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A second act of purpose Retiree fulfills dream of returning to the classroom
Retirement often sparks a search for a new purpose in life, and for Larry Jones, that purpose led him back to an unfilled passion. After 30 years of managing historic Kansas City venues like Bartle Hall and Kemper Arena, Jones wanted to make a deeper impact on his community.
“I didn’t ever dream of coming back to the classroom,” Jones said. “I didn’t think it would be possible, but that was kind of my first love.”
Having originally graduated from Avila University with a degree in elementary education, teaching was always a passion for Jones, which led him to take a paraprofessional position in 2018 at Leawood Elementary, where he quickly became a fixture in the hallways, classrooms and car line.
“It’s amazing to have someone like him in the building,” said Katie Geist, Leawood Elementary librarian. “You walk by, and he’s working one-on-one with students. He’s so present and gives
the students 100 percent of himself when he’s working with them.”
Known for his infectious joy and passion, Jones has made a significant impact on the school community. He spends the majority of his time helping young students with socialemotional issues.
“To hire a really good para is one of the hardest jobs I have in the building,” said Jenny Hayes, Leawood Elementary’s principal. “To make sure you have the right fit and right connection doesn’t come easily. You never wonder if Mr. Jones can make the connection. You always know he’s the one that will make that connection, make that difference in a child’s life.”
"You never wonder if Mr. Jones can make the connection. You always know he's the one that will make that connection, make that difference in a child's life."
JENNY HAYES LEAWOOD ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
Although he works with students of all ages, this year’s fifth graders, who will move on to Leawood Middle next fall, have a special place in Jones’ heart. This class was the first group of students he worked with when he arrived in Blue Valley.
“They were so special to me,” Jones said. “And, at that time, I thought, ‘I just really want to be here to watch them graduate.’ That would make me so proud, watching them through all the different stages. I’m probably going to be bawling like a proud parent.”
“I love him so much,” said Ava Langlois, a former fifthgrader at Leawood Elementary. “He’s just really sweet, and it’s so fun to watch him work with kids, and just seeing someone bring that much joy means a lot to us.”
Even though that original class will be moving on, there will always be a new group of students to help. Jones said he has no plans for a second retirement any time soon.
“Teaching is the only profession I would do for free,” Jones said. “It’s not about the income, it’s about the outcome.”
To watch the full video story, scan the QR code here.
Blue Valley’s Career Ready Programs
Cultivating real-world skills in students
Finding what you love early
Baking had always been a part of Blue Valley High graduate Ella Hibbard’s life, a love nurtured in her grandparents’ kitchen, where she made simple treats alongside her grandma. But when the pandemic hit, Hibbard’s passion turned into a lifeline. With the extra time, Hibbard began texting friends to drop off treats at their homes.
When school was back in session, Hibbard — a self-proclaimed theater kid — eagerly dove back into roles in school plays. Whether baking honey cakes for "The Hobbit" cast or her role in “Nights at the Roundtable” inspiring her to make sword and stone cupcakes, she never lost her love for baking. What started as a pastime snowballed into bringing a different treat for her classmates to enjoy every day.
These moments led Hibbard to apply for Blue Valley’s Career Ready Programs. Through a partnership with Johnson County Community College (JCCC), Blue Valley has developed students’ talents and provided opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.
Hibbard was drawn to JCCC’s Culinary and Hospitality program, specifically the pastry and baking certificate program, which accepts only 16 students each academic year.
Hibbard took her chance applying for the program and when she got accepted, Blue Valley stepped in to support her. Without her teachers, counselors and the district, Hibbard isn’t sure she would've known what options were available to help her stand out in a competitive industry. But after completing JCCC’s program, she feels two steps ahead of her competition.
“I helped bake 500 pastries for a JCCC event, I helped serve at the James Beard Beneficiary dinner, I ran a farmers market booth last summer at Parkville Coffee,” Hibbard said. “I have a two-year start on pretty much everyone I’ve talked to, so I am getting these connections and meeting people [in the industry] just because I am here.”
Hibbard said she is grateful for the unique experiences and connections facilitated by the program, which reaffirmed her passion for baking.
“Being able to go here with little consequences gave me the chance to experiment with what I love to do and figure out that this is what I want to do,” Hibbard said. “If I didn’t like it my first semester, I could just go back to high school and try something else.”
Gaining experience in this industry can be challenging — especially as a recent graduate. Hibbard has set her sights on taking her skills to sea and becoming a cruise ship baker. Regardless of what happens, Hibbard plans to enter the industry as a baker and gain a few years of experience before opening up her own business.
“I really just want my own space where I can create pastries for people, and I can make people feel welcomed because I think deep down that’s what making food is, and finding what I love so early on is something I think is so special,” Hibbard said.
The best of both worlds
In the depths of the Alaskan wilderness, amidst billowing smoke and fierce, hot flames, stands recent Blue Valley Southwest graduate, Tommy Caul, ready to embrace his fiery future.
After a career-altering injury in his junior year, Caul’s trajectory shifted dramatically. His once-set plans for collegiate athletics were replaced with uncertainty, leaving him to explore new opportunities.
“I ran cross country and track and field from my freshman year to my junior year,” Caul said. “I was planning on running at the University of Georgia. I tore my labrum and had a stress fracture in my femur and the recovery was going to be really long so I started to look at other paths.”
With a passion ignited by embracing his injuries, Caul joined Blue Valley’s Career Ready Program, Fire Science and Emergency Medical program, during his senior year.
The program allows those interested in fire services, emergency medical services and other public service careers to get handson learning through a partnership with the Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD). Since the program’s inception in 2021, 30 Blue Valley students have graduated.
“The program gets you all the certifications you need to become a firefighter when you graduate," Caul said. "This is something I can really see myself doing. So I put my nose to the grindstone and just kept working at it until I got to where I am now.”
With graduation behind him, Caul is embarking on an adventure that few would undertake — spending six months in Alaska. Working with the North Star Fire Crew in Fairbanks, Ala., Caul will put skills cultivated in the program to work, fighting forest fires and volunteering for various conservation and resource enhancement projects. With such treacherous work, Caul has found ways to appreciate the opportunities Alaska will bring.
“Fighting fires is going to be the cool part,” Caul said. “But going in planes and helicopters sounds pretty cool too.”
When Caul first entered the untraditional classroom filled with hoses, fire suits and ladders, he wasn’t sure if he was stepping too far out of the classroom. In the end, that’s what he appreciated most.
“The program helped me feel like I am in high school but also feel like I am one step ahead," Caul said. "I feel like I am almost living two different lives. I go to high school for half the day, and then I go to fire training for the other half of the day. You get the best of both worlds where you’re still a kid, but you also have adult responsibilities.”
To discover how Blue Valley’s Career Ready Programs can help students like Ella Hibbard and Tommy Caul turn their passions into thriving careers, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/CareerReady.
From Brazil to Blue Valley
Next Steps program leads to lifelong connections and early educational success
Moving to a new city and school can be challenging. Relocating to a new country where you don’t know anyone and the language and culture are unfamiliar is a daunting task. When the RibeiroBorba family found out they were moving from São Paulo, Brazil to Overland Park, Kan., they knew one thing was essential: a community and school district with supportive programs to ensure a smooth transition for their kids.
When they were looking for a program for their daughter Serena Ribeiro, 4, the Blue Valley School District recommended Next Steps, a Parents as Teachers program geared toward three to fiveyear-olds who are English language learners. The program was a good fit for Serena, as her parents wanted her to be comfortable speaking English and develop more socialization skills before starting kindergarten.
But being immersed in the culture and learning English haven’t been the only benefits for the Ribeiro-Borba family. Through the program, the family connected with another Brazilian family who relocated to Overland Park.
Fernando and Juliana Leitão became interested in the Parents as Teachers and Next Steps programs so their daughter Camila, 3, could interact with other kids and meet people from different countries.
“We came to a place where we don’t know the culture or language,” said Vinicius Ribeiro. “Knowing that we have other
people that are in the same situation, going through the same obstacles — it’s very good.”
This connection has given both families a support network and a sense of familiarity as they navigate the challenges of moving to a new country and adapting to a new culture.
Serena and Camila quickly developed a friendship at the program’s weekly playgroup. When they arrive in the mornings, they aren’t hesitant to spot each other across the room, link hands and walk to the classroom together.
“They will translate or navigate between speaking English and Portuguese together,” said Amy Scavuzzo, a Parents as Teachers parent educator. “It’s just this beautiful connection of them using their home language but also experimenting and playing with the English language.”
During class, the kids work on classroom routines — hanging up their backpacks and locating their lockers — that they will need to know as they enter kindergarten. They spend the first few minutes engaging in free play around the room before gathering for story time and activities on the carpet.
In addition to establishing kids with a playgroup, the Next Steps program also connects families with a community-based preschool to further immerse them in a classroom experience.
Vinicius and Carla said the wealth of support their family receives
through the Next Steps playgroup and home visits has been significant. These home visits ensure Serena’s development is on track and provide the Ribeiro-Borba family with valuable parenting insights and at-home activities.
“It’s outstanding,” Carla Borba said.
Fernando Leitão said having a program like Next Steps and Parents as Teachers ensures Camila can meet people and become immersed in the community.
Becky Carney, a parent educator for Parents as Teachers, said watching Camila pick up on the English language and mature during her short time in the program has been amazing.
“I feel like she is more outgoing than she was at the beginning,” Carney said. “She has learned the routines of the classroom so well. I’ve seen a lot of growth as far as self-help skills and she’s
able to do a lot of things on her own.”
As the Ribeiro-Borba and Leitão families continue to grow in the Next Steps program and beyond, they hope more families become aware of and benefit from the Parents as Teachers program.
“Back home, we don’t have this kind of support or team from a school district,” Vinicius Ribeiro said. “It’s really awesome to have Next Steps and the home visits. We learn a lot from [parent educators] and they pass along a lot of good activities. They care about the dynamic we have as parents with the kids. It’s amazing to know that someone is caring about those things.”
To learn more about Parents as Teachers and Next Steps or to enroll your child in the program, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/ parentsasteachers.
News & Notes
Blue Valley Educational Foundation presents Innovative Educator, Champions for Students awards
The Blue Valley Educational Foundation awarded Ariel Puccetti, a kindergarten teacher at Overland Trail Elementary, and Brooke Karr, a special education teacher at Overland Trail Middle, Innovative Educator awards for their innovative teaching methods. Both recipients received a $1,250 grant for their classrooms.
Three teachers were recipients of the Champions for Students award, created and funded by Neal and Angel Sharma. Amanda Wambold, an early childhood teacher, Christopher Broderson, Overland Trail Middle teacher and Taryn Gervais, Blue Valley Southwest teacher, each received a $2,500 grant.
Blue Valley recognizes its 2024 Friends of Education
For more than two decades, Blue Valley Schools has recognized individuals and organizations in the community who have made outstanding contributions to public education.
This year, Blue Valley recognized Tom Mitchell, Tom Herzog, The Overland Park Fire Department and Johnson County Mental Health Center as Friends of Education for their impactful contributions to Blue Valley students, staff and families.
To learn more, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/friendsofed.
Blue Valley high schools rank among top 10% nationwide
Each of our five Blue Valley high schools has secured a place in the top 10 on U.S. News’ Best High Schools in Kansas list. This achievement is even more impressive as all five high schools rank among the top 10% nationwide.
These successes speak volumes about our outstanding educators, committed students and supportive community. The combined effort of these three pillars enables us to guide our students toward academic excellence and equip them for the future.
U.S. News evaluates schools based on such criteria as state assessment proficiency, college readiness and graduation rates.
Rush Prep Academy
Kansas Rush Prep Academy is for players born in the years 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. This program is for players that are future competitive soccer players. This program is selective. If you have a son/daughter interested in more information email mbickmore@kansasrush. com or call 913-359-7021
HS Boys Rec Soccer Fall
We are starting a new program for High School age boys to play rec soccer in the Fall season. Due to the small number of players, we will play 5v5 or 6v6 games at the Kansas Rush indoor facility. No practices. Sign up and play one game per weekend for 6 weeks. Most games will be Saturday or Sunday late mornings. League starts weekend of Sept. 7th.
Recreational Soccer K-2nd
We are in open registration for our Kindergarten-2nd grad recreational league. Teams are formed using school district boundaries.
Registration ends August 2024. League play starts Sept. 7th.
Games and practices @
Lone Elm Soccer Complex Some
Micro Soccer
Micro Soccer is our Pre-K program. This is an introduction to soccer for kids ages 3.5-5 years old. Sign up today for a 6 week session starting Sept. 7th. All Fall sessions are at Lone Elm Soccer Park in Olathe.
Scan to Register
To register for ANY Kansas Rush Soccer Club programs, scan the QR code now!
Kansas Rush Soccer Club
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WHO: WHAT: PREMIER:
MINI-KICKERS: HALF-DAY: GOALKEEPER:
Ourmostcompetitiveprogram,theSportingBlueValleyPremierProgram,stillhassome openings.Theprogramisopentoallplayers2017-2006,butsincetheprogramisaskillbasedprogram,theywillneedtobeidentifiedfirst.Pleasecallusat 913-685-2872 to scheduleafreeIDsession.
SBVPremierisouryear-roundcompetitive programcoachedbyprofessionalcoaches. Theprogramisbasedonskill,andwehave multipleteamsineachagebracket.Players moveupbetweenteamsastheygetbetter.
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