Topeka Public Schools highlights K‑State leadership academy graduates and rising administrators
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Summary
The district and Kansas State University faculty recognized a cohort of educators who completed a two‑year K‑State Leadership Academy partnership; several cohort members announced or accepted administrative internships and building‑level assignments.
Topeka Public Schools and Kansas State University celebrated a cohort of graduates from a two‑year K‑State Leadership Academy during the board meeting, highlighting the district’s pipeline for building leaders.
The program, run in partnership with Kansas State University, offers participants a master’s degree in educational leadership and prepares them for building‑level administrative licensure. Miss Wallace, the district lead for the program, told the board the partnership has produced 18 building leaders who completed the K‑State Leadership Academy and has accelerated other educators’ career growth.
Why it matters: The district emphasized “grow your own” strategies to staff schools with leaders who understand local needs. Several program graduates in the audience introduced themselves and shared recent placements: Deandre Phillips said he will be an administrative intern at Topeka West; Nicole Frazee said she will be a building leader intern at Lohman Elementary next year; Latasha Gates and others also announced administrative internships.
Program details and participants: K‑State faculty and district instructors jointly teach the cohort. Michelle Miller, introduced by the board as a K‑State professor, and district faculty including Dr. McDonald and Miss Wallace presented certificates to the cohort. Graduates who identified themselves included Deandre Phillips (behavioral and math interventionist, accepted administrative internship at Topeka West), Megan Edmonds (counselor at Scott Dual Language Magnet), Nicole Frazee (building leader intern at Lohman Elementary), Erica Whitaker (grade math teacher at Landon Middle School), and others listed at the meeting.
District appointments mentioned: During the superintendent’s report a handful of administrative placements were announced: Ms. Pino was appointed assistant principal at Williams Elementary and Ms. Yates will move into a role at Jardine (both described by the superintendent as promotions along the district succession path). The board and district leaders framed these moves as part of the pipeline the K‑State partnership supports.
Next steps: The district said it will continue the partnership with K‑State and present additional cohorts and placement updates to the board as participants complete internships and take administrative roles.
