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Topeka Public Schools honors 25-year employees, senior of the month and KSDE Challenge Award winners
Summary
The Topeka Public Schools board recognized longstanding staff members, named a senior of the month and presented KSDE Challenge Awards to several schools during a board meeting ceremony.
The Topeka Public Schools Board of Education opened its meeting with a recognition ceremony that honored district employees with 25 years of service, presented the district’s senior of the month and recognized several schools that received Kansas State Department of Education Challenge Awards.
The district called more than two dozen staff members forward for individual recognition and plaques for 25 years of service. Among those named were Joseph Arnold (information technology), Emily Carroll (Topeka High), Sarah Frisby (Hope Street Academy), Leosha Jardina (Highland Park High School), Amy Kalinka (McEachern Elementary), Dr. Aaron Kipp (Burnett Center), Michael Lopez (Service Center) and Tanya Widow (Meadow Elementary), among others. Board members and district staff asked the audience to applaud the honorees.
The board also recognized Jordan Toombs, a senior at Topeka West High School, as senior of the month. Board members and school staff noted she ranks in the top 10% of her class, participates in theater and the school broadcast program, is active in the TCALC web and digital design pathway, and won the Edgerly Franklin Leadership Scholarship at Kansas State University, a $5,000 award given to up to five students annually. Jordan told the board she plans to study business marketing at Kent State.
The Kansas State Board of Education presenter and district leaders also presented the 2024 KSDE Challenge Awards to multiple schools for academic progress. Named recipients included French Middle School, Landon Middle School, Lohman Hill Elementary, McCarter Elementary, McEachern Elementary and Scott Dual Language Magnet, and principals and teachers came forward to accept certificates and speak briefly about strategies that supported growth.
District leaders and board members used the recognition segment to highlight the role of long-term staff and school teams in improving student outcomes and to mark Teacher Appreciation Week and National Principals Day. The ceremonial portion of the meeting concluded with photos and a short reception.
The recognition items were ceremonial; no new district policy or budget action was taken during the acknowledgments.
