Category Archives: Schools
Jayci Cosens: Teacher of the Year at Fort Scott Middle School
Jayci Cosens, who teaches 7th grade science, is the recipient of this years Dale Hammons Award, Teacher of the Year, for the Fort Scott Middle School.
“The criteria we used was someone that builds strong relationships with students and staff, sets high expectations for their students and themselves, listens well to their peers, works well with others, and sets a positive example for students,” said FSMS Principal Zach Johnson.
“I feel very blessed to teach at USD 234,” Cosens said. “It is a district filled with great educators, administrators, support staff and students. The middle school is full of other teachers who are just as deserving of this honor as I am. I have spent the past decade learning from them about what great teaching looks like.”
Cosens began her teaching career at Fort Scott High School in 2001, after graduation from Pittsburg State University.
“I taught for three years and quit teaching in 2004 to be a stay-at-home mom following the birth of our first son….and returned to the classroom in 2011, when our youngest started kindergarten and I taught for one year at Heritage Christian in Olathe.
“I started teaching 7th grade science at the (Fort Scott) middle school in 2013,” Cosens said. “Along the way, I have coached interscholastic and intramural volleyball, basketball, and track both at the high school and middle school level.”
Have you always taught science there?
“I have always taught science, but my minor is in history, so I could also teach history in the future. Over the years, I have taught grades 6-12 in: General Science, Physical Science, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Health. During my ‘stay at home’ years, I also went to nursing school (graduated with an ADN in 2010 from Fort Scott Community College and I still keep my nursing license current. I worked as a nurse for five years (2010-2015) in the intensive care unit and emergency room.”
Why did you choose teaching as a career?
“I actually started college planning to go into Physical Therapy. All through my undergraduate classes, I would find myself thinking, “When I have my own classroom, I will teach this concept this way’ and would then quickly have to remind myself that I was not going to be a teacher! In my senior year, I finally changed my major to education. I guess the short answer is that I chose teaching as a career because I felt like God was calling me to this profession, I just ignored that call for the first few years of college!”
What is the best part of teaching for you?
“For me, it’s probably building relationships with my students. Teaching in a small town, I get the opportunity to see them go on from 7th grade and graduate high school and beyond. I love seeing them excel in the paths they choose and know that I was a small part of their journey. Teaching is never boring! Each day (and each class) is different and that means that I am always having to adapt and change. What worked in one class might not work in another, and I have to quickly figure out how to change what I’m doing to stay effective. Science is never boring either! Students have a natural curiosity about the world around them. Helping them better understand it is rewarding every day.”
What is the biggest challenge?
“Trying to find new ways to keep kids engaged is a challenge. Our whole society, not just kids, has become more and more distracted. The things that worked to engage students twenty years ago when I started my career may not necessarily work with this generation of students. At the same time, I think educators are trying to overcome the idea that every single thing that happens in school has to be fun and entertaining. That’s just not the reality of the real world. Some things are boring, it doesn’t lessen their value.”
Care to name family?
“I grew up just outside of Redfield (my dad told me to say that) and graduated from Uniontown High School in 1996. My parents are Steve and Marci Williams (he told me to say this too). I have been married to Chad since 2002, he’s a 1995 Fort Scott High School graduate and owns 1842 Wealth Management, a retirement planning group. We have two sons. Dryden is 19 and just finished his freshman year at Fort Scott Community College where he’s also a part of the baseball team. Cal is 17 and will start his senior year at FSHS in the fall-he plays football, basketball, and baseball. We have a very large extended family in Fort Scott and chose to raise our family here where our sons would be surrounded by grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins.”
About Dale Hammons, in whose memory the award is given.
Hammons was a 1946 graduate of Fort Scott High School, Johnson said. He graduated Pittsburg State University, then became a full time assistant principal at Fort Scott Junior High in 1977.
“Mr. Hammons was instrumental in helping the 1983 transition from the Fort Scott Junior High School to what is now Fort Scott Middle School,” Johnson said. “Mr. Hammons will long be remembered as an effective middle school principal who was loved and respected by students, and staff.”
Editors note
This last paragraph incorrectly had Phil Hammons as the title.
The following is from Betsy Hammons Reichard, his daughter:
“While overseas in the Army, dad took many correspondence courses through the University of Maryland and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Military Science. After he retired from the Army in 1970, he went to PSU and earned his Master’s degree in Counselor Education and then his Education Specialist. Dad truly was loved and respected by students, staff and throughout Fort Scott and beyond. The day of his funeral, stores closed and flags were flown at half mask in honor of him. This award is special to our family and I am always thrilled to know who receives it.
Congratulations Jayci!
Betsy Hammons Reichard
End of the Year Fort Scott Tiger Newsletter
Have an awesome Summer Break! See you in August.
— Pam Hutchison
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USD 234 Special Meeting Press Release from May 19
Friday, May 19, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 19, 2023, for a special board meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board went into executive session and then approved the Personnel Report as presented.
President Danny Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
May 19, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Schoenberger, Karleigh – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Schoenberger, Karleigh – Fort Scott High School Assistant Volleyball Coach at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Dunkeson, Lewis – Fort Scott Middle School Head Football Coach and Fort Scott Middle School Summer Conditioning at the end of the 2022-23 school year
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS:
- Lee, Rebecca – Transfer from Winfield Scott Speech Paraprofessional to 6.5-hour Fort Scott High School Cook
- Harris, Shelby – Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher
- Magathan-Krone, Jane – Eugene Ware Counselor
- Wood, Lanette – Eugene Ware Elementary Paraprofessional
U234 Special Meeting at 8 a.m. on May 19
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING
MAY 19, 2023 – 8:00 A.M.
AGENDA SUMMARY
1.0 Call Meeting to Order Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3..0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
3.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
3.2 Exit Executive Session
3.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
4.0 Adjourn Meeting
President Brown
USD Board Members Gathering on May 17
Notice of Gathering Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at
12:00 p.m.
At the Staff Luncheon and Staff Awards at Fort Scott High School,
there may be a majority of USD 234 Board Members present at the Fort Scott High School, 1005 S Main. Even though a majority may be present, there will be no school district business conducted.
Kansas State University Selected for National Science Foundation Award
Created through the CHIPS and Science Act, K-State Among First Recipients
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today congratulated Kansas State University for being awarded $1 million from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program for the Advancing Biosecurity, Biodefense, and Biomanufacturing project.
Established through the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines project selected 44 teams including universities, nonprofits, businesses and other organizations across the U.S. states and territories to receive a $1 million award. These awards will help organizations create connections and develop their local innovation ecosystem within two years to prepare a strong proposal for becoming a future NSF Engine, where they will have the opportunity to receive up to $160 million.
“Congratulations to K-State University and their team for winning this award and building on the many new significant research and development projects in the Manhattan region,” said Sen. Moran. “This award is part of the national effort created by the CHIPS and Science Act to geographically rebalance federal research and development to universities across the country. K-State has demonstrated that participation in this new program will create jobs, strengthen our nation’s global competitiveness and encourage innovation.”
“These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines,” said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. “These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF’s vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation.”
“This will set up a path for more companies to locate and expand in the Greater Manhattan region, creating new jobs, attracting talent and investing in our communities,” said Daryn Soldan, director of economic development, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce.
“The region of northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri is home to significant activity in the domain of biosecurity, biodefense and biomanufacturing, including academic and government research and the private sector,” said Beth Montelone, senior associate vice president for research at K-State. “Partners in the region aspire to build upon this activity to make northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri a hub of research, education and manufacturing in biosecurity, biodefense and biomanufacturing.”
“Over the next two years, K-State Innovation Partners looks forward to supporting the project by facilitating collaboration among the university, industry and communities through industry engagement, technology commercialization and economic development,” said Rebecca Robinson, president and CEO of K-State Innovation Partners.
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USD234 Board of Ed. Notice of Gathering
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
www.usd234.org
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
Date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by Gina Shelton, Board Clerk, USD 234
Notice of Gathering Saturday, May 13, 2023
7:45 p.m.
Fort Scott High School Class of 2023 Graduation
Fort Scott High School
There may be a majority of USD 234 Board Members present at the Fort Scott High School, 1005 S Main, Fort Scott, Kansas, on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Even though a majority may be present, no school district business will be conducted.
Dominick Budy to Play Basketball at Fort Scott Community College
Fort Scott Christian Heights senior Dominick Budy has committed to playing basketball at Fort Scott Community College for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Dominick has received numerous awards throughout his high school basketball career, including three years as MACC Conference MVP, and the MCSAA All-Tournament Team in 2023.
Dominick has scored more than 2000 points in his time at Fort Scott Christian Heights.
Dominick plans to pursue a degree in Sports Medicine, and is the son of Jeremy and Amy Budy of Fort Scott.
School Board Press Release from Board Meeting on May 8
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
NEWS RELEASE
Monday, May 8, 2023
Members of the USD 234 Board of Education met at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, May 8, 2023, for their regular monthly meeting at the board office.
President Danny Brown opened the meeting.
The board approved the official agenda and the consent agenda as follows:
- Board Minutes from the April 10, 2023, regular board meeting
- Financials-Cash Flow Report
- Check Register
- Payroll – April 12, 2023 – $392,678.35 and April 20, 2023 – $1,583,397.57
- Activity Fund accounts
- Extended Trip Applications
- Point of Interest:
- FSHS Graduation 8:00 PM – May 13th – FSHS Stadium – board members be there at 7:45 p.m. at the FSHS Commons
- Employee Luncheon & Recognition – May 17th – FSHS Commons – at 12:00 p.m.
Scott Kimble, Fort Scott High School Principal, along with Matt Glades, Teacher at Fort Scott High School, recognized the following Fort Scott High School students:
- Caden Young: he has attained his CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 certifications. These are the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and is the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles. Caden has also obtained the CCNA—which stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate, which is an entry-level information technology (IT) certification issued by networking hardware company Cisco.
- Langdon Giddens (in attendance): he has served as a paid intern with the USD 234 Technology Department since October. Langdon discussed what he had learned through the internship and his future plans.
- Anna Laubenstein (in attendance): Adobe certified – Associate in Photoshop. Anna discussed her future plans, along with her achievements in the Skills USA competition.
- Cole Harding: Adobe certified – Associate in Photoshop
Licensed Tiger Team Member – Superintendent Destry Brown recognized Amy Harper as the Licensed Tiger Team Member of the Month.
- Harper is a Mathematics teacher at Fort Scott High School. Mrs. Harper was a Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee. She was recognized in Topeka for excellence in the profession and will travel around to other districts throughout Kansas next year periodically. Mrs. Harper has taught for the district for 14 years.
Board Members shared comments.
Superintendent Destry Brown provided an update to the board on the Energy projects taking place throughout the district. Later in the meeting, the board received a demonstration of the new crisis app, Emergent 3, that will replace the Crisis Go app.
Assistant Superintendent Dalaina Smith updated the board on preliminary end of year data; highlighting areas of growth in various grade levels that were above 10% and provided an assessment team update.
Gina Shelton, Finance Director, noted the June 1st filing deadline to run for school board, KDHE allocation of grant funds, closing down of the fiscal year, and noted an initial meeting with Enterprise Fleet management.
The board approved the following items:
- Payment to Meridian Roofing in the amount of $50,598.00
- Science textbook purchase from SAVVAS – $155.99, PASCO – $7,363.55, and McGraw Hill -$49,982.39 for grades 9-12
- Clarification on science purchase for Fort Scott Middle School to cancel the prior month approved purchase and continue the current resource being used
- Greenbush Education Service Center invoices for 2023-24 services
- Greenbush Education Service Center Virtual Academy MOU and Assurances
- Acceptance of school photography proposal from Josten’s JPix
- Participation in the Bourbon County Neighborhood Revitalization Program
- Allow the Superintendent and Finance Director to invest idle funds in short-term CDs with reporting to the board, but without prior board approval to capitalize on timing
- Greenbush Participation & Hedging Authorization for 2023-24
- Approval of Personnel Report (following)
The board went into an executive session for negotiation and personnel matters.
President Brown adjourned the meeting.
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
May 8, 2023
RESIGNATIONS/TERMINATIONS/RETIREMENTS:
- Billionis, Connie – Leave of Absence – Deputy Clerk
- Cox, Jessica – Leave of Absence – Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional until May 17, 2023
- Dunivan, Sarah – Leave of Absence for beginning of 2023-24 until September 17, 2023
- Gordon, Karen – Resignation – Eugene Ware Counselor at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Homan, Tracy – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle School Building Testing Coordinator at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Jackman, Sara – Resignation – Fort Scott High School PDC Chair at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Webb, Megan – Resignation – Fort Scott Preschool Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Endicott, Debra – Retirement – Fort Scott Middle School Cook at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Wilbert, Tara – Resignation – Fort Scott Middle School 7th Grade ELA Teacher at the end of the 2022-23 school year
- Wilson, Ramona – Retirement – Winfield Scott Kitchen Manager at the end of the 2022-23 school year
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS:
Recommendations for the 2023-24 school year:
- Anderson, Mikiah – Transfer from Fort Scott Preschool Center Paraprofessional to Speech Paraprofessional
- Black, Staci – Transfer from District Instructional Technology/Fort Scott Middle School Teacher to Fort Scott Middle School Technology Teacher
- Blackburn, Brendon – Transfer from 6th Grade Science Teacher to 8th Grade Science Teacher
- Couch, Kim – Transfer from Eugene Ware Elementary 3rd Grade to Interventionist
- Herring, Jennifer – Transfer from Fort Scott High School Cook/2-hour Bus Driver to Transportation 4-hour bus, and 4-hour bus/car maintenance, increasing the existing position 1.5 hours
- Homan, Tracy – Transfer from Fort Scott High School/Fort Scott Middle School Librarian/Testing Coordinator position to Fort Scott Middle School ELA Teacher
- Hull, Megan – Transfer from Speech Paraprofessional to Fort Scott High School Paraprofessional
- Nelson, Andrew – Transfer from Eugene Ware 4th Grade Teacher to Fort Scott Middle School 6th Grade Science Teacher
- Russell, Deborah – Transfer from Fort Scott Middle School Teacher to Fort Scott High School Ag Teacher
- Sharp, Francis – Transfer from Fort Scott High School Cook to Fort Scott Middle School Cook
- Cavin, Brent – Fort Scott Middle School Head Boys Basketball Coach
- Fields, Kelly – Fort Scott High School English Teacher
- Hendricks, Caleb – Fort Scott Middle School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
- McKinsey, Rayanne – Winfield Scott 2nd Grade Teacher
- Peterson, Emily – Fort Scott Preschool Center Teacher
- Rogers, Jamie – Fort Scott Middle School Head Girls Basketball Coach
- Setina, Ashlee – Fort Scott High School Family and Consumer Science Teacher
- Weaver, Mark – Fort Scott High School Special Education Teacher
PERSONNEL REPORT – APPROVED EMPLOYMENT
May 8, 2023 (continued)
EMPLOYMENT/REASSIGNMENTS (continued):
- Certified Reemployments:
- Fort Scott High School
- Eugene Ware Elementary
- Classified Reemployments:
- Fort Scott High School
- Fort Scott Middle School
- Eugene Ware Elementary
- Winfield Scott Elementary
- Fort Scott Preschool Center
- Central Office
- Directors
- Finance
- Food Service
- Maintenance & Custodial
- Technology
- Transportation
- Supplemental Recommendations
- District
- Fort Scott High School
- Fort Scott Middle School
- Eugene Ware Elementary
- Winfield Scott Elementary
U234 Board of Education Agenda for May 8
Unified School District 234
424 South Main
Fort Scott, KS 66701-2697
620-223-0800 Fax 620-223-2760
DESTRY BROWN
Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING
MAY 8, 2023 – 5:30 P.M.
PUBLIC AGENDA
1.0 Call Meeting to Order Danny Brown, President
2.0 Flag Salute
3.0 Approval of the Official Agenda (Action Item)
4.0 Approval of the Consent Agenda (Action Item)
4.1 Board Minutes
- 04/10/2023 Regular Meeting
4.2 Financials-Cash Flow Report
4.3 Check Register
4.4 Payroll – April 12, 2023 – $392,678.35 and April 20, 2023 – $1,583,397.57
4.5 Activity Fund accounts
4.6 Extended Trip Application
4.7 Point of Interest
- FSHS Graduation 8:00 PM – May 13th – FSHS Stadium – board members be there at 7:45 p.m. at the FSHS Commons
- Employee Luncheon & Recognition – May 17th – FSHS Commons – at 12:00 p.m.
5.0 Recognitions
5.1 Student Recognition
5.2 Employee Recognition
5.3 Board Member Acknowledgements
6.0 Leadership Reports (Information/Discussion Item)
6.1 Superintendent’s Report
6.2 Assistant Superintendent’s Report
6.3 Finance Director’s Report
7.0 Old Business
8.0 New Business
8.1 Roof Payment (Action Item)
8.2 Science Textbook Adoption (Action Item)
8.3 Greenbush Education Service Center Invoices (Action Item)
8.4 Greenbush Education Service Center Virtual Academy MOU & Assurances (Action Item)
8.5 School Photography Proposals (Action Item)
8.6 Bourbon County Neighborhood Revitalization Program (Action Item)
8.7 Discussion of Interest of Idle Funds (Action Item)
8.8 Greenbush Participation & Hedging Authorization for 2023-24 (Action Item)
9.0 Public Forum
10.0 Other Business – Negotiations
10.1 Enter Executive Session – Negotiations (Action Item)
10.2 Exit Executive Session
11.0 Other Business – Personnel Matters
11.1 Enter Executive Session – Personnel Matters (Action Item)
11.2 Exit Executive Session
11.3 Approval of Personnel Report (Action Item)
11.4 Approval of Personnel Report – Reemployment Classified & Supplemental Personnel 2023-24 (Action Item)
12.0 Adjourn Meeting
Uniontown FFA Meat Evaluation Team is the State Runner-Up
The Uniontown FFA Meat Evaluation Team was recently named as the State Runner-Up team at the Kansas FFA State Meat Evaluation contest held in Manhattan, Kansas on April 30th. With their 2nd place finish at the state competition, Uniontown FFA will represent Kansas FFA at the 2024 National Western Stock Show Meat Judging contest held in Denver, Colorado in January.
The team was led by Byron Fry, who ranked as the 2nd High Individual overall and Addisyn Hall who finished in 5th place individually. Brycen Stewart ended up in 14th and Corrynn Atkins ranked 21st. All four of Uniontown’s team members are Juniors at Uniontown High School and will have the opportunity to return to the state contest next year.
This Runner-up finish for Uniontown FFA continues an impressive run of state contest rankings for the chapter. Over the past seven years Uniontown has been named the Champion Team Overall two times (2018 and 2021) and the Runner-up team three times (2017, 2019, 2023) in the Meat Evaluation contest. Additionally the chapter was the State Champion team at the Livestock Judging event in 2016 and 2019, the State Ritual contest in 2021 and the Leadership Information contest in 2019.
The team is coached by Uniontown High School Ag Teacher and FFA Advisor Scott Sutton who has been at Uniontown since the 2016-2017 school year.