WINTER 2023
A student’s football dream come true New elementary school welcomes students Grads share successes after high school
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The weather and seasons may have changed, shifting to brisk air and leaves cluttering the ground. But here in Blue Valley, two things have remained the same: our dedication to students and academic success. Every Blue Valley household at the end of October received a special publication in the mail titled “Champions of Learning.” This publication highlights our students’ achievements, from ACT scores and assessment data to post-graduation success and market value assets. As you page through this publication, I hope you remember how hard Blue Valley students work daily to be #ChampionsofLearning. The data is impressive and should make patrons feel good about the future of the district and the students we serve. One statistic I want to highlight is our iReady math data. Blue Valley implemented its new K-8 iReady math resource at the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, and by the time May rolled around, our students experienced impressive growth, outpacing expectations by at least 17 percentage points. Our students scored at or above grade level on the iReady spring diagnostic at a rate 28 percentage points greater than national peers. Blue Valley students are consistently surpassing their peers at the local, state and national levels, and this data is validation. The first quarter of school has been a busy one for us. Academics, athletics and activities have been in full force. It was early one morning when I was out for a walk at Blue Valley West. Most Saturday mornings, the parking lot would be empty and quiet,
Blue Valley Schools 15020 Metcalf Ave. P.O. Box 23901 Overland Park, KS 66283-0901 (913) 239-4000 Superintendent Tonya Merrigan, Ed.D.
Board of Education Patrick Hurley Jodie Dietz, President Jan Kessinger Gina Knapp, Vice President Jim McMullen Tom Mitchell Dr. Sonya Evans
but on this particular day, it was packed with cars and students as they headed out to a band competition. As I chatted with some of the students, I was reminded of their dedication to the program, classmates and teachers. It takes a lot for anyone to get up that early in the morning, but it’s obvious how hardworking they are and how driven they are to succeed. In November, Blue Valley voters elected one new board member and reelected three incumbents. I look forward to working with our Board of Education to continue to support the growth of our students. As we power through the remainder of the school year, I encourage you to lift up our students, support our educators and champion learning in Blue Valley Schools. When we work together, there is no limit to what we can achieve. It is a privilege to lead such a dynamic community, and I am honored to be a part of this journey.
Join the Blue Valley School District by using the hashtags #ChampionsofLearning and #BVTogether to share moments as we celebrate how our community works together to support students on their academic journey.
Website www.bluevalleyk12.org For more information about Blue Valley Today, contact the Communications Department 913-239-4047.
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success after high school, life-long mentors and unique job opportunities at Blue Valley. The CAPS model has since been replicated in more than 170 districts worldwide. Around 1,200 students enroll in Blue Valley’s CAPS program each year. The program offers six strands — bioscience, medicine and healthcare, engineering, accelerator, business, technology and media and human services — which allows for students to try or rule out future career options. Students leave CAPS with real-world experiences in high-demand professions, earn college credit and certifications and develop professional skills. Within two years of graduating high school, 80% of Blue Valley students have earned an industry-recognized credential while in high school, a post-secondary certificate, a post-secondary degree or enrolled in post-secondary education for two consecutive years. Pfeiff, who enrolled in the global business course, had the opportunity to work with community leaders on projects, even going as far as sitting in a room with them and asking for fundraising support.
Emily Pfeiff is a 2018 Blue Valley West graduate.
When Emily Pfeiff walked through the doors of Blue Valley’s Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) her senior year of high school, she knew she would have the opportunity to meet new people, experience hands-on learning and gain college credit. But what she left CAPS with was far greater than what she expected. Pfeiff, a 2018 Blue Valley West graduate, ended her high school experience with networking opportunities, project and time management and communication skills. All of these have led Pfeiff to where she is today, as she works as a senior healthcare consultant at PYA. Pfeiff’s success story is just one of many that result from the CAPS program. The inaugural CAPS program started in 2009 4 • B L U E VA L L E Y T O D AY
“I think making really strong connections makes all the difference,” Pfeiff said. “I think being able to talk to people and communicate is a big deal. As part of my project work, I remember we did a presentation in front of almost every CAPS strand, which is a ton of people, particularly when you’re a 17-year-old kid.” Pfeiff, who attended Blue Valley from kindergarten through her senior year, said those formative years were a pivotal time. Although most young students don’t know what “Blue Valley” means, Pfeiff now knows it’s the faces of her teachers, principals, counselors and mentors who helped prepare her for life after high school and college. “I had the privilege of working with excellent educators every year, and they have been cheerleaders, empowerers and connectors for me in every season of my life,” Pfeiff said. “So what does Blue Valley mean to me? It’s really the people who supported me through all of that educational journey. It’s been people who I continue to come back to for advice and encouragement even as an adult.”
Antonio Linhart is a 2018 Blue Valley Northwest graduate.
Quincy Hartman is a 2021 Blue Valley High graduate.
FROM BLUE VALLEY TO GOOGLE
GAINING REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
From learning how to craft a professional email to community stakeholders to taking ownership and responsibility for your work, CAPS students have the chance to dive into what a professional career looks like.
When Quincy Hartman started her junior year at CAPS, she enrolled in the digital design and photography class and spent two semesters learning the craft of photography. Hartman, a 2021 Blue Valley High graduate, later switched to the certified nurse aide course once she realized photography wasn’t a career she wanted to pursue.
For Antonio Linhart, a 2018 Blue Valley Northwest graduate, he grew up knowing he wanted to pursue a career in technology, specifically creating video games. When he enrolled in CAPS his junior year of high school, he chose the technology solutions course and had the opportunity to explore different areas of technology. The experience helped him narrow down his field of study and interest in software engineering. “CAPS is a really great experience to pursue anything you think you might be interested in,” Linhart said. “... I think it’s really valuable to take the risk in high school before committing to something in college.” After graduation, Linhart attended the University of NebraskaLincoln and pursued a degree in computer science. He now works as a software engineer at Google in Seattle, Wash., as part of the company’s Fuchsia team. Linhart’s experiences at Blue Valley and CAPS allowed him to develop the skills needed to collaborate with a team and work toward a common goal. “I’ve had a lot of experience working with others, being able to respectfully disagree with teammates about a certain way to do things, and come to a compromise so that everybody could be proud of presenting the final result,” Linhart said.
Hartman now attends the University of Arkansas and is working toward her nursing degree. What enhanced her CAPS experience was the relationships she built with teachers who continue to serve as mentors. “I definitely learned how to have professional relationships, especially with people that are in a leadership role, like my teachers,” Hartman said. “Having to learn how to respect and talk to different roles and different people was really important.” Now, as a nursing student and CNA, Hartman said she thinks her CAPS experience allowed her to gain real-world experience working as a CNA and to learn more about a nurse’s role in patient care. Throughout her academic career at Blue Valley, Hartman said she thinks Blue Valley staff did a good job at pushing students to want more for themselves and strive toward a goal. “I realize how lucky I was to get the education that I did get,” Hartman said. “There’s so many people that are awesome, so many teachers that are caring. There’s people that you can still reach out to after you graduate, and you’re still going to have support.” WINTER 2023 • 5
‘More Than A Building’ Blue Valley opens Aspen Grove, the district’s 36th school
Sitting atop a hill embedded in a peaceful neighborhood, Aspen Grove Elementary is known for its spacious but friendly learning environments, bright colors of green and blue covering the walls, and freshly planted aspen trees. From the viewer’s eye, it looks like another school building. But what makes this one unique is the hundreds of people — from community members and stakeholders, to design teams and students — who shared input on what Blue Valley’s newest elementary school should be. It was clear early on Aspen Grove was more than just a building. It would be a home. “Aspen Grove was truly touched by hundreds of people, from the design team to the construction phase,” said Gretchen Anderson, Aspen Grove principal. “... So we are excited to be able to gather together to pause, recognize and honor everyone who had a hand in it — big or small.” The Aspen Grove foxes poured into the new school September 22, 6 • B L U E VA L L E Y T O D AY
not just for another day of school but to show off the school they helped design as community members and families gathered for a school dedication. “Our students were the ones who told us what they wanted this building to be,” said Jake Slobodnik, Blue Valley’s executive director of operations. “They want a space that is welcoming. They wanted spaces that support learning how they want to learn, and I think we did all of those things.” Anderson is no stranger to opening a new building. She successfully opened Wolf Springs in 2017, and has carried her strong leadership skills to Aspen Grove Elementary. “I want to personally thank Dr. Anderson for all the work she did to open this building,” said Tonya Merrigan, Blue Valley’s superintendent. “Not many people would say yes twice to doing this, and she said yes twice. She’s done an amazing job each time.”
Constructing Blue Valley’s 22nd elementary school wouldn’t have been possible without the passing of Bond 2020, which added a fourth elementary school to the Blue Valley Southwest feeder system and reinforced the community’s support of schools. “Our Blue Valley community came together in the 2020 Bond election to provide resources that made this school possible,” said Jodie Dietz, Blue Valley’s Board of Education president. “This is a collective effort here in Blue Valley because we know how important it is to support our students.” The Aspen Grove community built its values and goals around three pillars — connectedness, community and educational excellence. Between students connecting the community to the school with tours over the summer to the dedicated families who were eager to establish Aspen Grove’s Parent-teacher organization, it is clear that in just a short time, these three pillars shine brightly by everyone involved.
“OUR STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN OWNERSHIP OF OUR NEW BUILDING, OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE FULLY ENGAGED [AND] OUR COMMUNITY COMES IN OFTEN.” DR. GRETCHEN ANDERSON ASPEN GROVE PRINCIPAL
“Our students have taken ownership of our new building, our staff members are fully engaged [and] our community comes in often,” Anderson said. “They absolutely love the facilities and everything happening within our school community.” Although the design process was vital to the overall construction of the elementary, what makes Aspen Grove special is those individuals who fill the halls each and every day. “This building sat empty for about a year, and I made lots of visits out to this building, and you know what I saw and heard — it was quiet,” Slobodnik said. “[When the] students, teachers, custodians, kitchen staff, administrators, counselors and social workers came in, they brought life to this building. That’s what makes this more than a building.” Every Aspen Grove fox will remember the impact they had on the creation of this building, but what will be more memorable is the passion for learning these students will feel each day at school. “[Aspen Grove] is full of joy and learning, and these kids are so lucky to have the parents’ support as well as the student support, and I tell you what — the sky is the limit for each and every [student],’’ Merrigan said. WINTER 2023 • 7
ONE STUDENT’S FOOTBALL SEASON TO REMEMBER
Becoming an eighth grader brings new academic opportunities for students, but for many, it also brings one exciting opportunity — the chance to play football. For Pleasant Ridge Middle student Jack Tomas, football was never really an option. After being diagnosed with two separate heart conditions during a routine check in second grade, Tomas was restricted from many contact sports and exercises growing up.
have to have open heart surgery in the future.”
“It’s nothing you’d ever want your kids to go through,” said Angie Tomas, Jack Tomas’ mother. “It was scary initially because we didn’t know exactly what we were dealing with. We do know he’ll
“Jack knew how much Henry loved it,” Angie Tomas said. “He wanted that too — that sense of being a team and being with all his friends.”
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Although Jack Tomas has been able to participate in other sports, he always wanted to play football — just like his brother. Henry Tomas played middle school football under the guidance of Jerald Long, Pleasant Ridge Middle football coach, and went on to be a linebacker for Blue Valley West.
During gym class and participation in other athletic activities throughout middle school, Jack Tomas and Long formed a close bond. Although Jack Tomas’ heart conditions limited his opportunities on the field, Long wanted to help Jack Tomas kick off his football career.
“The coaches really care about the players and the students here,” Jack Tomas said. “No matter what it is, they just want them to be part of the school, or the family or the teams — and they let you feel like you are. Coach Long helped me be a part of the football team. He made me feel like part of the team.”
“Coach Long went above and beyond,” Angie Tomas said. “On a Saturday in June before Jack’s seventh-grade year, coach came to our house and kind of laid out from his perspective what kicking could look like.”
For Long, it doesn’t matter whether or not a student is interested in playing football. What matters is the success of his students, no matter what they want to achieve.
Long encouraged Jack Tomas to begin practicing kicking so he could have the chance to try out for a role as the team’s kicker once he got to eighth grade. Long made sure Jack Tomas understood the resources he would need to become the team’s kicker.
“We’re here as teachers and coaches and all of Blue Valley to make sure that every kid succeeds,” Long said. “Whatever we’re doing here should be an extension of the classroom. Blue Valley helps kids succeed, and to me, there’s no other way to do it.”
“Football is something that can change kids’ lives,” Long said. “I think it’s changed Jack’s life. He worked for this opportunity and put a lot of time and effort into it.” Jack Tomas spent his summers working with coaches, joined the cross country team his seventh-grade year and worked one-on-one with the Bulldogs’ special teams coach to get him into shape for tryouts. When eighth-grade football season began, Jack Tomas earned a place on the team as their kicker. “Seeing Jack out on the field and in that uniform has been really moving for us as parents,” Angie Tomas said. “We’re just so thankful Coach Long has given Jack an opportunity to just be an eighth-grade football player.” Handling kickoff duties and converting seven out of eight kicks this season for Pleasant Ridge’s A-Team, Jack Tomas’ effort and determination did not go unnoticed. The team ended their season on a high note with a game-winning field goal in the final moments of the Bulldogs’ last game of the season. “It didn’t really hit me until after the game was over,” Jack Tomas said. “It felt amazing. It’s just a great way to end the season. I don’t know if I’ll be playing in high school but it just felt really good.” Against all odds, Jack Tomas was able to overcome what he thought was impossible and safely play a sport he loved. An accomplishment he attributes in part to his coach’s dedication to helping him succeed.
Scan to watch the video version of Jack’s story. WINTER 2023 • 9
News & Notes Blue Valley ranks in top 1% of districts nationwide
Niche named the Blue Valley School District as the best district in Kansas and a top district in the country, placing Blue Valley among the top 1% of districts nationwide. Niche also ranked Blue Valley as the #1 best place to teach and the district with the best teachers in Kansas. This just tells us what we already know about our #BVTogether family. We’re so proud of the students, staff and community members that are being recognized! You all are the reason we sit atop the rankings!
Blue Valley Schools received gold-level honors and ranked among the top 10% of Kansas school districts in the Kansans Can Star recognition program.
The Kansas State Department of Education program awarded Blue Valley with gold honors for its high graduation rate and postsecondary effectiveness rate. The district received bronze honors for its socialemotional growth and high academic preparation rate. Blue Valley also received the commissioner’s award which recognizes districts that outperform their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate.
This special publication highlights Blue Valley’s story of academic success. With the help of our community members, families and staff, all of our students are true #championsoflearning!
students as true champions of learning, from Pre-K to 12th grade and beyond. Our students consistently surpass their peers at the local, state and national levels with steadfast backing provided by our exceptional educators and administrators.
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Scan the QR code to read the publication.
15020 Metcalf Overland Park, Kansas 66283
The Blue Valley School District is a testament to the community’s unwavering dedication to nurturing excellence in education. This commitment has led to a remarkable academic landscape that celebrates our
Fall 2023
Blue Valley educators Sherry Kenny and Dan Freeman have been selected as the district’s Kansas Teacher of the Year representatives. Kenny, a first grade teacher at Cottonwood Point Elementary, has been with the district since 1988, teaching at various elementary schools for over three decades of service to Blue Valley’s students and families. Sherry Kenny is a first grade teacher at Cottonwood Point Elementary.
Freeman has been a teacher and band director at Blue Valley North since 2011, impacting music students at all levels across the district. Kenny and Freeman will represent Blue Valley and be considered for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year.
Dan Freeman is a teacher and band director at Blue Valley North.
Kansas Teacher of the Year, a Kansas State Department of Education program, recognizes representatives of excellent teaching in elementary and secondary classrooms.
Two Blue Valley teachers have been selected as candidates for Kansas Master Teacher. Bre McGranahan, an intensive resource teacher at Stanley Elementary, and Kale Mann, a science teacher at Blue Valley High, have been selected to represent Blue Valley.
Bre McGranahan is an intensive resource teacher at Stanley Elementary.
McGranahan and Mann will be considered for the statewide award. Emporia State University founded the Kansas Master Teacher award program in 1953. Seven teachers are selected from across the state who have served the profession and typify the quality of earnest and conscientious teachers.
Kale Mann is a science teacher at Blue Valley High.
Blue Valley voters elect new board member, reelect incumbents Blue Valley voters elected Clay Norkey to serve as the Board of Education’s at-large board member. Board members Jodie Dietz, Jan Kessinger and Patrick Hurley were reelected to their positions. All board members serve a four-year term which begins the January following elections.
WINTER 2023 • 11
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