HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Schools held their annual Convocation to welcome back all Salthawk staff for the 2024-2025 school year on Thursday, August 9th. Convocation is an annual event that celebrates the new school year with messages from district leaders, staff awards, and a keynote speech. The theme “We are Salthawks” was interwoven into the event, inspiring attendees to reinforce their connections with students, parents, guardians, and colleagues.
Salthawk staff relished the cool temperatures and a light breakfast offered by Heartland Credit Union, continuing a tradition that has lasted for over 30 years. The event kicked off with a warm welcome at the door from district leaders and Heartland Credit Union representatives, who also provided each staff member with a complimentary tote bag.
During the event, staff heard welcome messages from Superintendent Dr. Johnson, USD 308 Board of Education President, Laura Corey, HNEA President Lynnette Krieger-Zook and community partners. This year featured keynote speaker, Kristen Brown.
Davis Teacher of the Year Awards Announced
Each year, the James & Juliet L. Foundation trustees select a group of outstanding teachers currently serving in USD 308 Hutchinson Public Schools to receive a cash award. Nominations are submitted in the spring and selected by committee. Since 1982, when the trustees established the Davis Teacher of the Year Award, $500,000 has been distributed to educators. Many of the trustees attended the event with Allen Fee and Sarah Liebl presenting the awards.
The award winners are:
- Jessica Ray, 2nd Grade, Lincoln-McCandless Elementary
- Brooks Armstrong, 6th Grade, Morgan Elementary
- Lachelle Spann, 1st Grade, Wiley Elementary
- Brylee Soule, Special Education Inter-Relation Resource, HMS 7
- Jeremiah Harmon, Welding Technology, CTEA
- Sean Harper, Math, Hutchinson High School
The Davis Foundation also awards scholarships to USD 308 students each spring who will be attending a Kansas or Missouri college after graduation.
Teachers and Staff Honored for Tenure and Recognized for Awards
Classified Council President Kris Mayberry presented the Classified Employee of the Year Award. Nominations for this award were made during the spring of 2024 by staff, community members, parents and students. Classified employees make up approximately half of the staff population in USD 308. The term covers a variety of positions including paraeducators, secretaries, nurses, nutrition services, custodians, maintenance and more.
The nominations were reduced to a shortlist of ten, who were subsequently interviewed by the Classified Council, which narrowed the field down to three nominees before choosing a winner. The 2023-2024 Classified Employee Award was given to Alicia Trussell, Speech Language Paraeducator from Faris Elementary School.
Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young presented the Certified Employee of the year. Nominations for this award were made during the spring of 2024 by staff, community members, parents and students. Certified employees make up approximately half of the staff population in USD 308. Certified staff are teachers, social workers, special education teachers and more. The Certified Employee of the Year was awarded to Glenna Burden, Government Teacher from Hutchinson High School.
Young also presented awards to the Horizon Nominee Ethan Wedel, Music Teacher, from Lincoln-McCandless, and Horizon Recipient, Ashley Sharbutt, Physical Education Teacher from Hutchinson Middle School 7. The Kansas State Department of Education Horizon Award is intended to recognize exemplary first-year teachers in the elementary and secondary classrooms who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.
Kansas Teacher of the Year awards were also presented. Leslie Specht, Third Grade Teacher at Lincoln-McCandless Elementary was recognized as a Kansas Elementary Teacher of the Year Nominee. Whitney Aves, was recognized as the Kansas Secondary Teacher of the Year Semifinalist. Specht and Aves represented Hutchinson Public Schools at the Region 1 dinner last spring. Aves was nominated as a Region 1 Finalist and will go on to compete in the next Kansas Teacher of the Year round, held in September.
Last year, convocation planners revived an old tradition- recognizing Salthawk staff for their milestone anniversaries. More than half of the USD 308 staff has worked in the district for five years or longer. Staff were asked to stand and be recognized for their work anniversaries in five-year increments. As the Salthawk Service Awards closed, one staff member remained standing. Patricia Lillard, First Grade Teacher at Lincoln-McCandless Elementary, received a standing ovation as she was recognized for 45 years of service to Hutchinson Public Schools. She accepted a certificate and an engraved award from Dr. Johnson on stage. Not only have many Salthawk staff members worked alongside Mrs. Lillard, she has had many Salthawk staff as students in her own classroom. Her legacy extends far beyond her classroom and has touched many lives in the USD 308 and Hutchinson communities.
These Salthawk staff members will be recognized again at the September 13th home football game against Valley Center during the pre-game announcements.
Keynote Speech delivered by Kristen Brown
Wrapping up the event was a keynote speech delivered by Kristen Brown, sponsored by the Davis Foundation. Kristen is known as The Energy Phoenix, and is a Certified Speaking Professional who reshapes leadership energy in today’s workplace.
Leveraging her journey as a young widow and 15 years of corporate leadership, Kristen has transformed workplace dynamics at major companies across various industries. She holds a Master’s in Integral Theory and several wellness certifications, offering a comprehensive approach to impact, resilience, and results.
Kristen, decked out in Salthawk colors, brought with her an engaging and fun keynote speech. She guided the group through activities designed to explore their “7 energies of leadership” and shared both touching and humorous stories. One such activity, Energy Bingo, encouraged staff to engage with their colleagues in small groups, discussing conflict resolution strategies and methods to motivate themselves and one another. Participants were also reminded to dedicate time each day for setting intentions and building connections with students, guardians, and colleagues.
The group ended their day with laughter yoga before heading to their buildings for professional development.
The first day of school for USD 308 is Wednesday, August 14th for Kindergarten to 9th grades. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors will begin on August 15th. Pre-K and Kindergarten classes have a staggered start date and should look for communication from their school regarding the first day.