Category Archives: Schools

Fort Scott, Schools

USD 234 Hires New Superintendent, Ted Hessong

1 Comment
Ted Hessong was hired as the new superintendent for Fort Scott schools.

Ted Hessong, currently superintendent of USD 456, was hired Tuesday evening by the USD 234 Board of Education. He will begin June 2, 2018, and was hired on a two-year contract as the new superintendent in Fort Scott’s school system.

The following is a FortScott.Biz  interview with Hessong.

What motivated you to get into education?

“My mom was a teacher at Fort Scott Middle School, which was a great example of what a teacher should be. I was also active in sports and I wanted to be a basketball coach since 7th grade.”

Education?

” I graduated from Fort Scott High School and earned an Associates Degree from Fort Scott Community College. I got my Bachelor’s Degree in Science Education from Pittsburg State University. I also received my Master’s in Building Leadership and District Certification from PSU.”

Experience?

” My first two years in education I was a science teacher and coach at Pleasanton Junior/Senior High School in Pleasanton, Kansas. I then accepted a position at Frontenac Junior High and High School teaching science and coaching, where I did my student teaching. I spent 17 years at Frontenac School district, where I went from a teacher to assistant principal for the 6th-12th-grade building. I then became the first junior high principal at Frontenac because we separated the junior high from the high school. The last five years at Frontenac I was the high school principal following the retirement of one of my mentors, Joe Martin. The past two school years I have been the superintendent at Marais des Cygnes Valley School District, which is composed of the communities of Melvern, Quenemo, and Olivet in Kansas.”

Family?

“I have three children.”

What interested you in the position in Fort Scott?

“Fort Scott has tremendous respect throughout the state of Kansas as a top-notch district. I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to return to my hometown to lead the district that really gave me my start in education.”

What do you feel you bring to the district?

“I feel my leadership experiences have prepared me to lead Fort Scott in a variety of areas to provide the best opportunities for the students of Fort Scott to experience success.”

What assets do you see in USD 234?

” The biggest asset Fort Scott has to offer is the teachers, staff, and students at Fort Scott. All these groups are what make Fort Scott an excellent school district.”

Any concerns?

“No concerns at this time.”

Any interests besides education, hobbies?

“My biggest interest is spending time with my family and friends.  I also enjoy sports, playing golf and mowing.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSHS Future Business Leaders Tour Capital

Leave a comment
Submitted photo.

Future Business Leaders of America visited Topeka for the State Leadership Conference on March 27-29.

The conference is a two-day event hosted at the capital each year, according to Morgan Robbins, the Business Teacher and FBLA Sponsor at Fort Scott High School .

“Students from schools all over the state of Kansas compete in various events,” she said. ” All of our students competed in objective tests, in topics including personal finance, business law, hospitality management, health care administration and more. We were so lucky to get to meet with Caryn Tyson and listen to her briefly speak about her work before we left Topeka on Friday.”

Front, from left:
Beth Nuss, chaperone; Lauren Madison; Emma Martin; Morgan Rohr; Senator Caryn Tyson; Daevin Caldwell; Hudson Horn; FBLA Sponsor and FSHS Business Instructor Morgan Robbins.

Back, from left.
Katie Harvey, Sami Rogers, Nick King, Alec Michaud, Matt Campbell, and Carter Goldston

Government, Kansas, Schools, Submitted

Governor Colyer Releases Statement on School Finance Legislation

Leave a comment

“In the last two weeks, I have had many productive meetings with education stakeholders and legislators, listening to their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.  I am confident that we can reach an agreement on a solution that ends the school finance litigation and serves the best interests of our children and the state of Kansas.

I applaud the work of the Kansas Senate this week to address the equity fixes required by the Kansas Supreme Court.  I also appreciate the hard work of the House’s K-12 Education Budget Committee.

Last month, I shared with Kansans a framework for responding to the school finance ruling:

  1. We must keep our schools open.
  2. We need a definitive solution that ends the school finance lawsuits for good.
  3. Increased funding should be accomplished using a phased-in approach that will give schools time to plan and spend most effectively.
  4. We need to ensure the investment is sustainable without increasing the tax burden on Kansas families.
  5. Lastly, and I think most importantly, we must insist on accountability and improved outcomes.

As I have said before, I will support any effort that meets these objectives, keeps our schools open, and ends the cycle of litigation once and for all.

As legislators go home this evening for Easter weekend, I am calling on the legislature to send a school finance bill to my desk before they leave Topeka again.  Let’s get this done.”

Fort Scott, Schools

FSCC Kids Fair April 14

Leave a comment

The Fort Scott Community College Kid’s Fair  is from 9 a.m. to noon April 14 at Bailey Hall South Parking Lot.

“This event is sponsored by Fort Scott Community College  Community Relations Committee, we do it twice a year for the community kids just for fun and use it as a chance to get to know the community members,” Kassie Fugate-Cate, Director of Strategic Communications and Student Activities said.

Popcorn, cookies, drinks, games, and prizes will be offered.

“And of course, our teddy bear clinic sponsored by Student Nursing Organization (SNO),” Cate said. ” The kids bring their stuffed animals or dolls and they get a check-up like on ‘Doc McStuffins’.”

The event will be held in the south parking lot of Bailey Hall.

“We plan to have John Deere, our first responders, FSCC Cosmetology, FSCC STEM club, FSCC Athletics, and FSCC President’s Ambassadors present during the event along with FSCC SNO,” Cate said.

For more information contact Cate at 620.223.2700 ext. 5248 or

kassief@fortscott.edu

 

Fort Scott, Schools

Practice Goes On

Leave a comment

Brian Pommier, Fort Scott High School Softball Coach, speaks to the team following practice Thursday morning at Fisher Park.

The USD 234 school district is on spring break this week.

The Lady Tigers host a softball tournament Tuesday, March 27 against Spring Hill, Chanute, and Ottawa, according to the school calendar.

Coree Budd, the varsity softball manager, fills up the water cooler for Lady Tiger softball practice Thursday.

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Shelby Hutchison Named Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar

Leave a comment

Jackson, Mississippi — Shelby Hutchison, a student at Fort Scott Community College, has been named a 2018 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholar and will receive a $1,500 scholarship.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation sponsors the Coca-Cola Academic Team program by recognizing 50 Gold, 50 Silver and 50 Bronze Scholars with nearly $200,000 in scholarships annually. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion.

“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said J. Mark Davis, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with Phi Theta Kappa and make it possible for deserving students to achieve their educational goals.”

Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, April 19-21 in Kansas City, Missouri.

“We thank the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation for recognizing these student leaders and for investing in their futures,” said Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President, and CEO of Phi Theta Kappa. “Scholarships like these are integral to the success of these students in reaching their educational and career goals.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of community college students and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in nine nations. Learn more at ptk.org.

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSCC Men’s Rodeo Team Produces Win

Leave a comment

Fort Scott Community College hosted the 37th Annual Spring Rodeo on March 9-11.

The rodeo took place in the indoor Arnold Arena and featured 25 Kansas and Oklahoma two-year and four-year colleges competing for a variety of titles.

FSCC men’s team won the rodeo with the following results.

  • Cory Brown won 2nd in the average in the bareback riding.
  • Russell Redden won 4th in the average in the bareback riding.
  • Trenton Burd won the long round and the average in the saddle bronc riding.
  • Matthew Swaim won the short round and 3rd in the average in the saddle bronc riding.
  • Zach Oestmann won the long round and 3rd in the average in the team roping.
  • -Wyatt Miller won 4th long the long round and 4th in the average in the team roping.
  • Zach Oestmann won 5th in the average of the calf roping.

“Our kids competed extremely well and presented themselves as professionals, we are very proud of them and the production that they put on,” Rodeo Coach Chad Cross said. “Thank you to our school and community for all of the support, we appreciate everything!”

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSHS StuCo Raises Money For Paws and Claws

Leave a comment

Over the past two weeks the  Fort Scott High School Student Council sponsored a donation drive for Lee’s Paws and Claws Animal Shelter.  Students were asked to donate money to help fund the shelter.  For each $1, students received a dog bone to be placed on the door of their activity period teachers door.

Altogether, students and teachers raised a total of $500 for the shelter.  Shown here are the club officers and Barbara Ritter from the shelter accepting the check.

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Fort Scott Students Are Pages In Topeka

Leave a comment
Representative Jacobs presented the group with an American Flag that was donated by VFW Post 1165 and was flown above the Capitol on March 6, 2018. (Submitted photos.)
The Fort Scott Middle School students with Gov. Jeff Colyer, seated, and Representative Trevor Jacobs and Angie Kemmerer, teacher in back of Colyer.
Representative Trevor Jacobs gives a tour to Fort Scott Middle School students.
The students in this group picture are listed front to back and left to right; Boden Kiwan, Reegan McDaniel, Shekhar Gugnani, Trent Toth, Kirryn Sprague, Kaitlin Leavell, Elijah Self and Collin Thomas.
Fort Scott Middle School students spent the day in Topeka with Representative Trevor Jacobs on Thursday, March 8, 2018.
They toured the State Capitol building and served as Representative Jacob’s pages for the day.
The highlight of the trip was having the opportunity to sit in the Speaker of the House’s chair and see first hand how bills are introduced and passed in the House of Representatives.
Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

Local Students Move To State History Day Competition

Leave a comment
Front row from left are Boden Kiwan, Katelyn Dancer, Kaitlyn Hardwick, Adelynn Nolan, and Abraham Fredrick. Back row from left are Kaitlin Leavell, Hannah Peck, and Trent Toth.
Fort Scott Middle School students competed in the District 2 Kansas History Day Competition at Fort Scott Community College on Saturday, March 10, 2018. These students will be moving on to the State competition in Topeka on April 21.
Abraham Fredrick from Frontenac Junior High School wrote a historical paper titled “Tensions and Hostility: The Division of Europe After World War Two”.
Remaining students are all from Fort Scott Middle School.
Trent Toth, Boden Kiwan and Katelyn Dancer did a junior group performance titled: “The Walker School Walkout of 1949: The Untold Story of Corinthian Nutter.”
Adelynn Nolan, Kaitlyn Hardwick and Hannah Peck created a junior group website titled:  “Laodicea Langston:  The Female Paul Revere”.
Kaitlin Leavell created a junior individual website titled: ” Claudette Colvin:  A Story of Civil Rights and Social Justice”.
Fort Scott, Schools

Fort Scott Preschool To Expand

Leave a comment
The Fort Scott Preschool, at 409 S. Judson.

USD 234 is making preschool for students a priority, according to Nicki Traul, director of curriculum.

“We are very fortunate that students have many opportunities for preschool in Fort Scott,” she said.  “This initiative isn’t to compete with those other preschools.”

Many kindergarten students have not had any early childhood opportunities, Traul said.

“Our expansion is so that we can find those students and get them in a program,” she said. ” The district wants to see that every USD 234 child gets at least one year of preschool prior to starting kindergarten.  We need all the preschools in town to be able to do that.”

Traul is attempting to contact all preschool providers in town to establish an early childhood professional learning community.

“It helps us as a district to work with the other preschools,” she said.  “Why wouldn’t we want to help each other? ”

In an effort to collaborate with other Fort Scott preschools,  Traul has organized a meeting.

Invitations will be sent to area preschools for representatives to meet at 1 p.m. on April 12 in the Fort Scott Middle School Community Room.

Sandy Ellsworth, Greenbush Early Childhood Department, will facilitate the meeting.

The community is welcome to attend.

“We are excited at the opportunity to work with others in our community and the good that will come from that,” Traul said.  “Our students need to be our focus and our priority, as a community we need to support early childhood and help each other.”

The USD 234 preschool is located at 409 S. Judson, in back of the former middle school.

Traul said the USD 234 plan is to carve out classrooms from an existing gym at the preschool.

The gym is partially used for the cafeteria and storage currently.

Nicki Traul, USD 234 Director of Curriculum, tells about the expansion project of the Fort Scott Preschool in the pre-school gym, where the new classrooms will be located.
The Fort Scott Preschool gym is currently partially used for storage as well as the cafeteria.