Dr. Alicia Thompson will officially retire at the end of the 2022-23 school year as superintendent of Wichita Public Schools. The search for her replacement is in its early stages and there is still time to provide input.
elementary
Posted inCivic Engagement, Education, Elections
What you need to know about the school board ballot measure on the November ballot
The Beacon has created a guide to prepare you for the ballot measure so that you can be ready to vote.
Posted inEducation
Pandemic learning: Federal money allows Wichita Public Schools to invest in summer programs
More than 2,800 students participated in the daylong summer programs that ran through June. Participating students in kindergarten through eighth grade regained knowledge they had lost, according to pre- and post-summer school assessments of their math and language skills. And nearly all parents of participating children felt teachers were well-prepared and made the experience fun for their children.
Posted inEducation
Wichita Black community presses school board member to back change in how members are elected
“Holistically and intrinsically, I like Black people representing me, but that’s not always the case… So, I look for, as Dr. [Martin Luther] King said, I look for the content of a person’s character. I look for someone who is African American but if that is not the case I look for someone who can do the things I just said.”
Posted inEducation
Retaining early-career teachers key to addressing shortage in Wichita
Teacher shortages fueled by retirements and teacher burnout continue to plague school districts across the country. Wichita Public Schools began the 2022-23 school year on Aug. 15 short 100 teachers. That represents about 2.5% of all positions, better than the statewide vacancy rate of 4%. The causes of the shortage are baby-boomer retirement, increased stress […]
Posted inCivic Engagement, Education
Black activists in Wichita lead the way in USD 259 school board voting reform
Currently, five of seven school board members want to put school board election reform before voters. Diane Albert of District 1 and Hazel Stabler of District 6 currently do not believe the question is worth putting on the ballot.