Blue Valley Today - Spring '21 Edition

SPRING 2021

Horizon Award Winners Blue Valley Graduate Gives Back Granting Wishes 15020 Metcalf Overland Park, Kansas 66283

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A Message

from the Superintendent In Blue Valley’s new strategic plan, a commitment was made to reimagining learning and changing the world. We want our students to be life-ready, and this requires an atmosphere that fosters creativity, exemplary educators and meaningful educational opportunities so that every single student’s potential can be realized. Our mission has never been more important as we navigate this ever-changing world amid a global pandemic, while prioritizing what matters most: our students.

As I visit schools, it is great to see our students and staff connecting with each other face-to-face. I am so proud of our students for the resiliency they have shown throughout the pandemic. Our staff have risen to the challenge in the face of adversity. Please know our staff care very much about your children and they are “all-in” when it comes to making sure students are safe and on track for success. This year hasn’t been easy for any of us, especially our students and

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staff, but despite these challenges I am so grateful that they continue to persevere, going above and beyond each and every day.

We are beginning to see the light with the rollout of the vaccination plan, and it continues to be my hope for our students to be in-person full-time. Regardless of what the future holds, I know that as a school district we will continue to provide exceptional educational opportunities thanks to our incredible community. In a year like this, we could not do what we’re doing without our amazing educators, our parents or our business leaders coming together.

In the upcoming pages, you will have the opportunity to read about two educators who have gone above and beyond to support students in their first year of teaching, the journey of one Blue Valley graduate and his mission to impact the world, as well as how our community and educational foundation have rallied together to continue providing financial support during this difficult time. Together, these stories remind me of what makes this place so special: the people. Blue Valley has shown me time and time again that together, anything is possible. We’ve got this, Blue Valley!

Tonya Merrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent

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 Amy Tysseling, President Michele Benjamin, Vice President Jodie Dietz Patrick Hurley Tom Mitchell Stacy Obringer-Varhall Mike Seitz

Website www.bluevalleyk12.org Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube and download the Blue Valley Schools app for day-to-day district news.

SPRING 2021 • 3

Emily Mauer

Kassidy Evans Lola Shipman | Photographer, BVNWnews

had been named recipients of the 2021 Horizon Award.

Two Blue Valley teachers win first-year teaching award What seemed like a normal school day

Zoom meeting, they were surprised to see

took a turn for the better when Blue

the face on the other end of the call. The

Valley teachers Kassidy Evans and Emily

Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy

Mauer walked into a morning meeting

Watson greeted them with a knowing smile

with their principals. Logging into their

and some exciting news. Evans and Mauer

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The Horizon Award program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, recognizes 32 exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. In the case of Evans and Mauer, it was their keen ability to build relationships and understand the diverse needs of every student that helped them excel in their first year of teaching and stand out as Horizon Award winners.

As an interrelated resource teacher at Blue Valley Northwest, Kassidy Evans tailors her teaching strategies to meet the different needs of each student. Evans prioritizes relationship building with her students to help identify their individual needs and reach their goals. Through these personalized efforts, she has been able to gain the trust of her students and the families she works with.

“After Kassidy began working with our students and staff, it became clear to me

that one of her gifts was in relationshipbuilding,” said Monica Symes, Blue Valley Northwest school psychologist. “Her students trust her and work well with her to make progress. If she is concerned about a student, you will find her rallying the team to problem-solve.”

This commitment to problem-solving not only serves Evans well in her interactions with students, but also on her journey to growing as a new teacher. The first year of teaching can be overwhelming and comes with challenges. Evans knew her first year would entail a lot of learning, adapting and even some mistakes. Rather than let the challenges she encountered hold her back, she used them as moments to learn and grow.

“I knew I was going to make mistakes, but instead of perseverating and being held back by my mishaps, I was going to use these experiences to propel my teaching forward,” Evans said.

When preparing for her first year of teaching, Evans pursued the experience with a fail-forward mentality. “Failing forward is not really failing, it’s growing.”

At Timber Creek Elementary, fourth grade teacher Emily Mauer believes building strong relationships with her students is a key ingredient in a successful classroom.

Mauer shares that making strong connections and using a student-centered approach helps her understand the ways her students can learn best. This, in turn, builds confidence in her students’ learning

Kassidy Evans Lola Shipman | Photographer, BVNWnews

and gives them the opportunity to take an active role in their education.

“When a classroom is guided through this student-centered and welcoming approach, children are empowered to take risks, challenge each other, and truly begin to shine,” Mauer said. “Across all content areas, learning is most powerful when students are actively involved, and have a guiding role in the process.”

“[Evans’s] students trust her and work well with her to make progress. If she is concerned about a student, you will find her rallying the team to problem-solve.”

MONICA SYMES BLUE VALLEY NORTHWEST SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

Beginning each day with a morning meeting, consistency throughout her classroom helps Mauer’s students become familiar with classroom goals and expectations. Mauer maximizes student engagement in her classroom by using the Whole Brain Teaching philosophy.

This teaching strategy helps lessons and transitions flow smoothly. Creative attention getters and content connected to movement forms a fun classroom culture and supports peer interaction.

“[Mauer] motivates and inspires her students on a level that paves the way for a personalized relationship with the school experience.”

LAURA LAHUE VALLEY PARK ELEMENTARY ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

“It is abundantly clear that Emily has an innate, keen sense for the diverse needs of children in her care,” said Laura Lahue, Valley Park Elementary assistant principal and former Timber Creek colleague. “She motivates and inspires her students on a level that paves the way for a personalized relationship with the school experience.

Her aptitude for providing high-quality instruction, as well as her natural inclusion of character development and socialemotional learning, make her a one-of-akind educator.”

Emily Mauer

SPRING 2021 • 5

“ I would not have been able to win this scholarship if it wasn’t for the public schools that I went to and the educational opportunities I have gotten.

It was a moment of deep reflection and I am thankful for the incredible people who helped get me to that moment.”

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Rhode to success

Blue Valley North graduate gives back to the community while pursuing his dream Huddled together in his childhood home, the Ramasamy family waits for the result of Vijay’s scholarship application. After years of hard work, an arduous application process and months of waiting, the room erupts with cheers of celebration and excitement as the announcement is read aloud. Ramasamy, 2015 graduate of Blue Valley North and public health studies graduate from Johns Hopkins University, can now add a new accolade to his name: Rhodes Scholar.

The Rhodes Scholarship is denoted as one of the oldest and most prestigious international scholarship programs in the world. Recipients get the opportunity to study at the University of Oxford.

This prestigious award aims to select outstanding young people with the potential to lead and make an impact for good in the world. Ramasamy plans to attend the University of Oxford in the fall of 2021 where he will pursue a Master of Science degree in Comparative Social Policy and a Master of Public Policy degree.

“Receiving the Rhodes Scholarship was a testament to the village it takes to get to a moment like that, and a privilege to get to a moment like that,” Ramasamy said. “I would not have been able to win this scholarship if it wasn’t for the public schools that I went to and the educational opportunities I have gotten.

It was a moment of deep reflection and I am thankful for the incredible people who helped get me to that moment.”

Despite being in the early stages of his career, Ramasamy is already finding ways to give back and make an impact in his community working as a member of the Kansas COVID-19 reopening plan.

The camaraderie he witnessed as people worked together for one common goal, to keep people healthy and safe, not only solidified Ramasamy’s desire to continue a career in public service, but also reminded him of his roots in Blue Valley, where he often worked collaboratively with classmates toward a common goal through extracurricular activities like debate, newspaper, student council and more.

“Vijay represents what we want all of our students to work towards. How can I take my talents and find a way to make the world better?”

TYSON OSTROSKI BLUE VALLEY NORTH PRINCIPAL

“It was a privilege to go to Blue Valley Schools because there was such an emphasis on extracurricular activities and unlocking the potential of students through their passions,” Ramasamy said. “There was every opportunity to participate in tournaments, clubs and students were always provided the resources that they needed. I owe so much of my motivation and skills to the mentors and people I’ve interacted with, and Blue Valley plays such an important role in that.”

It is this foundational role in helping students develop their passions that Blue

Valley North Principal Tyson Ostroski hopes all students experience during their time in the district. Every opportunity, no matter how big or small, has the possibility of starting a student down their own path toward greatness.

“Vijay represents what we want all of our students to work towards: How can I take my talents and find a way to make the world better?” Ostroski said. “We have a tagline here, Mustang proud, and that’s exactly what I felt for one of our family members within our high school to not only achieve these great heights, but to also do what he could to make the world better.”

While Ramasamy is proud to serve as an example for his Mustang community, he also knows that every path is different and that it is okay to experience bumps along the way. Through his journey, Ramasamy has realized that you will never have everything figured out. The importance of mental health and knowing that it is okay to ask for help are two things Ramasamy continues to work hard to learn. By trusting in the things he loves to do and being mindful to take care of himself, Ramasamy is excited to see what his future has in store.

“My goal is to do whatever I can to give every child in this country the same sort of incredible opportunities I was given by going to Blue Valley Schools, attending Johns Hopkins and working with the incredible people that I’ve worked with,” Ramasamy said. “My North Star is doing the right thing and doing right by the opportunities I’ve been given and to pass those on to other people and make an impact through the government.”

SPRING 2021 • 7

GRANTING Multicolor spotlights paint the walls at Hilltop Conference Center and music pulses through the room as a DJ spins his turntables to kick off a district celebration unlike any other.

It’s “Surprise Squad” day for the Blue Valley Educational Foundation, an annual celebration filled with surprise announcements and grants awarded to schools and classrooms throughout the district. This year, the celebration is sporting a new look and format due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the feeling among the squad and its eager grant recipients has not changed: total excitement. ”Our teachers and staff are used to us arriving in bright yellow buses, carrying giant checks through the hallways, running into classrooms and surprising students and teachers with grants throughout the district,” said Joy Ginsburg, Executive Director of the Blue Valley Educational Foundation. “Obviously, with COVID-19 we had to rethink how we did this by consolidating the event to one location, maintaining social distance and generating excitement at the event through new elements like a DJ, as well as inviting our tried and true hosts who always make this a memorable occasion.”

Joined by local celebrity emcees John Holt of Fox 4 News; Joel Goldberg, voice of the Royals; and Kevin Timmons, co-owner of Nick and Jake’s restaurant, the Blue Valley Educational Foundation and members of the Foundation board cheered from the audience as, one-by-one, the grants were revealed. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, the Foundation was able to continue its commitment to supporting education by providing each and every Blue Valley school and program a $2,000 grant to fund individual requests, as well several special grant allocations for a total of more than $180,000 in grants.

“At a time when our students, teachers and schools are experiencing so many challenges, it is wonderful to be able to support our school district by providing grants that will last long into the future,” Ginsburg said. “The world may look a little different right now, but our goal has always been and continues to be supporting the education of our students. Whether that is in-person, virtually or a combination of both, we are here to help fund programs and initiatives that will help our students succeed during their time in Blue Valley.”

The grants will go toward funding a variety of educational needs from student learning materials and supports, to Makerspaces,

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WISHES

BVEF SURPRISE SQUAD ANNOUNCES GRANTS FOR ALL BLUE VALLEY SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS

to outdoor learning environments and more. In addition to building and classroom grants, the Foundation provided $42,000 in funding for Blue Valley’s Career-Ready Programs for high school students and $30,000 for all middle and high schools to continue the Sources of Strength program, which is a national initiative to connect teens to trusted adults and trained peers with the tools they need for suicide prevention.

“In a year like this, when it has been so different and tumultuous at times, we couldn’t do what we’re doing without our community, our amazing educators, our parents or our business leaders coming together,” said Tonya Merrigan, superintendent. “This pandemic has affected all of us in different ways, and we know that learning how to cope with the stresses and anxieties that may result from these challenging times is an important skill for our students. We are so grateful that through community donations, our Foundation was able to fund the Sources of Strength program so that we can continue to support the health and well-being of our students.”

If you are interested in making a donation to support future grants, visit www.fundbv.org/donate. For more information about the Blue Valley Educational Foundation, visit www.fundbv.org and follow the Foundation on Facebook and Twitter for the latest information.

• Grants provided to every Blue Valley school and district-wide program • A total of more than $182,000 awarded in grants •$ 30,000 in funding for all middle and high schools to continue to implement the Sources of Strength suicide prevention program •$ 42,000 to support high school students who participate in Blue Valley’s Career-Ready Programs

SPRING 2021 • 9

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