Oct. 5, 2023
Heatherstone Elementary Wins Civic Advocacy Network Award
Heatherstone Elementary School was awarded the Civic Advocacy Network Award from the Kansas State Department of Education. Nancy Smith, first grade teacher, can be credited for her work and leadership with the “farm to table” program and advocating for embedding agriculture standards in her extensive integrated unit plans. She was the grant writer, and the major agricultural components were from the first-grade level. Principal Toni Cole, along with Smith, submitted the application for the award.
“We were very excited to learn that we were being awarded this award from KSDE,” Smith said. “We’re going to use this opportunity to encourage other Olathe schools to take a look at all the wonderful civic engagement activities that they’re doing and share their own story.”
The purpose of the Civic Advocacy Network is to recognize schools that actively involve students in civic engagement opportunities and to share exemplary practices with schools across the state. The ultimate goal is to promote civic engagement as part of students’ experiences at all grade levels. For students to cultivate a commitment to civic participation and to become active members of communities, students need regular opportunities to engage in civic learning activities.
“Whether first graders are going to Topeka to lobby the State Board of Education to include agriculture in our state teaching standards or we’re inviting the Olathe police and fire departments to come to our school to share their programs, Heatherstone staff is committed to helping our students become involved in the Olathe community,” Smith said. “I am so proud to be part of the Heatherstone team that works hard at providing opportunities for our students to learn about their world.”
Manchester Park Elementary Teacher Named National History Teacher of the Year Finalist
Rachel Swearengin, Manchester Park Elementary School fifth grade teacher, was announced as one of 10 finalists for the National History Teacher of the Year Award for 2023. Swearengin was recently named the 2023 Kansas History Teacher of the Year, making her one of 53 finalists on the national level before the list was cut to 10.
The award was inaugurated in 2004 and is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. Over 1,000 history teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels in the United States have been named State History Teacher of the Year. From there, 19 of them have gone on to win the national award. The award was implemented to highlight the crucial importance of history education by honoring exceptional American history teachers from elementary school through high school.
“This is very special to me because history is a subject that often does not receive very many instructional minutes in the elementary classroom, yet it is vital to helping students build a foundation of what it means to be a productive citizen in a democratic society,” Swearengin said. “I want to continue to spread that message.”
The 2023 National History Teacher of the Year will be announced this fall and will be honored at a special ceremony in New York City.
Olathe Northwest Named Top 10 Public School in Kansas
U.S. News and World Report recently named Olathe Northwest High School a top 10 public school in the state of Kansas. The publication released its annual rankings of the best high schools in the nation, and lists the best high schools by state.
“ONW is excited to again be ranked in the top 10 public schools in Kansas,” Olathe Northwest Principal Chris Zuck said. “This is a reflection of our community’s support and our teachers’, staff’s, and students’ efforts to engage in rigorous levels of learning with a foundation of positive relationships. It is always appreciated when ONW is celebrated for the special place that it is.”
Kansas City-area schools make up half of the top 20 schools in Kansas and Missouri. On the Kansas side, seven of the top 10 schools are in the Kansas City metro area.
Read the full news article posted by Fox 4 News.
