Topeka Public Schools News

The Distinguished Staff Award is the highest honor a Topeka Public Schools staff member can receive.In April, a reception is held to recognize all the DSA winners in the classified, certified and first year teacher categories.
Classified winners have been chosen.

Category NameSchool/Building
_______________________________________________________________
CustodialCatherin SouthernHighland Park Central
Operations/maintenance Ron MooreheadService Center
Office PersonnelCarleen ListerBurnett Center
Support StaffLaura MaikeBurnett Center
Food ServicePatricia AdolphsonEisenhower Middle
ParaprofessionalJulie SmootEisenhower Middle

The DSA selection committee will select certified winners in December and first year teacher winners in January.

Congratulations to Hope Street Academy Principal Dale Noll for receiving the Patriot Award. The award is given to a supervisor or boss for their support of a Guard or Reserve employee.Noll was nominated for being highly supportive of Sgt. 1st class Gary Hinnant, who is a campus police officer at Hope Street Academy.“Principal Noll supports the army’s mission and values when it comes to me leaving my job with short notice.He is able to adjust to not having me here to assist with the kids,” said Hinnant.Principal Noll accepted the patriot Award from Kansas ESGR Training Director Ron Brown.

Topeka Public Schools, Westar Energy Expand Pact to Promote STEM, Career Awareness for Students

 Westar Energy and Topeka Public Schools are pleased to announce plans to expand their ongoing partnership with an agreement that will be considered by the school board on Thursday evening. As the district develops STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) pathways and the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers (TCALC), Westar will be a key partner providing expertise and opportunities for teachers and students to learn more about the energy industry. The expansion of the partnership follows multiple years of successful collaboration between the utility and the school district.

Topeka Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Operations Larry Robbins is delighted with the outcome of the partnership thus far. "Westar Energy has been a valued business partner to Topeka Public Schools for a number of years.This partnership has afforded our students educational opportunities an…

Topeka Public Schools teams with KU researchers
to secure four-year, $1.8 million federal education award
The Arts Infusion Project will develop and implement
arts-infused curriculum rooted in critical thinking

TOPEKA, Kan. — As part of an initiative to enhance and strengthen programs that integrate the arts into elementary- and middle-school curricula, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement has granted a four-year, $1.8 million award to a collaborative project that teams Topeka Public Schools with two University of Kansas (KU) research centers.

The award, shared among the three partners, will provide support and professional development to teachers in Topeka Public Schools seeking to infuse the arts across the curriculum and strengthen their students’ critical-thinking skills. The Arts Infusion Project (TAIP) brings together Topeka educators with researchers from KU’s Music Research Institute in the School of Music and the Center for Public Partners…

Tracy Rowe has a passion for music and a passion for students at Jardine Middle School.“She could just do what she does during the day,” said Jardine Principal Mike Haire.He suggests there is a lot more to Tracy’s dedication to the kids.“We are the only middle school that has taken our band to community events in the evening, to ballgames and to elementary school parades.All the extra hours she puts in to do good things for our kids,” said Haire.That’s why Jardine Middle School music/band teacher Tracy Rowe is the winner of this month’s Above and Beyond Award.
Tracy is busy not just in the band room, but throughout the school all hours of the day and night.She works with the 100 students who are involved in the school musical and she spends a couple of nights a week on the school signature committee helping plan what Jardine will be like once the new elementary school is built next to it.
Tracy has been at Jardine Middle School 18 of her 25 years in education.It may seem like a long tim…

There are lots of school music programs and plays during the month of November.  Support our students and attend one or more of these fun and entertaining events.

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Monday, Nov. 10 – Randolph 4th and 5th grade music program at Landon Middle School.Begins at
6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov.11 – Ross Elementary Veteran’s Day Celebration at 9:00 a.m.
Veterans and their families connected to Ross will be recognized.Songs
will be played for each branch of the service.Songs will be sung by Ross
students and a guest artist.The ceremony will end with the playing of taps.

Tuesday, Nov 11 – Highland Park Central 4th & 5th Grade Music Program at Highland Park High
School.Begins at 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 12 - Topeka West High School Junior ROTC Cadets will present a Veteran’s Day
Ceremony in the school gym beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 13 – Movie night at State Street Elementary.Wear pj’s and bring…

The cold winds of November are blowing and that can be a problem if you are an elementary student on recess without a coat.For some 60 students at Highland Park Central, that problem has been solved by some Washburn University Students.
Members of the Washburn Law Democrats delivered more than 60 coats to the school to be handed out to students to help keep them warm.The university students held a challenge to see who could collect the most coats.Washburn student Nikki Southall talked about the coat drive.“It went really well.We’ll keep doing it.”
Highland Park Central Principal Kelley Norman said that counselors, teachers and she will decide which students most need a coat.The coats will be handed out over the next few days.