Sept. 9, 2022

Ray-Pec Community,

Three weeks ago, over 950 Ray-Pec staff members welcomed back over 6,500 Early Childhood to 12th-grade students for the 22-23 school year. After visiting every school in the district several times over the past 14 school days, seeing our students in their co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, and observing the teaching and learning that is happening in our classrooms, this feeling is evident:

It is great to be back in full swing in the 22-23 school year.

There are two points of pride that I want to highlight in this message. The first is the excitement of opening the Ray-Pec LEAD Center.

As you recall, a part of the Proposition S bond election was to acquire and renovate the 41,000+ square foot facility at 58 Highway and Foxridge Drive. We named that facility the Ray-Pec LEAD Center. LEAD stands for Learning, Experiences, And Discovery. The Ray-Pec LEAD Center opened three weeks ago and is an exciting place for students to gain employable experiences through career-technical education, participate in exciting new styles of learning through a partnership with the Kauffman Foundation’s Real World Learning initiative, explore their interests in becoming a future teacher, and even participate in a real-life business opportunity. At full build-out, we envision the LEAD Center to be a place where students with special needs will engage in important learning experiences, and where elementary and middle school students will have opportunities to explore through summer enrichment programs. We plan to host several public open houses in October, and more information is coming soon about the dates and times for these open houses.

The other point of pride I want to highlight is to honor our incredible staff members who have reached service milestones here in the Ray-Pec School District.

We have four staff members who are starting their 30th year of service to our students and community. They are:

• Cari Bryant, Digital Learning Teacher at Raymore Elementary and Timber Creek Elementary
• Dr. Jerry Edson, Assistant Principal at Ray-Pec High School
• Mike Roberts, Science Teacher at Ray-Pec High School
• Pam Steele, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and School Board Secretary

These staff members have completed 20 years of service in the District:

• Philip Corbett, Warehouse Delivery Driver
• Niki Eve, P.E./Health Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Jennifer Gibson, Band Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Kim Kruse, P.E./Health Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Cristie McCullough, Library Media Assistant, Ray-Pec High School
• Pauline Pritchett, Kitchen Manager, Bridle Ridge
• Brandon Ransom, Social Studies Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Michele Sherron, Math Teacher, South Middle School
• Kelly Testerman, Library Media Specialist, Timber Creek Elementary
• Janet Tracy, English Teacher, South Middle School

These staff members have completed 10 years of service in Ray-Pec:

• Renee Anthuis, Secretary, Raymore Elementary
• Carissa Bartel, English Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Bobbi Bond, Occupational Therapist
• Kiley Brown, Instructional Coach
• Carolyn Deane, Principal, Stonegate Elementary
• Marlena Dearing, Site Coordinator, Panther Pride Child Care, Raymore Elementary
• Erica Dodson, Teacher, Creekmoor Elementary
• Shelley Ferguson, Kitchen Manager, East Middle School
• Jared Foster, P.E./Health Teacher, East Middle School
• Pamela Gonzales, Teacher, Bridle Ridge Elementary
• Jairus Harrell, Maintenance, Buildings and Grounds
• Crystal Hawley, Teacher, Creekmoor
• Pamela Horner, Paraprofessional, Eagle Glen Elementary
• Derek Howard, Social Studies Teacher, Ray-Pec High School
• Mary Irvin, Part-Time Cook
• Gennifer Kephart, Special Education Teacher, East Middle School
• Kelsi Kershner, Teacher, Raymore Elementary
• Leigh Kirkpatrick, Focus Facilitator, Stonegate Elementary
• Tracy Lerosen, Teacher, Stonegate Elementary
• Kirschen Minsky, Speech Language Pathology Assistant, Eagle Glen Elementary
• Sara Moner, Early Childhood Special Education Teacher, Shull Early Learning Center
• Laura Moots, Elementary Teacher, Virtual Instruction Program of Ray-Pec (VIPR)
• Rebecca Petersen, Counselor, Bridle Ridge Elementary
• Edith Pitts, Custodian, Ray-Pec High School
• Darlene Rexroad, Nurse, Peculiar Elementary
• Gayle Vance, Occupational Therapist
• Kristy Warren, Focus Facilitator, Raymore Elementary
• Whitley Wood, Site Coordinator, Panther Pride Child Care, Timber Creek Elementary
• Sergio Zendejas, Math Teacher, Ray-Pec High School

We are blessed to have such dedicated professionals serving our students and community!

This has been a great start to the school year, with many great things still to look forward to.

Thank you for entrusting your children to the Ray-Pec School District,

Mike