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9-22-17 — Late September 2017 Awards
Sept. 22, 2017
Olathe Students Perform in Theater Production
Three Olathe students performed in the Blue Star Teen Ensemble at Starlight Theatre's production of "Grease." The Blue Star Teen Ensemble featured 15 members from high schools across the Kansas City metro area.
Fisher Stewart, Olathe West High School junior; Megan Secrest, Olathe South High School senior; and Jordan DeLeon, Olathe South junior, represented Olathe in the production that ran Sept. 8-14.
Olathe Educator Chosen as STEM Ambassador
The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recently selected Bruce Wellman, chemistry and engineering teacher at Olathe Northwest High School, as one of 10 math and science teachers to serve as a 2017 STEM Teacher Ambassador.
The ambassador program aims to empower teacher leaders to develop the necessary skills to effectively communicate the realities of their classrooms to stakeholders.
"I am very thankful for this opportunity to represent STEM classrooms and teachers to a broader audience," Wellman said. "I look forward to helping all stakeholders in public education think strategically on how to increase science and engineering learning for all students in pre-school to 12th grade."
Olathe Staff Member to Speak at Annual Expo
The Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) has invited Olathe Public Schools Chief Financial and Operations Officer John Hutchison to be a guest speaker at its 2017 Annual Meeting and Expo in late September.
The Annual Meeting and Expo brings together more than 1,000 school business leaders from around the world for four days of engaging professional development and offers educational sessions covering top issues impacting school finance and the latest products and services in school business.
Olathe North Thespians Achieve High Ratings
Three students at Olathe North High School qualified for the National Individual Events Showcase (NIES). This is part of the competitive acting and technical theatre competition with the International Thespian Society.
Emily Martin, junior, received a superior rating in stage management. She is the first student at Olathe North to receive a superior rating in this category.
2017 graduates Isabelle Nelson and Garrett Frankenfield received a superior rating in their duet acting scene and also received a callback for the final showcase at the showcase. They are the first Olathe North group to get a callback for the showcase.
"I am very proud of these students," Olathe North Theatre Director Dustin Pence said. "This is the third year Olathe North has had students qualify for the national competition, and the first time that we have received superiors at nationals. Seeing these students grow as theatre participants is one of the best parts of my job. I look forward to what these students will be able to do in the future and the inspiration that they have created in the Olathe North theatre program."
Regency Place Elementary Special Chorus Selected for Ceremony
The Regency Place Elementary Special Chorus has been selected to sing at the Liberty Memorial Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11. They will perform the "Star Spangled Banner," "Flanders Fields" and an Australian Anzac tune called "Always Remember."
"We're very thankful for the opportunity Liberty Memorial has given us," Kody Wilnauer, Regency Place Elementary vocal music teacher, said. "We look forward to the performance and representing Olathe and our music abilities."
Olathe Choir Directors Receives Honor
Laura VanLeeuwen, Olathe West High School choir director, and Pam Williamson, Olathe Northwest High School choir director, were named Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) District Outstanding Secondary Choral Teachers of the Year. VanLeeuwen and Williamson will be recognized at a ceremony in December.
"This is a well-deserved honor for Laura," Olathe West Principal Jay Novacek said. "She is a highly respected director in Kansas and the Kansas City metro and we feel fortunate to have her starting our program at West."
"Pam is the consummate professional," Olathe Northwest Principal Chris Zuck said. "She has high standards for herself and her students. She builds capacity in her students and inspires them to reach their potential. We are so fortunate to have a talented choir teacher like Pam at Olathe Northwest."
Olathe Educator Receives City Community Award
Jennifer O'Gorman, science teacher at Olathe Northwest High School was recently selected as a winner of a Persons with Disabilities Accessible Community Award presented by the Olathe Human Relations Commission and the Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board. This award honors individuals for meritorious service, perseverance or determination in the pursuit of disability inclusiveness.
"It is an honor to receive this award. It is a validation of the work the students are doing in the Engineer a Better World class at Olathe Northwest High School," O'Gorman said. "The goal of our class is to create positive change in the world, large or small. This experience provided us with a great opportunity to design, create and build and be inspired by those with disabilities."
O'Gorman will be honored at the annual Olathe Community Awards Banquet Oct. 12, at the Olathe Community Center.
Olathe Educator's Book Receives Prestigious Award
Elisa Gagnon, intervention support teacher at Washington Elementary School, co-authored "The Power Card Strategy 2.0" with Brenda Smith Myles, PhD, which was recently selected as a winner of the 2018 Teachers' Choice Awards in the category of Professional Development.
The Teachers' Choice Awards are the only awards judged exclusively by teachers in the classroom.
"Power Cards 2.0 is a strategy that encourages the use of special interests to motivate students or teach expected behaviors or social skills," Gagnon said. "The strategy was originally used with those with an autism spectrum disorder but this research-based positive behavior support has also proven to be effective with many students with a special interest. Special interests were once discouraged and considered an obsession, however, educators now know that embracing these interests can lead to improved relationships and communication."
Three Olathe Teachers Named Semifinalists for National Award
Three teachers at the Olathe Advanced Technology Center (OATC) were named as semifinalists for the inaugural Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. Ken Gandy, Ed Hensely and Gary Pommier were among the 54 selected as semifinalists across the nation.
This award honors outstanding teaching excellence in the skill trades in U.S. public schools which enables students to be career-ready.
"I am so proud of the work that our instructors provide for our students and community," OATC administrator Amy Stolz said. "Our two-year programs make a difference in the lives of so many students. The instructors are preparing students for post-secondary by providing a variety of skilled trade and leadership experiences. Olathe is fortunate to have Mr. Gandy, Mr. Hensley and Mr. Pommier. The experience they bring and their dedication to students is truly remarkable."