Hello Teachers and Staff:

The first week of school has come to an end, and we couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, including transportation, food service, secretaries, custodial and maintenance staff, para professionals, teachers, and administrators. Our students have started the year off on the right foot because of the dedication of each one of YOU! By working collaboratively, we were able to ensure that all of the necessary wheels were in motion to create a seamless and successful first week. I am confident that this momentum will continue throughout the rest of the school year, and I look forward to seeing each of you as well as our students thrive in their academic and personal pursuits.

On the first day of school I received a phone call right when I finished my run at about 5:00 in the morning that my step father passed away. At the end of the first day, I drove to Oklahoma City to be with my mom and family and help make arrangements. I was able to be present with my family because USD 409 is in the best hands with each of you doing your part to ensure a successful school kick-off. I want to thank each of you for all that you do. I am confident that this year will be one of the best years for Building Successful Futures: Every student. Every Day.

#WeAre409

Tweets of the Week #WeAre409

Keep on tweeting this year and share our story--I have some great future incentives! Remember to use the #WeAre409 and @doc_nuge when you tweet!

Classroom Connection

I was able to get into all the buildings and several classrooms on day 1 of school--very impressive job of building relationships and alleviating first day jitters!

This year my classroom visit goal is 800! Then, each week in my shoutout, I will practice using some Visible Learning effective feedback strategies so you all can get a glimpse into the great teaching and learning happening in classrooms across the district!

As always, please invite me to visit your classroom when you have a great lesson planned OR when you are trying something new--taking risk with learning strategies is encouraged! I cannot wait to get into classrooms and watch each of you continue your work in Building Successful Futures: Every student. Every Day.

#WeAre409

Staff Spotlight

Please remember to submit your peer recognitions for a superintendent staff spotlight in each of my weekly shoutouts by noon each Friday.

**Note: I was so thrilled that on the first day of school I started receiving shout-outs from staff members to recognize others in the district!

From an AMS Staff Member: It was awesome to see members of the Atchison High Soccer team help my son and others at the YMCA Bitty Soccer practice. Great community outreach! 

From the Director of Special Education: SHOUT OUT to Ali Wedel! Ali took a leap into a low incidence classroom this year. Her organization and procedures for specific data collection as well as coordination of personnel has been amazing. I can't wait to see her creativity come alive throughout the year as she designs activities to enrich life skills for the students!

From a Parent: Reaching out because JL Ray at the transportation office is so helpful. Through the hustle and bustle of the new school year, she has always ensured all my questions are answered and I have not ever felt rushed when talking to her. Please extend our gratitude to her and the rest of the transportation staff a huge shoutout for being rockstars.

From an AES Teacher: Shout out to all AES staff members and our admin, but especially our secretaries for their hard work on the first day of dismissing our hundreds of students safely. They answered so many questions, phone calls and needs and did it all with kindness and patience. 

From an AHS Principal: Staff Shoutout! To Matt Hall for helping with getting students to Seminar the last hour of the day. He jumped right on the opportunity to help with this initiative. Thanks Matt! Thanks also to Sarah Tschauder, Paul Ogle, and Jeff Stuart for helping our sub Jennie Fuhrman get started in Biology right before school started! Your team is appreciated!

From a Tech Staff member: Shout Out to Amy Noll for the continuous and positive relationships she has built with USD409 families! Her knowledge and expertise are always helpful and essential-especially at the beginning of the school year. 

From the Central School Principal: I want to shoutout to Cheryl and Anna our new payroll clerks! They kicked butt during new teacher week and were so accommodating and welcoming to our new staff! So excited to welcome them to the Phoenix Family! Thank you, thank you, thank you to Sharon Martin for stepping up and helping wherever she was needed during the week new teachers came back! She was running all over the place helping staff get what they needed!!

From an AES Principal: Staff shout out to Leslie Stillian: Leslie has seamlessly joined our Intervention Team and has been pitching right in this first week of school! From dumping lunch trays to getting lost kindergarteners to class, Leslie has been a wonderful addition to our AES family! We are so appreciative of her!

From the Transportation Director: I would like to shout out to the entire Transportation staff. We have thrown a lot of new rules and policies at them and they have handled it with flying colors! A special shout out to JL Ray and Donovan Tadlock for their tireless and long days of getting students onto buses in such a short time!

#WeAre409

Usually the shoutout will go live on Friday afternoons. Because I will be traveling back to Atchison today, its going out early :-)

Above are only some of the wonderful examples of the GREAT education happening in USD 409. I believe in you, and I thank you for all you do!

Dr. Renee L. Nugent

#WeAre409