What really happens at USD 253 during the summer?  For many, it might appear that when school ends in May, the district closes for the summer.  In other words, the inner workings of our school district during the summer simply go unnoticed by many.  The truth is, here...

The days on the calendar have transitioned from April to May, the weather outside has abruptly transitioned from 50’s and 60’s to the high 80’s, and end-of-year school activities require an oversized calendar to accommodate the lengthy list.  Yes, it is May at Emporia...

My wife, Jodi and I had the opportunity to attend the Emporia Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting recently.  It was obvious by the turnout and the activities that a great deal of thought had gone into organizing and planning this event.  The evening was a tribute to...

With the start of October comes an important milestone for our students. Parent-Teacher and Career and Academic Planning conferences are underway this week, bringing families together with our teachers for updates on how students are progressing. I...

The theme for our back-to-school convocation in August was #DifferenceMakers. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with a majority of the Emporia 253 staff about their ability to be #DifferenceMakers on a number of levels - with our students,...

It’s hard to believe, but our summer break is rapidly coming to a close. We are now less than three weeks away from starting another exciting school year. As the Kansas State Department of Education touts its education redesign project named after the pioneering...

From the street, our schools appear to be empty and quiet during June and July, but once inside a visitor will hear and see evidence of cleaning and painting crews working and maintenance crews finishing repairs in preparation for a new school year. Behind the scenes,...

As I come to the close of my first year in Emporia, I am reflecting on what has been a great year. I am excited about what we have accomplished, and more importantly, the energy I’m feeling is fueled by the potential of what lies ahead. I started my tenure here using...

How we end the school year is importantMay 1, 2017I come to you today with what I call “The May Challenge.”  It may not be a catchy title, but bear with me for a moment.  I like to think of May in schools as the fourth quarter of a basketball game - a very important...