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Blue Springs honors Presidential Award winner Kelly Lee, names employee and student of the month and approves five administrative hires
Summary
At its February meeting the Blue Springs R‑IV board recognized Blue Springs High School math teacher Kelly Lee for a Presidential Award; named Regina Straub employee of the month and Millie Kitchum student of the month; and approved five administrative appointments in a unanimous vote.
The Blue Springs R‑IV Board of Education recognized a nationally honored math teacher, acknowledged the district’s employee and student of the month, and unanimously approved five administrative hires at its February meeting.
Tom Alderman, principal at Blue Springs High School, introduced Kelly Lee, a mathematics teacher at Blue Springs High School who won the state selection for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Alderman explained the selection process begins at the state level and advances to a national committee. “Of all the math teachers in the state of Missouri, Kelly Lee won that award,” Alderman said. Alderman and other speakers noted that the award includes a trip to Washington, D.C., and an opportunity to meet the President of the United States.
The board also recognized Regina Straub, a kindergarten teacher at Voy Spears Junior Elementary, as February employee of the month. The district highlighted Straub’s 21 years in education, contributions to curriculum and school events, and her classroom routines that emphasize kindness. Straub accepted the honor and thanked colleagues, family and students in a brief speech.
Fifth grader Millie Kitchum of James Lewis Elementary was named student of the month. The board read recommendations from teachers, the counselor and the school resource officer that described Millie as kind, dependable and a school leader.
On administrative personnel actions, district leadership presented five recommendations and the board approved them as a group. The appointments the board approved were: - Caleb Longest — recommended as Director of Special Education (previously assistant principal at Blue Springs South and special education teacher), - Darren Whisner — recommended as assistant principal at Blue Springs South (previously a business teacher), - Danny Malone — recommended as assistant principal at Blue Springs High School (previously a PE teacher and freshman center staff), - Ryan Wood — recommended as assistant principal at Moreland Ridge (previously a science teacher at Paul Kinder Middle School), - Ashley Rowland — recommended as assistant principal (administrative intern at Blue Springs South; previously an English teacher).
The motion to approve the administrative recommendations passed unanimously with six board members voting in favor. Earlier in the meeting the board also approved the consent agenda and adopted the regular agenda without objection. The board approved the first reading of a revised policy (item moved from consent to new business) by a 6–0 voice vote; the motion to move the policy to first reading was made by Mr. Sames and seconded by Mr. Swanson, and the board confirmed the first reading vote with six affirmative hands.
No additional formal actions were taken on the recognitions; the employee and student awards are ceremonial acknowledgments and do not require board action.
