KCPS eNews

Love Books? Join Us for KCPS Loves to Read!

KCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier reads 'The Lions of Little Rock' by Kristin Levine, a book for middle schoolers based on the integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas, in the 1950s.

• WATCH: Dr. Collier Reads 'All Because You Matter'
• VISIT: 'KCPS Loves to Read' website
• LEARN: Check out the September KCPS family guide 
• SHARE: Post your photos with the hashtag #KCPSLovestoRead

To increase awareness of the importance of literacy, KCPS is launching a campaign to encourage students, parents and guardians, along with staff, to make reading part of their daily routine. There are four components to the campaign: 

Reading is My Superpower – This program is designed for students in kindergarten through eighth grade to challenge students to reach reading goals, as well as participate in fun activities supporting social and emotional well-being.  

Everyone Reads – This program is designed for high school students to challenge students to become active readers, as well as participate in fun activities supporting social and emotional well-being.  

Stop and Read – This program is for EVERYONE! The first Wednesday of each month, from 10:00 to 10:15 a.m., students and staff around the district will stop and read for 15 minutes. From school principal to custodial aide, teacher to student, with everyone taking time to read, our goal is to show that reading is important, no matter what.

Kansas City Reads – This week, KCPS launched Kansas City Reads, an in-person or virtual read aloud program featuring guest readers from the district and across the Kansas City community. Join us on the first and third Wednesday of every month!

STAFF NEWS

McClellan Named Regional Teacher of the Year

Kayla McClellan, center, has been selected as a Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year. Ms. McClellan, who teaches at Lincoln Middle School, was the 2022 Kansas City Public Schools Teacher of the Year. She was recognized at the Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, KCPS Board of Directors meeting by Vice Chair Jennifer Wolfsie, left, and Interim Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Collier, right.

• READ: 2022 KCPS Teacher of the Year is 'Ideal Educator'
• WATCH: 2022 KCPS TOY Kayla McClellan

Richardson to Lead East as Interim Principal

KCPS is excited to announce that Ben Richardson has been named Interim Principal of East High School. This will be Mr. Richardson’s 11th year at East.

Mr. Richardson began his tenure at East High School as a history teacher, boys and girls soccer coach and department chair. For the past five years, he has served as a vice principal. He has been recognized by KCPS as the 2017 East High Teacher of the Year, 2019 KCPS Star Assistant Principal and a 2022 KCPS Outstanding Administrator. He is excited to use his experiences at East High School to continue to serve the school's students, staff and community.

Mr. Richardson holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Secondary Education from Milligan College, a Master's of Science in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Kansas and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Administration from the University of Kansas. Mr. Richardson was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, and is a proud, fifth-generation public school educator. He met his wife, Meg, in Kansas City, and has three children, Katie, James and Nelly.

KCPS BULLETINS

KCPS Families Can Start Using the SafeStop App

SafeStop lets you track your student’s bus using an interactive map. You can see where the bus is along its route. It also provides expected arrival times for each stop, making it easier for you to quickly check when the bus will arrive at school or home.

Here's how to get started:

• Download the SafeStop app
• Choose your state and the district/school
• Create your account using school access code 2022KCPS
• Enter the student ID number of each child riding the bus
• Set your notification preferences
• Complete your secure registration by clicking “submit”

Questions? Please call 816-418-8825 or email schoolbus@kcpublicschools.org.

KCPS District Advisory Committee Meets Sept. 17

KCPS is gearing up for the first DAC meeting of the year! Join us from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21. We'll be in-person at the Board of Education, 2901 Troost Ave., and online via Microsoft Teams.

The DAC addresses school issues and concerns, allows you to share ideas and solve problems cooperatively and helps advise the district’s Board of Directors. Our schools can’t do it alone; we need the involvement and support of parents and guardians to succeed. For your convenience, we'll have dinner, child care and Spanish interpretation. We hope to see you there!

COVID-19 Testing is Easy with Children's Mercy

Add COVID-19 testing to your back-to-school checklist! Kansas City Public Schools has partnered with Children’s Mercy to offer FREE COVID-19 testing through the School TLC Study to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

Free COVID-19 testing is available to all enrolled KCPS students and staff at school when they need it. To learn more about the School TLC Study or enroll yourself, please visit childrensmercy.org/TLC/.