district receives exemplary school bus safety inspection...
TRANSCRIPT
R-7 Board of Education
301 N.E. Tudor RoadLee’s Summit, MO 64086816-986-1000
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Lee’s Summit, MO 64063Permit Number 71
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INSIDE! Citizens tour bond issue school improvements | 4
! Robotics teams excel at world championship | 8
! R-7 teams win top awards at CyberPatriot nationals | 12
! District receives exemplary school bus safety inspection | 13
Excellence In Teaching winners
honored at April 6 event
Trailblazing students are earning four-year degree just two years after
high school graduation and with virtually no student debt
Missouri Innovation Campus first cohort graduates from UCM this May
INNOVATION CAMPUS | page 14
Our SchoolsLee’s Summit R-7 School District’s Community Newspaper
Proudly presented by the JUNE 2016
Michelle Uptegrove, life skills teacher at Cedar Creek
Elementary, was named Lee’s Summit R-7 2016 Teacher
of the Year during a surprise announcement at an April 6
community reception. The reception also recognized 12
R-7 teachers who were named Lee’s Summit Chamber of
Commerce Excellence In Teaching Award winners earlier
this spring.
During spring 2012, a group of high-
school sophomores made a decision that
would not only change the course of their
lives, it would help launch a nationally
recognized program that is reshaping the
way students experience education.
The students, who were around 16
years old at the time, entered the Missouri
Innovation Campus (MIC) during the
summer between their sophomore and
junior years, joining the unique program’s
fi rst cohort. Since then, the MIC has grown
dramatically while gaining regional and
national attention for providing students
with a valuable, affordable education and
connecting businesses with a skilled, career-
ready workforce. The fi rst cohort of students
graduated from high school in 2014, earning
their associate degree from Metropolitan
Community College immediately after high-
school graduation. On May 6, 11 members
of the fi rst cohort received four-year degrees
from the University of Central Missouri --
just two years after graduating from high
TEACHER OF THE YEAR | page 10
Michelle Uptegrove hugs one of her students just after being named Teacher of the Year.
The first cohort of students from the MIC are (first row, left to right) Jamison Guilford, Keaton Thomson, Nate Orson, (second row) Trevor Brixey, Glenn Banhart, Max Ostrander, (third row) Matt Orson, Brian Green, Quinn Cosgrove, (fourth row) Michael Robertson and Joey Nooner.
MICHELLE UPTEGROVE NAMED
LS R-7 TEACHER OF THE YEAR
Page 2 June 2016
Andrea Allen and Blair Flack recently
received the R-7 Learning for Life Award. Mrs.
Allen, the April winner, is a science teacher at
Bernard Campbell Middle School. Mrs. Flack,
the May winner, is focus room facilitator at
Highland Park Elementary.
The award is presented to one employee each
month who is nominated by co-workers and
selected by a staff committee.
“Andrea develops great rapport with her
students and cares about them individually in
and out of the classroom,” said a colleague
about Mrs. Allen. “She is extremely creative
and always pushes herself to come up with new
ideas and activities in the classroom.”
“She is compassionate and caring and
the students know they can depend on her,”
said a colleague about Mrs. Flack. “Her
professionalism and commitment are inspiring.”
Graduating seniors in the Lee’s Summit R-7 Class of 2016
earned approximately $27 million in scholarship potential this
spring.
This year’s Lee’s Summit R-7 graduating class consisted of
1,312 seniors, including 429 at Lee’s Summit High School, 417
at Lee’s Summit North High School and 466 at Lee’s Summit
West High School.
Andrea Allen and Blair Flack receive LS R-7 Learning for Life Award
LEE’S SUMMIT R-7 CLASS OF 2016 RECEIVES $27 MILLION IN SCHOLARSHIP POTENTIAL
Blair FlackAndrea Allen
Reorganized School District. No. 7301 N.E. Tudor Road, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086
An Equal Opportunity EmployerPublished by the R-7 Board of Education ♦ Dr. Brent Blevins, Acting Superintendent
Editor: Janice Phelan, Communications Executive Director
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Bob White ........................................................................................................ PresidentAdam Rutherford .................................................................................Vice PresidentBill Baird .............................................................................................................MemberPhyllis Balagna .................................................................................................MemberJulie Doane .......................................................................................................MemberTerri Harmon ....................................................................................................MemberChris Storms .....................................................................................................Member
Produced by the LEE’S SUMMIT JOURNAL ♦ www.lsjournal.com
Our Schools
Regular Board of Education meetings are held on the third Thursday of each
month at 7 p.m. at the Stansberry Leadership Center, 301 N.E. Tudor Road.
Info line: 816-986-1001. Web address: www.lsr7.org
MISSION STATEMENT
We prepare each student for success in life.
VISION STATEMENT
Lee’s Summit R-7 is an exemplary school district, graduating students who are college and career ready with the competitive advantage necessary to be successful. Lee’s Summit R-7 refl ects a culture of respect and acceptance.
Collaboration is an expectation that fosters mutual understanding and a focus on student achievement and staff develop-ment. Lee’s Summit R-7 encourages innovation and creativity, recognizing student learning as our fundamental purpose.
June 2016 Page 3
Turn Your Life Inside Out
“8e lots in Phase 3 are some of the
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Developer, JimRi-e
Woodland Trails is leading the housing boom just south of Lee’s Summit, and the addition of the new Phase 3
lots ensures continued growth for the area. Sis is good news for home buyers because of the economic beneQts:
· Woodland Trails is a large scale, multi-year development
· Se RiRe brand ensures quality and Qnancial stability
· It’s within the award-winning Lee’s Summit School District
· Sere are only a handful of lots left in Phases 1 and 2, and
Driving into the Woodland Trails entry
Along the unique trail system
the interactive playground, while others kick soccer balls on the adjacent,
Developer announces Phase 3 at Woodland Trails
Page 4 June 2016
Members of the Lee’s Summit R-7
Citizens’ Advisory Committee had a fi rst-
hand look at improvements made possible
thanks to the April 2015 no-tax-increase
bond issue. The voter-approved ballot
issue includes $40 million to fund facility
improvements at each R-7 school as well as
construction of a new Summit Technology
Academy / Missouri Innovation Campus
(MIC).
Members of the district’s Citizens’
Advisory Committee participated in a
school bus tour May 2 that included a
sample of the many projects already
completed. Although each R-7 school is
being positively impacted by the bond
issue, the two-hour tour included just fi ve
schools and the construction site for the
new Summit Tech / MIC. Stops at existing
schools included Bernard Campbell
Middle School, Greenwood Elementary,
Richardson Elementary, Prairie View
Elementary and Pleasant Lea Elementary.
School improvements funded by the
bond issue are in the areas of classroom
instruction, safety and security, health and
wellness, ADA access renovations and
special education as well as maintenance
projects designed to protect the district’s
investment in its schools. All elementary
schools are receiving playground safety
upgrades including soft play areas
and replacement of deteriorated play
equipment. Examples of maintenance
projects at schools include fl ooring,
carpet, ceilings, painting, roofi ng, paving,
mechanical, doors, windows, FOBS door
access, backfl ows, water sanitizing and
masonry.
A groundbreaking for the new Summit
Tech / MIC was held March 10 with the
new school scheduled to open in August
2017. The one-of-a-kind school is made
possible thanks to the bond funding
as well as a trailblazing partnership
between the R-7 School District and the
University of Central Missouri (UCM).
The new facility will house Lee’s Summit
R-7 Summit Technology Academy;
the Missouri Innovation Campus, a
partnership involving R-7, UCM and
Metropolitan Community College; and
programs currently housed in UCM-
Lee’s Summit.
For more information about the no-
tax-increase bond, which was approved
by close to 80 percent of voters, visit
the district’s website at http://www.
lsr7.org/district/no-tax-increase-bond-
issue-2015/.
Citizens have first-hand look at progress funded by 2015 bond issue
No-tax-increase ballot issue includes school improvements, construction of new Summit Tech / MIC
Dr. Brent Blevins (far left), R-7 acting superinten-dent, and Kyle Gor-rell (front), director of facilities services, talk to citi-zens at the Richardson Elementary playground. CAC mem-bers pic-tured are (from left) Dorothy Walk, Hil-ary Graves, Stephen Hill and Elaine Bluml.
June 2016 Page 5
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SPECIAL FEATURE:
Page 6 June 2016
Several Lee’s Summit R-7 sophomores were
recently selected to attend the Missouri Scholars
Academy, a three-week academic program for
approximately 330 of Missouri’s gifted students.
Students selected to attend this Academy are
Tabrian Cottini, Derek Empson and Andrew Mitchell,
Lee’s Summit High School; Anna Bilton, Emily
Gerber and Christopher McGurk, Lee’s Summit
North High School; and Alex Geoghegan, Margaret
O’Connor and Caroline Williams, Lee’s Summit West
High School.
Close to 330 sophomores statewide are selected from
among approximately 65,000 students. Acceptance is
based on a student essay, teacher recommendations,
PSAT scores and IQ tests. The academy is a residential
program held on the University of Missouri-Columbia
and funded by the State of Missouri.
R-7 HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORES
SELECTED TO ATTEND MISSOURI
SCHOLARS ACADEMY
Dr. Sherri Lewis and Dr. Rexanne Hill
were recognized by the Greater Kansas City
Missouri Principals Association this spring.
Dr. Lewis, principal at Bernard Campbell
Middle School, was named the organization’s
Middle School Principal of the Year. Dr. Hill,
assistant principal at Lee’s Summit North
High School, was named the Dr. Dan Kahler
Assistant Principal of the Year.
A Lee’s Summit R-7 employee for 28 years,
Dr. Lewis has served as BCMS principal since
2013 and previously worked as the school’s
assistant principal, school improvement
coordinator and language arts teacher. In
2015, she received the Missouri Association
of School Librarians Service Award for School
Administrators.
Dr. Hill has served as assistant principal at
LSNHS for 11 years and previously worked
as an assistant principal, A+ coordinator and
social studies teacher within the Raytown
School District. She was recently named the
Lee’s Summit R-7 director of student services
for 2016-17.
Sherri Lewis and Rexanne Hill honored by Greater Kansas City Missouri Principals Association
Rexanne HillSherri Lewis
Lisa Oyler, a computer science teacher
at Summit Technology Academy, was
recently named the 2016 Missouri Air Force
Association Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Oyler has taught at Summit
Technology Academy for 15 years and has
18 years of experience in education. At
Summit Technology Academy, she teaches
network engineering and cyber security and
coaches the school’s nationally recognized
CyberPatriot teams. During spring 2016,
Team Sudo from Summit Tech captured
fi rst place at the CyberPatriot National
Competition, competing against more than
1,600 teams in the U.S. Air Force Association
program.
The Air Force Association recognizes
teachers at the chapter, state and national
levels, awarding cash and prizes to winners
from each division.
Lisa Oyler of Summit Technology Academy named Air Force Missouri Teacher of the Year
Lisa Oyler
June 2016 Page 7
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Page 8 June 2016
Teams from all three Lee’s Summit R-7 high
schools excelled at the 25th annual FIRST
(For Inspiration and Recognition of Science
and Technology) World Championship, held
April 27-30 in St. Louis. Lee’s Summit High
School’s Team Driven, Lee’s Summit North’s
Broncobots and Lee’s Summit West’s Team
Titanium competed against approximately
600 qualifying teams.
Through the competition, teams design,
build and program machines to climb
over obstacles, launch boulders into tower
windows, scale tower walls and survive brutal
defensive collisions. Teams were broken up
into eight sub-divisions, each competing for
the honor of playing in the fi nals.
LSWHS won a World Championship
division, the fi rst time a Missouri team has
achieved this. They also earned the Industrial
Design Award sponsored by General Motors.
LSHS advanced to the quarterfi nals and
was one of just three teams to be honored with
the Entrepreneurship Award. As the winner
of the FedEx Innovation Challenge during
regional competition, Team Driven earned
and received VIP treatment from FedEx
executives throughout the event.
LSNHS ended the tournament with a 5-5-
0 record, fi nishing 32 out of 75 robots on its
fi eld. Austin Ahern, who will be attending
the Air Force Academy starting in June,
participated in a live interview at the event
with Lt. General Michelle Johnson, keynote
speaker from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
LSWHS is first in Missouri history to win divisional title at World
Robotics Championship
Members of the LSWHS pit crew.
All three R-7 robotics teams excel at FIRST World Robotics Championship
June 2016 Page 9
BOARD OF EDUCATION NAMES
NEW SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
AT APRIL AND MAY MEETINGSThe Lee’s Summit R-7 Board of
Education approved the hiring of four
new school administrators at April and
May meetings.
Dustin Spencer, currently a teacher
at the Blue Springs Freshman Center,
was named assistant principal for Lee’s
Summit North High School for 2016-17.
He will replace Dr. Rexanne Hill, who
was recently named the school district’s
director of student services.
Brooke Morehead, a fi fth-grade
teacher at Richardson Elementary
School, was named assistant principal
for Summit Pointe Elementary for 2016-
17. She is replacing Melissa Hunter who
will serve as assistant principal at Cedar
Creek and Hawthorn Hill Elementary
next year.
Stacy Orf, currently a fi rst-grade
teacher at Highland Park Elementary,
was named administrative intern for
Highland Park Elementary and Lee’s
Summit Elementary for 2016-17. She
is replacing Kim Hassler who will
serve as a full-time assistant principal at
Richardson Elementary next year.
Jeffrey Scalfaro, currently principal
at Grain Valley South Middle School,
was named principal of Trailridge
Elementary for 2016-17. He is replacing
Dr. Marcia Sutton who recently resigned
to accept a job in Nashville in order to be
closer to family.
Stacy OrfBrooke Morehead
Dustin SpencerJeffrey Scalfaro
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Page 10 June 2016
Excellence In Teaching winners are
Sarah Courtney, Lee’s Summit North High
School; Kim England, Lee’s Summit
North High School; Ashley Furnell, Great
Beginnings Early Education Center; Melissa
Gouldsmith, Woodland Elementary; Joseph
F. Keeney, Lee’s Summit North High School
and Bernard Campbell Middle School; Steve
Lanier, Longview Farm Elementary; Jewelee
Lukowski, Summit Lakes Middle School;
Karen Marlborough, Woodland Elementary;
Stu Reece, Bernard Campbell Middle
School; Jenny Reidlinger, Mason Elementary
and Richardson Elementary; Lacey Rozycki,
Summit Pointe Elementary; and Michelle
Uptegrove, Cedar Creek Elementary.
In addition, other fi nalists for Teacher of the
Year included former Excellence In Teaching
winners who were nominated for the award
again this year and selected as Teachers of
Distinction. These former winners, who had
the opportunity to interview for Teacher
of the Year, are Jessi Cox, Summit Pointe
Elementary; Sue Selby, Highland Park
Elementary; and Karrie Smythia, Lee’s
Summit West High School.
As Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Uptegrove
will go on to participate in the Missouri
Teacher of the Year program. An educator for
23 years, she teaches children with special
needs at Cedar Creek Elementary. Mrs.
Uptegrove previously taught in the life skills
program and worked as a resource teacher
for learning disabilities at Prairie View
Elementary and worked for three years in the
Blue Springs School District.
The Cedar Creek teacher shared that her
teaching experience with special needs
children began at age 10 when her youngest
sister was born. “She has cerebral palsy, and
I learned to bathe, feed and care for her,” she
said. “As she grew, I read to her, taught her
the alphabet, how to count and use her letter
boards to communicate.”
Nomination forms highlighted Mrs.
Uptegrove’s leadership skills, empathy
and advocacy for all children. “Michelle’s
passion for diversifying and including all
students in the public education system goes
above and beyond,” said a co-worker. “The
pure love she has for these kids is admirable.”
TEACHER OF THE YEAR | from page 1
Excellence In Teaching and Teachers of Distinction are (front row, from left, perched/seated) Jessi Cox, Michelle Uptegrove, Melissa Gouldsmith, Jewelee Lukowski, Ashley Furnell, Kim England, Sarah Courtney, Karen Marlborough (back row, from left, standing) Lacey Rozycki, Karrie Smythia, Steve Lanier, Joseph Keeney, Jenny Reidlinger, Sue Selby and Stu Reece.
June 2016 Page 11
Business partners celebrate successful year at Partners In Education spring event
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District hosted
a Partners In Education celebration April 27 at
the Pavilion at John Knox Village. The event
included recognition of businesses involved
in R-7 school/business partnerships as well as
student displays from the district’s elementary
schools.
Founded in 1990, Partners In Education
currently includes more than 250 businesses
and organizations involved through individual
school partnerships, program partnerships and
district partnerships. Partners In Education
focuses on connecting students, curriculum and
the business community and provides enriching
activities and opportunities to R-7 School
District students.
For more information about Partners In
Education, contact Laura Maxwell, program
director, (816) 986-1109, or laura.maxwell@
lsr7.net.
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The following information is provided to the patrons of the R-7 School District
as required by the EPA’s Asbestos Emergency Response Act of 1986.
The EPA’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (referred to
as AHERA) was enacted to limit the exposure of students to air-bone asbestos
fi bers in public schools. The EPA required that all K-12 grade facilities be
inspected by an EPA certifi ed inspector and that asbestos-containing materials
(ACM) be assessed and quantifi ed. The EPA then directed each school district
to develop an asbestos management plan using EPA established protocols to
limit asbestos exposure. The management plans include employee training,
work procedures, inspections and abatement documentation. The district’s
original management plan was submitted to the Missouri State Department
of Health. In addition, the asbestos management plans includes the triennial
reinspections and six-month periodic inspections. The latest triennial inspection
was completed in September 2013 by a certifi ed EPA asbestos inspector. The
district uses AutoCAD drawings to update and disseminate records in a timely
manner. Current asbestos management plans are available for review during
normal working hours in the Facilities Services offi ce. Kyle Gorrell, Director of
Facilities Services and the district’s asbestos program manager, can be reached
at (816) 986-2420. Offi ce hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except on days closed per the district calendar.
ANNUAL ASBESTOS NOTIFICATION
Two Lee’s Summit R-7 teams recently won top awards at the
CyberPatriot National Competition. A six-student team from
Summit Technology Academy captured fi rst place. The team
won the top spot in the VIII Open Division and competed among
1,638 teams qualifying for nationals. A team from Pleasant Lea
Middle School took second place in the middle-school division,
competing with 460 middle-school teams.
Both the Summit Tech and PLMS teams qualifi ed earlier this
semester for the prestigious contest, held April 10-14 in Baltimore.
This was Summit Technology Academy’s fourth straight year to
qualify for the national CyberPatriot fi nals and the fi rst year for
the school district’s middle school teams to compete.
The Summit Tech winning team, known as Team Sudo, is
coached by Lisa Oyler, Summit Tech teacher, with John Madick
of Epiq Systems serving as mentor. Team members are Justin
Nitz, Lee’s Summit West High School and Missouri Innovation
Campus (MIC); Christian Durst, Lee’s Summit West High
School; Isaac McGee, home schooled and MIC; Tyler Waits,
LSWHS; Zane Brown, Blue Springs South High School; and
Jack Bliss, Blue Springs South High School and MIC.
The Pleasant Lea Middle School Team, known as Team BSOD,
is coached by Kevin Schulmeister of the R-7 School District (and
a Summit Tech graduate) with John Winger of GEHA as mentor.
Team members are Ethan Winger, Jesse George, Sam Alvarado
and Gannon Ross.
Summit Technology Academy, PLMS students capture
top awards at CyberPatriot national competition
Members of Team Sudo and Team BSOD include (from left) Tyler Waits, Christian Durst, Isaac McGee, Jack Bliss, Justin Nitz, Zane Brown, Ethan Winger, Sam Alvarado, Jesse George and Gannon Ross.
Lee’s Summit West High School and Lee’s Summit High School were
recognized through U.S. News and World Report’s annual “Best High
Schools” ranking this spring.
LSWHS earned a silver ranking and was ranked No. 16 among all Missouri
high schools. LSHS earned a bronze ranking.
This is the eighth year that the magazine has developed this ranking to
determine which high schools are most successful. U.S. News and World
Report teamed with the RTI International research fi rm to develop the
rankings. High schools were fi rst analyzed at the state level in terms of how
well students in each school performed on state assessments, taking into
account the test scores of disadvantaged students. Performance on Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate exams was then used to determine
the degree to which schools prepare students for college work.
HIGH SCHOOLS RECOGNIZED IN
‘U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT’
BEST HIGH SCHOOLS RANKINGS
June 2016 Page 13
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District
recently received outstanding results
on the district’s annual school bus
inspection, conducted March 23, 24
and 25 by the Missouri State Highway
Patrol.
Of the 151 school buses inspected, one
had a minor defect which was corrected
immediately. Initial inspection rating
was 99.3-percent successful with the R-7
Transportation Department achieving
100-percent passage by the end of the
day on March 25.
The annual inspection included items
such as light bulbs, tires, seat frames,
exhaust systems, brakes, windshield
wipers and many other school bus
components.
The R-7 Transportation Department
has a long tradition of successful state
school bus inspections and passage
rates. The department has averaged
a 95-percent approval rating the past
28 years, well above the state average
of 82 to 87 percent. The department
has received the state’s Exemplary
School Bus Maintenance Award for
10 consecutive years during summer
conferences hosted by the Missouri
Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education.
Transportation Department’s
maintenance staff includes Eric Slover,
fl eet maintenance supervisor; Rusty
Rhoads and Joe Hand, lead mechanics;
Larry Rachaner, Chris Barnes, Charles
Parrot and Mike Walker, mechanics; and
Bob Talley, Payton Hargrave and Dan
Stretch, mechanic helpers.
The R-7 School District transports
approximately 12,000 students each
school day, traveling more than 2 million
miles annually within the 117-square-
mile school district.
R-7 SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVES EXEMPLARY STATE SCHOOL BUS INSPECTION
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Page 14 June 2016
school.
Located within Lee’s Summit R-7’s
Summit Technology Academy, the Missouri
Innovation Campus is a partnership
involving the Lee’s Summit R-7 School
District, Metropolitan Community College
and the University of Central Missouri. By
engaging business partners and community
organizations, the MIC is able to accelerate
the time it takes students to earn higher-
education degrees. They also graduate from
college with little or no college debt.
“Seeing the fi rst cohort of MIC graduate
from UCM is one of the highlights of my long
career in education,” said Elaine Metcalf,
Summit Technology Academy director.
“The collaboration that went on behind the
scenes to pave the way to less debt, a college
degree and gainful employment in a high-
demand fi eld is the epitome of college and
career preparation program.”
Missouri Innovation Campus graduating
seniors praised the program for providing
them with this one-of-a-kind opportunity.
“The MIC experience for me has been
amazing,” said Trevor Brixey. “I wouldn’t
be anywhere close to where I am at today.
This program has given me knowledge on
what it’s like working at a big company as
well as acquiring a job at said company. This
program allowed me to get an education as
well as I wouldn’t have been able to afford
school without it. It will be an experience I
will never forget and am so glad to be a part
of the history of MIC.”
“MIC has meant going from a college
degree to a job offer in some of the biggest
industries Kansas City has to offer,” said
Joey Nooner.
Quinn Cosgrove added, “MIC was a great
way to get an education while getting real-
world experience. It has been very benefi cial
to me and my future.”
The Missouri Innovation Campus was
recognized by President Obama during a
visit to Warrensburg in July 2013 and has
been cited as a model program by state and
national leaders.
First-cohort members earning their
bachelor’s degree in systems engineering
technology follow with their high schools
and their internship companies included:
Glenn Banhart, Odessa High School,
Saint Luke’s Hospital; Trevor Brixey,
Blue Springs High School, Cerner; Quinn
Cosgrove, Lee’s Summit West High School,
DST; Brian Green, Lee’s Summit North
High School, Cerner; Jamison Guilford,
Raymore-Peculiar High School, Cerner;
Joseph Nooner, Lee’s Summit West High
School, Cerner; Matthew Orson, Lee’s
Summit West High School, R-7 School
District; Nate Orson, Lee’s Summit West,
DST; Max Ostrander, Lee’s Summit West,
DST; Michael Robertson, Lee’s Summit
High School, Cerner; and Keaton Thomson,
Lee’s Summit West, Saint Luke’s Hospital.
Michael Robertson graduated cum laude,
and Brian Green graduated magna cum
laude.
Of the fi rst cohort, 91 percent of the
students were offered full-time employment
with an industry-leading company by the
time they received their bachelor’s degrees.
Several MIC graduating seniors, who
are all approximately 20 years old, have
shared their job offer salary ranges which
are roughly $35,000 to more than $60,000
annually.
Through the Missouri Innovation Campus,
students have the opportunity to earn
bachelor’s degrees in systems engineering
technology, drafting and design technology,
computer science and cybersecurity. There
are currently 85 students enrolled in the MIC
and 40 business partners participating in the
internship program.
Thanks to a unique partnership with
the University of Central Missouri and a
voter-approved bond issue, the Missouri
Innovation Campus will soon have a new
home.
Through the school district’s partnership
with UCM, Lee’s Summit R-7 is paying
approximately 40 percent toward the new
school with UCM paying the remaining 60
percent. Based on an agreement between
both organizations, the R-7 School District
will be the sole owner of the facility with
UCM paying its portion through a rental
agreement.
INNOVATION CAMPUS | from page 1
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June 2016 Page 15
The Lee’s Summit R-7 website features a quick-reference
dashboard as part of the district’s efforts to better inform the
community about student achievements and district statistical
information.
The dashboard, which features interactive numerical displays
and graphs, is available at http://dashboard.lsr7.org/. It features
six screens – student achievement, student data, human resources,
fi nance, support services and community involvement. Examples
of information are ACT college-entrance scores, graduation
rates, district enrollment, cost per pupil comparisons and student
technology.
The R-7 dashboard was recommended several years ago by
the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan Team, a
broad-based group that helps develop the school district’s fi ve-
year strategic plan.
LEE’S SUMMIT R-7 DASHBOARD PROVIDES QUICK-REFERENCE, GO-TO WEBSITE
Site includes facts about student achievement, fi nances, human resources, support services and
community involvement
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Page 16 June 2016
A total of 85 Lee’s Summit R-7 staff
members were recognized at the district’s
annual Retirement Reception, held May
3. The honored guests included staff
members retiring at the end of this school
year as well as those retiring anytime
after the May 2015 reception.
These 85 retiring staff members have
worked for a combined total of 1,675
years within Lee’s Summit R-7 plus
many also worked additional years in
other school districts before joining R-7.
Congratulations to all retirees,
including Trish Alexander, Pleasant
Lea Elementary principal; Cheryl
Anderson, Summit Ridge Academy
teacher; Dr. Jamie Argotsinger, Lee’s
Summit High School assistant principal;
Pat Armstrong, Miller Park Center
educational diagnostician; Ken Barnes,
Facilities Services grounds/maintenance;
Ann Beebe, Bernard Campbell Middle
School principal’s secretary; Linda
Beebe-Boring, Hawthorn Hill and
Underwood Elementary teacher; Carla
Beeman, Bernard Campbell Middle
School teacher; Karen Boedeker, Hazel
Grove Elementary site technology
specialist; Royce Boehm, Lee’s Summit
West High School teacher; Tina Bowling,
Lee’s Summit West High School teacher;
Cindy Brammer, Pleasant Lea Elementary
focus room facilitator; Ruth Branham,
R-7 bus driver; Linda Brecheisen-Pribyl,
Lee’s Summit High School teacher;
Teresa Bryant, Mason Elementary
teacher; Nancy Byrne, Sunset Valley
Elementary paraprofessional; Cheryl
Carver, R-7 Facilities Services secretary;
Toni Chasteen, Pleasant Lea Elementary
Nutrition Services production staff;
Nancy Collings, Bernard Campbell
Middle School teacher; Bobby Cooper,
Facilities Services electrical supervisor;
Lorene Cox, Lee’s Summit Elementary
and Miller Park Center site technology
specialist; Linda Denker, Stansberry
Leadership Center instructional
technology specialist; Sherry Denny,
Miller Park Center educational
diagnostician; Kim Desmond, Summit
Technology Academy secretary; Susan
Diekmann, Underwood Elementary
teacher; Amy Drawe, Prairie View
Elementary teacher; Roz Dwyer,
Westview Elementary teacher; Ed
Fitchie, Lee’s Summit West High
School custodian; Cora Ford, Facilities
Services custodian; Greg Foreman,
Highland Park Elementary teacher; Vicki
Franklin, Highland Park Elementary
principal’s secretary; Nancy Frick, Lee’s
Summit High School secretary; Suzy
Gardner, Transportation secretary; Kathy
Giangreco, Bernard Campbell Middle
School teacher; Grant Gill, R-7 bus
driver; Susan Hayes, Lee’s Summit West
High School counselor; Roiann Huber,
Longview Farm Elementary teacher;
Barb Jackson, R-7 bus driver; Jerry
Johnson, R-7 bus driver; Susie Johnson,
Prairie View Elementary teacher; Maria
Russo Kandt, Pleasant Lea Elementary
teacher; Debbie Katzfey, Lee’s Summit
West High School assistant principal;
Kenneth Kemp, Facilities Services
electrician; Marylee Koppe, Lee’s
Summit West High School teacher;
Carla Krebs, Hazel Grove Elementary
teacher; Mary Jo LeCluyse, Pleasant
Lea Elementary teacher; Dennis Lowe,
Summit Ridge Academy social worker;
Linda Mathews, Prairie View Elementary
secretary; Kathy May, Nutrition Services
inventory specialist; Tammy McKitterick,
Underwood Elementary teacher; Lois
Merle, Westview Elementary teacher;
Tom Merrell, Pleasant Lea Middle
School teacher; Amy Merritt, Lee’s
Summit North High School teacher;
Congratulations to LS R-7 retiring staff members
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
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June 2016 Page 17
Todd Fenske, a teacher at
Pleasant Lea Middle School, was
named Missouri Daughters of
the American Revolution (DAR)
Outstanding Teacher of American
History for 2016. Just one teacher
from throughout the state receives
this annual recognition.
Mr. Fenske received the state
award April 16 at the DAR state
conference. Earlier this semester, he
received the Prairie Chapter DAR
Outstanding Teacher of American
History Award, qualifying him for
participation in the state program.
He has been a Lee’s Summit R-7
educator for 22 years.
TODD FENSKE NAMED MISSOURI
DAR OUTSTANDING TEACHER
OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Todd Fenske
Debbie Mullins, Lee’s Summit North
High School Nutrition Services prep
assistant; Bobby Narron, Lee’s Summit
High School teacher; Barbara Noble,
Longview Farm and Sunset Valley
Elementary teacher; Joni O’Neill, Lee’s
Summit West High School counselor;
Terrin Pabst, Lee’s Summit West High
School accompanist; Elizabeth Perez,
Bernard Campbell Middle School
Nutrition Services production staff;
Robert Pherigo, Lee’s Summit North
High School accompanist; Carl Quijas,
Stansberry Leadership Center district
technology specialist; Terry Robinson,
R-7 bus driver; Donna Schumann,
Pleasant Lea Middle School Nutrition
Services cook; Susan Sexton, Summit
Lakes Middle School teacher; Gary
Shumate, R-7 bus monitor; Janet Sloan,
Lee’s Summit High School teacher;
Crissy Smitka, Great Beginnings Early
Education Center parent educator;
Jane Snow, Prairie View Elementary
paraprofessional; Chuck Stephenson,
Lee’s Summit North High School
teacher; Rise Stephenson, Hazel Grove
Elementary teacher; Paula Stork, Prairie
View Elementary Nutrition Services
cook; Brenda Summers, Before- and
After-School Services secretary;
Lawrence Swickard, Lee’s Summit
High School teacher; Charlene Tade,
Sunset Valley Elementary Nutrition
Services baker/cook; Theresa Thomas,
Longview Farm Elementary Nutrition
Services dishwasher; Beth Trigg,
Sunset Valley Elementary principal; Dr.
Chris Troester, Hazel Grove Elementary
principal; Mark Trowbridge, Pleasant
Lea Elementary teacher; Robert
Viets, R-7 bus driver; Cathy Wallace,
Cedar Creek Elementary BASS
associate; Linda Welling, Cedar Creek
Elementary teacher; Gary Wesner,
Bernard Campbell Middle School
custodian; Burt Whaley, Summit Ridge
Academy principal; Michelle Willis,
Woodland Elementary hearing impaired
specialist; and Loretta Wood, Trailridge
Elementary paraprofessional.
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Page 18 June 2016
Students from three Lee’s Summit R-7 schools recently participated in the Think
Big SensED Internet of Things (IofT) Challenge, held March 3 in Kansas City.
Teams participating were from Summit Technology Academy, Bernard Campbell
Middle School and Summit Lakes Middle School. The event was the inaugural
student pilot and included hundreds of students, teachers and Think Big member
companies.
A team from BCMS won the middle-school division. All 12 teams from BCMS
have been invited to present their projects at Tech Week KC in September.
A team from Summit Technology Academy called Stressbusters won fi rst place
in the high-school division, and Summit Tech’s team MediClock won second
place.
In the fall of 2015, Think Big and Kansas City Social Innovation Center (KCSIC),
with help from Cisco and the University of Central Missouri, launched SensED
– a project-based STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education
program for middle and high school students. The program was adopted in three
Lee’s Summit R-7 schools by 10 educators with over 200 students participating.
Since then, students have formed into 35 project teams to design and develop
concepts that use sensors and data to solve a real problem they found at school, at
home or in their community.
The top three teams from the high-school challenge automatically qualifi ed for
Make it Real, an event designed to identify and inspire budding entrepreneurs and
help them take their project from idea to the real world.
The R-7 School District is among just eight districts in the nation to be
designated as a CyberPatriot Center of Excellence by the United States Air Force
Association’s CyberPatriot program. The school district, which has captured
numerous awards in the national CyberPatriot program, learned of this honor
during mid-March.
This prestigious status is awarded only to organizations that excel in emphasizing
cybersecurity and developing the workforce of tomorrow. Students involved in the
district’s high-school and middle-school CyberPatriot teams as well as students in
the district’s Missouri Innovation Campus cybersecurity program have excelled
in this high-demand area and are well prepared to become the next generation of
cybersecurity professionals.
Through the CyberPatriot competition and the Missouri Innovation Campus
program, the students are learning cybersecurity techniques to the level that the
programs’ industry mentors and partners have sought to hire them immediately
after high-school graduation. At the Missouri Innovation Campus, located within
the district’s Summit Technology Academy, cybersecurity is one of four college
degree programs offered. To fi nd out more about the CyberPatriot program, please
visit http://www.uscyberpatriot.org.
LS R-7 SCHOOLS WIN AWARDS IN THINK
BIG INTERNET OF THINGS CHALLENGE
Lee’s Summit R-7 approved as CyberPatriot
Center of ExcellenceLocal district is one of just eight in
the nation to achieve this honor
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June 2016 Page 19
Tina Ngo, a student at Lee’s Summit High School, has been
honored for her outstanding volunteer service with a certifi cate of
excellence from the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards and
with a President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Presented annually by Prudential Financial in partnership with
the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Spirit
of Community Awards honor young people across America for
outstanding volunteer service. Certifi cates of excellence are granted
to the top 10 percent of all Spirit of Community Award applicants in
each state.
Tina is involved in numerous volunteer activities including serving
as a LSHS A+ tutor and volunteering at the Women’s Community
Health Fair, fl u shot and other health clinics, fundraising fi reworks
stand, Summer Scholars, the University of Missouri-Kansas School
of Medicine, Connections to Success and Lee’s Summit in Action.
LSHS student honored for volunteer service with national award
Tina Ngo
Here’s to a colorful life.
Congratulations graduates!
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Page 20 June 2016
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