2015-16 Staff Awards

    • 2016 Presidential Award Kansas State Finalist — Nancy Smith, Bentwood Elementary School
    • 2016 Pinnacle of Excellence Award from the Association of School Business Officials International — John Hutchison, Education Center
    • Newman University School of Education Graduate Achievement Award — Margarita Alcantara, Olathe North High School
    • Read to Achieve Award from the Kansas National Education Association and KCTV5 — Victoria MacFarlane of Prairie Trail Middle School and Jonann Ellner of Santa Fe Trail Middle School
    • 2016 Genetics Education Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers — Michael Ralph, Olathe East High School
    • Promising Kansas Athletic Director of the Year by the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association — Amanda Faunce, Olathe East High School
    • Inducted as a Fellow by the National Association of School Nurses — Cindy Galemore, North Lindenwood Support Center
    • Assistant coach in the McDonald's All-American girls basketball game — Steve Ingram, Olathe South High School
    • "20 Educators to Watch in Educational Technology" as named by the National School Boards Association — Josh Stock, Santa Fe Trail Middle School
    • 2015-16 Outstanding Speech/Debate/Theatre Educator Award for Section 5 from the National Federation of High Schools — Josh Anderson, Olathe Northwest High School
    • Earth Science Teacher of the Year from the Kansas Geological Foundation and the Kansas Earth Science Teachers Association — Marsha Skoczek, Olathe North High School
    • Honor Administrator Award from the Kansas Music Educators Association — Alison Banikowski, Education Center
    • Chef of the Year honor from the Greater Kansas City Chefs Association — Mike Chrostowski, Olathe North High School
    • Kansas Horizon Award — Lauren Brown, Heatherstone Elementary School, and Jocelyn Cummings, Mission Trail Middle School
    • Kansas National Distinguished Principal of the Year as named by the National Association of Elementary School Principals — John Ernst, Rolling Ridge Elementary School
    • Music Therapy Recognition Award from the American Music Therapy Association — Carol Affholder, Harmony Early Childhood Center; Stacy Shipley, Woodland Elementary School; and Lanie Fasulo, Special Services
    • Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance President's Award — Brent Yeager, Education Center
    • Outstanding High School Orchestra Educator of the Year as named by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association — Greg Ferguson, Olathe South High School
    • Outstanding Middle School Choral Educator of the Year as named by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association — Gretchen Harrison, Frontier Trail Middle School
    • Outstanding Middle School Orchestra Educator of the Year as named by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association — Sherry Wann, California Trail Middle School
    • Outstanding Middle School Band Educator of the Year as named by the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association — Eric Griffin, Mission Trail Middle School
    • Kansas Outstanding Middle School Art Educator for 2015-16 as named by the Kansas Art Educators Association — Megan Wendleton, California Trail Middle School
    • District 1 National Distinguished Principal for 2015-16 as named by the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals — John Ernst, Rolling Ridge Elementary School
    • St. Vincent DePaul Alumni Award from the University of St. Mary — Alison Banikowski, Education Center
    • Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching — Patrick Flynn, Olathe East High School, and Jeremi Wonch, Indian Trail Middle School