs VIP Game Day Experience.
Champions of Learning
• Blue Valley High’s Trisha Rastogi, Blue Valley North’s Sriram Srinivasa Kalki and Blue Valley West’s Leena Dudi were named semifinalists in the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The three seniors are among just eight Kansas students named semifinalists.
• Over the last year, nine Blue Valley students achieved a perfect score of 36 on the ACT: Blue Valley High’s Rohan Enjeti; Blue Valley Northwest’s Andrew Golden, Catherine Sweeney and Jethro Tang; Blue Valley Southwest’s Dane Weninger; and Blue Valley West’s Leena Dudi Neil Joshi Ella Wallace and Peyton Wallace
• Blue Valley High’s Varun Rastogi achieved a perfect score of 1600 on the SAT during the last year.
• Blue Valley High Chamber Singers earned overall grand champion at the 2025 FAME Show Choir National Finals.
• Valley Park Elementary’s Blaire Dai earned first place in the Heritage Language, grades 3–5 group at the 2025 National Chinese Speech Contest.
• Blue Valley North’s Caroline Massman was named a 2025 Regional Finalist for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, one of only 250 students nationwide who earned the honor.
• Blue Valley High’s Grant Warren finished in first place nationally in two Business Professionals of America events: Digital Marketing Concepts and Marketing, Management & Human Resources Concepts.
• Blue Valley West’s Ipsita Bapat and Aashritha Musti earned recognition as National Champions in the Emotional WellBeing Challenge of the HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference.
• Blue Valley had 127 students earn the Kansas Seal of Biliteracy in fall of 2024. Twenty-five of those students achieved a Gold Seal, which demonstrates their proficiency in a second language.
• Blue Valley High’s Olivia Wang earned first place in the Congressional Art Competition.
• Blue Valley North’s Grace Kwak was named a 2025 national medalist in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, earning a Gold Medal and an American Voices Medal for her piece.
• A couple of Blue Valley high school students received 2025 Blue Star Awards from the Starlight Theatre: Blue Valley Northwest’s Hadley Wilson, Jimmy Awards Best Actress; and Blue Valley Southwest’s Cameron Hargrove, Senior Rising Star Scholarship.
• A total of 48 Blue Valley students were inducted into the inaugural class of the National Technical Honor Society.
• Several Blue Valley students earned statewide recognition through selection for the 2024-25 Kansas Music Educators Association All-State ensembles:
» All-State Full Orchestra, 44 students;
» All-State 5A/6A Band, 35 students;
» All-State High School Mixed Choir, 27 students;
» All-State String Orchestra, 25 students;
» All-State High School Treble Choir, 17 students;
» All-State Elementary Choir, 15 students;
» All-State Middle Level Choir, 14 students; and
» All-State Jazz Band, two students.
• Blue Valley West’s ProStart team earned first place in restaurant management at the state ProStart competition, the first team in Blue Valley history to compete in the competition.
• In the 2025 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Student Awards, Blue Valley Northwest earned first place in the best newscast and best sportscast categories, while Blue Valley High earned first place in the sports play by play (visual) category.
• Several Blue Valley high school students were named 2025 Shooting Stars Scholarship recipients by the Arts Council of Johnson County: Blue Valley High’s Katie Mueller, Three Dimensional Art, 1st Place; Blue Valley North’s Siena Masilionis Two Dimensional Art, 1st Place, Sebastian Gonzalez Layton, Theatre Performance, 2nd Place; and Blue Valley West’s Ivanka Joshi, Strings, 1st Place.
• Blue Valley CAPS’ Maggie Roberts earned first place in the digital illustration category at the 2025 eMagine Media Festival.
• Prairie Star Middle’s Madeleine Stewart, Oxford Middle’s Shahreen Alam and Leawood Middle’s Jack Helgesen earned top honors at the Johnson County qualifier for the 2025 National Civics Bee.
• Blue Valley High’s Trisha Rastogi and Blue Valley West’s Kripa Gauba were named the recipients of the first-ever Zero Reasons Why scholarship.
• Several students in the Blue Valley North Chinese program earned recognition: Joshua Lobert, Bronze Award, National Chinese Essay Writing Contest, which received more than 1,000 submissions; and Elizabeth Bender and Samantha Chen, first place, 2025 KC Chinese Speech Contest.
• Blue Valley Northwest earned All-Kansas award honors from the Kansas Scholastic Press Association for its 2024-25 news publication and website.
• Several Blue Valley high school students earned Class 5A/6A awards in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association 2025 State Contest: Blue Valley Northwest’s Sydney Barnett, Copyediting; Danielle Croom, Feature Writing; Sophie Hartley, Sports Feature Photography; Blue Valley Southwest’s Mara Somogye, Yearbook Theme & Graphics; and Blue Valley West’s Tyler Hardy, Video Sports Promo.
• Oxford Middle’s Rishaan Panchal represented Kansas in the National Civics Bee, the state’s first time competing in the event.
• Blue Valley Northwest’s Rishi Venkatesh was named a winner of the 2025 Kansas Music Educators Association Jeff Jordan Composition Competition.
• The Kansas State High School Activities Association announced five Blue Valley high school students as recipients of the KSHSAA and Capitol Federal 2025 True Blue Scholarships: Blue Valley North’s Slade Troyer, Boys Bowling; Jada Farrington Girls Soccer; Siena Masilionis, Girls Swimming & Diving; Audrey Brown, Girls Track & Field; and Blue Valley High’s Vanee Pattani Speech & Drama.
• SevenDays named several Blue Valley high school students as winners of its 2025 art and scholarship competitions: Art, Blue Valley Northwest’s Madison Smith; Scholarship, Blue Valley High’s Sara Ye, Blue Valley Northwest’s Pranith Surapaneni, and Blue Valley West’s Kripa Gauba and Aashritha Musti.
• The Johnson County Election Office announced the winners of its “Future Voter” sticker design contest: Prairie Star Elementary’s Lucy Mae Hannah K-2; Timber Creek Elementary’s Sophia Kang, 3-5; and Harmony Middle School’s Hadeel Daifallah 6-8.
• Aubry Bend Middle’s Gabe Lily was honored at the Kansas Infinitec Student Awards Luncheon for his use of assistive technology that supports his education and independence.
• Blue Valley North’s Sariah Wangongu and Blue Valley West’s Kayla Rawson were honored at the 21st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy and Scholarship Awards Dinner as the district’s MLK essay competition winners.
• Aubry Bend Middle’s Rafan Shah earned first place in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Kansas’ Third District.
• Blue Valley West’s Akshay Nair was selected to attend the 2024 National Youth Science Camp, one of only two students from Kansas chosen by the governor.
Athletics & Activities
Individual/Group State Championships
• 6A Boys Golf: Individual Champion — Blue Valley North’s Brady Rapp 5A Boys Swim & Dive: 200 Free Relay — Blue
• Boys 5A Track & Field: Pole Vault — Blue Valley Southwest’s Dylan Cross 5A Boys Wrestling: 175 — Blue Valley
• 6A Girls Swim & Dive: 200 Individual Medley, 500 Free — Blue Valley North’s Margo Hauser
• 6A Girls Swim & Dive: 200 Medley Relay — Blue Valley North’s Margo Hauser, Siena Masilionis Molly Stevens Maddy Timson
• 6A Girls Swim & Dive: 200 Free Relay — Blue Valley North’s Charlotte Barton, Sarah Blake, Siena Masilionis, Liddy McCoy
• 6A Girls Swim & Dive: 400 Free Relay — Blue Valley North’s Charlotte Barton, Sarah Blake, Margo Hauser, Liddy McCoy
• Girls 6A Track & Field: 400m — Blue Valley North’s Delia Gregory (State meet record - fastest time in KSHSAA history)
• Girls 6A Track & Field: 4x400m Relay — Blue Valley North’s Audrey Brown, Delia Gregory, Evie Kincaid, Emma Ramboldt
• Girls 6A Track & Field: 800m — Blue Valley North’s Audrey Brown (State meet record)
• Girls 6A Track & Field: 1600m — Blue Valley West’s Emma Baum
• Blue Valley Southwest’s Crew Alvarez earned several top honors this season: 2024-25 Gatorade Kansas Boys Soccer Player of the Year; 2024 All Metro Matt Besler Player of the Year by the High School Soccer Coaches of Kansas City; All-American high school athlete, for the second time, by the United Soccer Coaches; and selection as one of only 40 players nationwide to compete in the 2024 High School All-American Game.
• 5A Girls Wrestling: 130 — Blue Valley Southwest’s Karoline Kendall
Blue Valley North’s Jaliya Davis earned several top honors this season: 2025 McDonald’s All-American — just the fourth girl in Kansas high school basketball history to receive the honor and the first studentathlete, boy or girl, in Blue Valley history; 2024-25 Gatorade Kansas Girls Basketball Player of the Year; 2025 Co-Female DiRenna Award Winner; Sports in Kansas 2025 AllClasses and 6A Girls Basketball Player of the Year; and 2024-25 Kansas MaxPreps High School Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Blue Valley West’s Jack Punswick was selected as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious National High School Spirit of Sport Award, after being named the 2024 Kansas State High School Activities Association Spirit of Sport Award honoree. and Blue Valley West were both named as a Commended School of the 2024 Kansas State High School Activities Association Performing Arts School of Excellence.
• Blue Valley Northwest’s Andrew Babalola was selected for the 2025 Navy AllAmerican Bowl.
• Blue Valley North’s Logan Parks was selected as the 2024 Evelyn Gates Award recipient.
• Blue Valley West’s Rishabh Barve earned first place in the United States Extemporaneous Speaking event at the KSHSAA 6A State Speech and Drama Championship.
• At the KSHSAA State Piano Festival, five Blue Valley high school students earned I ratings.
• Blue Valley High’s Business Professionals of America team won the 2025 state championship, the team’s fifth straight state title.
• The Kansas City Star announced Blue Valley High’s Grady Westphal and Blue Valley West’s Halee Horner as two of its 2025 Scholar-Athlete high school honorees.
• Brandon Hawks offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach of Blue Valley Southwest football, was selected as the 2024 Broyles Award recipient for Kansas.
• Blue Valley High’s Dawson Merritt was named the 2024 Kansas Sports Central Linebacker of the Year.
• Blue Valley High’s Chance Rinkol won the 2024 Kenneth Smith Award as the top boys high school golfer in the Kansas City metro.
• Blue Valley North’s Ann Fritz was named Sports in Kansas 6A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.
• Blue Valley North’s Aubrey Shaw was nominated for the 2025 McDonald’s AllAmerican Game.
• Blue Valley West’s Science Olympiad team earned first place at the state competition.
• Lakewood Middle’s Science Olympiad team earned first place at the state competition.
• Blue Valley West’s student broadcast team earned first place overall in the 2024 Kansas State Fair Scholastic Press Corps video competition. The Jagged Edge team was also recognized with awards for best narrator and best agriculture story.
• Prairie Star Middle’s Steve Essex was selected as the male honoree for the Community For Coaches’ 2025 KC Metro Coaches of the Year Award.
• Kyle Conley head coach of Blue Valley West girls soccer, received a United Soccer Coaches’ 2024 Regional Coach of the Year award.
• Blue Valley Southwest’s Erik Jones was named the 2024 All Metro Coach of the Year by the High School Soccer Coaches of Kansas City.
• The Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association announced its top Boys 2024 Kansas All-State honors: Blue Valley Southwest’s Crew Alvarez, 5A Forward of the Year; Jarrett Pechar 5A Defender of the Year; Zach Setterberg 5A Goalkeeper of the Year; and Erik Jones, 5A Coach of the Year.
• The Kansas High School Soccer Coaches Association announced its top Girls 2024 Kansas All-State honors: Blue Valley Northwest’s Nimu Karani, 6A Goalkeeper of the Year; Blue Valley Southwest’s Hannah Palmer 5A Forward of the Year; and Blue Valley West’s Kyle Conley, 6A Coach of the Year.
• Blue Valley West was named the Eastern Kansas League recipient of the inaugural League Sportsmanship award by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, recognizing outstanding sportsmanship during the 2024–25 basketball season.
• Blue Valley West’s Peyton Kubik was named to the 2024 MaxPreps Sophomore All-America Team. Kubik was also named a National Sophomore of the Year finalist by Prep Volleyball.
• Blue Valley North’s Logan Parks was selected for the Under Armour AllAmerica Volleyball Game.
• The Cobalt Colts, a group of 15 students from four Blue Valley high schools, helped bring life to The White Theater at the J’s production of “The Little Mermaid”.
• Blue Valley Southwest’s Brynn Lowe earned her 100th career win, the first female wrestler in Blue Valley to reach this milestone.
• Blue Valley North’s Raahul Aravind was selected to compete in the U15 USA 2024 National Cricket Championship.
• Avery Karl, graduate of Blue Valley North, qualified for the U.S. Olympic swim trials in the 50-meter freestyle.
• Several Blue Valley students and a staff member were selected for the East AllStars in the 52nd Kansas Shrine Bowl: Blue Valley Northwest’s Brock Heath (OL); Blue Valley Southwest’s Will Morgan (OL/LS); Blue Valley West’s Jack Cook (LB); and Josh Koerkenmeier (6A Coach).
• Blue Valley Northwest’s Keaton Humphrey (pitcher) was selected for the 2025 Kansas Association of Baseball Coaches All-Star game.
• Blue Valley High’s Allen Terrell was named the High School Coach of the Week for week six of the 2024 football season by the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Blue Valley West’s Josh Koerkenmeier was named the High School Coach of the Week for week two of the 2024 football season by the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Blue Valley North’s Logan Parks was named to the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps All-America Volleyball Team as first team all-around.
• Blue Valley Northwest’s Andrew Babalola was named to the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps All-America Football Team as second team offensive line.
• Blue Valley West’s Parker Bennett and Blue Valley High’s Chance Rinkol helped Team Kansas win the 2024 KansasNebraska Junior Cup.
• Blue Valley High’s team of Ava Aslinia, Vanee Pattani, Varun Rastogi and Akhil Reddy finished as one of four semifinalists in the Brewer Foundation/ NYU International Public Policy Forum Debate Contest Finals, out of 283 teams from 26 countries and 30 U.S. states.
• At the KSHSAA Solos & Small Ensembles Music Festival, 75 Blue Valley high school solos and small ensembles earned I ratings.
• At the KSHSAA Large Groups Music Festival, 11 Blue Valley high school groups earned I ratings.
Photo Credit: KSHSAA
Alumni
Legacy of Champions
• Matt Besler graduate of Blue Valley West, was selected as the 2025 Sporting Legends inductee, becoming just the 14th club icon. Pictured with Blue Valley North teacher Juan Ocon (right).
• Brian Schottenheimer graduate of Blue Valley High, was named the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
• Graham Mertz graduate of Blue Valley North, was selected by the Houston Texans in the 6th round and Mason Richman, graduate of Blue Valley High, was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the 7th round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
• During the 2024 MLB Draft, Eli Lovich, graduate of Blue Valley West, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round. Anson Seibert graduate of Blue Valley Southwest, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round. Jackson Nicklaus, graduate of Blue Valley High, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round.
• Colin Welsh, graduate of Blue Valley West, was drafted by St. Louis CITY SC in the third round of the MLS SuperDraft 2025.
• Magdalena Nguyen, graduate of Blue Valley Northwest, won the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City’s 2024 KC Superstar singing competition.
• Anna McCartan, graduate of Blue Valley North, was selected as a recipient of the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship.
• Two Blue Valley graduates represented Team USA in 2024 — Leanne Wong at the Olympic Games as a traveling replacement athlete for Women’s Gymnastics and Yaseen ElDemerdash at the Paralympic Games for Men’s Para Swimming.
• Aidan Luther, graduate of Blue Valley North, represented Team USA at the 2025 Maccabiah Games on their eight-member weightlifting team.
• Ben Kudrna, graduate of Blue Valley Southwest, represented the Kansas City Royals and Quad Cities River Bandits with his selection to the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
• Max Crawford graduate of Blue Valley High, was featured in the National Down Syndrome Society’s “I Got That Extra” campaign.
Photo Credit:
Sporting Kansas City
FINANCIAL Performance
During the 2024-25 school year, Blue Valley served 22,431 students with total operating expenses of $271 million. The District mill rate decreased by 0.162 mills from the previous year. The components of this mill levy and assessed valuation are listed below. To put this into more individual terms, the owner of a $500,000 home in the Blue Valley School District paid $2,988 in taxes to support schools in 2023. The same home would have increased in value approximately 6% to $530,000 in 2024. School district taxes paid would have increased by 3.5% to $3,094.