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Emporia board approves Capturing Kids' Hearts training but removes board retreat session
Summary
The Emporia USD Board of Education approved the district's 2025-26 Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) professional-development proposal for staff and leaders, amending it to remove a proposed CKH board retreat. The vote was unanimous, 7-0.
The Emporia USD Board of Education on a 7-0 vote approved the district's Capturing Kids' Hearts (CKH) professional-development proposal for the 2025-26 school year, amending the motion to remove a CKH-led board retreat from the package.
Capturing Kids' Hearts is a social-emotional learning and leadership program the district has used previously; the approved package includes leadership blueprint training for administrators and directors, periodic "traction visits" by a CKH strategist, and the district- and campus-level digital resource (referred to in the discussion as the district premium). Assistant Superintendent Judy Stanley described the proposal and explained that the new-teacher CKH session is typically paid from Title II-A funds while other professional-development items will come from the district's professional-development line, not ESSER funds.
Board members who spoke in the discussion praised CKH's effects in the district but raised timing concerns for the proposed board retreat because the district will likely have a new superintendent in July. In response, a board member moved to approve the CKH proposal with an amendment removing the CKH board-retreat component; the motion passed 7-0.
Supporters said CKH materials (including SEL lesson resources and monthly trait materials) help create classroom predictability and strengthen adult-student connections. Presenters noted CKH's online resources include separate levels for teachers, building principals and district staff and suggested the program would continue to be used in new-teacher training.
The board did not specify any change to the district's overall professional-development budget; Stanley clarified which line items would be used for particular CKH activities. No additional cost figures or contract amendments were provided during the meeting.
The unanimous vote keeps CKH-based training in place for the coming year while reserving board retreat time for incoming-superintendent transition activity.
