October has been a month of recognition and progress in USD 417 Morris County Schools, and I'm excited to share some wonderful news with our community.

Recognizing Outstanding Educators 

We are thrilled to announce that Ms. Sky Wills, our 7th grade math teacher and sponsor of our after-school Dungeons and Dragons Club, has been named USD 417's Horizon Award nominee. The Horizon Award, presented by the Kansas Department of Education, recognizes second-year teachers who have demonstrated exceptional promise in their first year of teaching. Ms. Wills has submitted her application and will now await word on whether she will be named one of the state Horizon Award winners later this year. We're incredibly proud of the dedication and passion she brings to our students every day. 

We also celebrated the announcement of our USD 417 Teachers of the Year. Mrs. Brier Blythe, a kindergarten teacher at Council Grove Elementary, is our Elementary Teacher of the Year, and Mr. Jarrod Hibler, a high school math teacher at Council Grove Junior/Senior High School, is our Secondary Teacher of the Year. Both educators will now participate in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, submitting documents for review and attending a regional banquet in April. Next September, they'll travel to the state Teacher of the Year conference where the 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year will be announced. More importantly, they'll spend the next year as part of a teacher of the year team, visiting schools across Kansas, learning about innovative practices in education, and bringing that knowledge back to benefit our students and staff in USD 417. Congratulations to both Mrs. Blythe and Mr. Hibler! We also want to thank Tyner Insurance Group and State Farm Insurance Steve Crichton for being a sponsor of this program and for providing a monetary award to each winner.  

Our Every Day Difference Maker Awards continued this month, recognizing staff members who make a positive impact on our students and district each and every day. This month's winners are Mrs. Lindsey Hickman at Prairie Heights Elementary, Mrs. Michelle Ford at Council Grove Junior/Senior High School, and Ms. Marsha Filkin at Council Grove Elementary. Thank you to all three for the difference you make in our schools. 

State Assessment Results and Recognition
 
We recently received results from our new state assessments, which come with new cut scores and benchmarks. In math, which is tested in grades 3-8 and 10th grade, 290 of our 391 students scored at levels 2, 3, or 4 (74%), with 152 of those students scoring at the proficient and advanced levels 3 or 4 (39%). In English Language Arts, 279 of 390 students in the same grade levels achieved levels 2, 3, or 4 (72%), with 158 students scoring at levels 3 or 4 (41%). Students at level 2 show a basic ability to demonstrate their knowledge and skills of grade-level standards, level 3 students demonstrate proficient ability, and level 4 students show advanced ability. As we continue to analyze these results, they'll help guide our instructional decisions moving forward. 

We also received great news from KSDE with the Kansas Star Awards. Morris County was awarded a Gold Star for Graduation Rate and a Copper Star for Postsecondary Effectiveness. While these awards recognize secondary-level outcomes, we know they represent the collective effort of every educator in our system. From pre-kindergarten through graduation day, it takes everyone working together to help our students succeed, and we appreciate all of our staff for the role they play in these achievements. 

Facilities Update

Our facilities planning work continues, and we want to thank everyone who attended our recent bond meeting and those who have provided feedback about the future of our school facilities. SPT Architecture and Nabholz Construction will be meeting with our Board of Education to discuss the community meeting feedback and to hear from the board about the direction the district should take as we approach December. That's when the board must decide whether to call a special bond election in March and determine what that bond will include. As this process moves forward, we'll continue to share information with our community. Once a bond scope is established, we'll be able to provide renderings showing what potential designs might look like. Throughout this process, our focus remains on what is best for students and staff as we plan for the future of facilities in USD 417. 

New Safety and Support Resource

Finally, I'm pleased to announce a new resource for our students, staff, and parents called Stopit Solutions. This program provides a way for anyone to anonymously report when they see something concerning, hear something troubling, or need help themselves. When a report is submitted, building leaders, counselors, and our mental health liaison are notified. One of the most important features is that Stopit Solutions provides 24/7 trained personnel to receive reports that come in outside of school hours or during vacation periods. If a report is deemed an immediate threat, primary and secondary district contacts are notified immediately. If those contacts cannot be reached, law enforcement is contacted to ensure someone can respond right away in a life-threatening situation. 

The service can be accessed through a mobile app, a web-based program, or by phone, and it also houses other support resources including phone numbers and information for people in times of need. We want to provide our students and staff with the support and resources they need to be successful and to feel safe in our schools and community. 

Thank you for your continued support of USD 417 Morris County Schools. We're proud of our staff, grateful for our students, and excited about the work ahead. 

Tyson Eslinger 
USD 417 Morris County 
Superintendent of Schools  
#ForwardTogether417