Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Issue 189

Current and former members of the Kansas State Board of Education honored state education commissioner Dr. Randy Watson this week as he begins his retirement. From left: Current board members Jim Porter and Melanie Haas and Cathy Hopkins, far right, celebrated Watson and his accomplishments during a reception this week at the Docking State Office Building, in Topeka.

State Board, education professionals wish

Dr. Randy Watson well in retirement

Dale Dennis, left, former KSDE deputy commissioner, was the emcee for the celebration of Dr. Randy Watson, right, who is retiring as the Kansas education commissioner after 11 years.

Kansas education commissioner Dr. Randy Watson is known for his self-deprecating humor and visionary leadership in advancing the education of Kansas children.  

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education, educators and others who have been impacted by Watson’s 45-year career gathered in Topeka Wednesday afternoon to celebrate his service and the lasting contributions he has made to public education in Kansas. 

Cathy Hopkins, chair of the State Board, said she’s seen first-hand how much superintendents and the commissioner work to foster the success of every Kansas student. 

“And I’ve been thrilled to be a part of it,” she said of Watson’s tenure as commissioner. “We know he’s going to go on and do great things from here.”

Read more...

KSDE Insight Podcast, "A New Chapter for Kansas Education: A conversation with Dr. Jake Steel"

During the May KSDE Insight Podcast, Dr. Randy Watson talks with Dr. Jake Steel, the incoming Kansas education commissioner.

Watson asks Steel about his early days growing up and attending Garden City USD 457 schools, his higher education path that led him to the classroom as a math teacher, the work he’s done around KSDE’s alignment initiatives and what’s inspiring him to keep Kansas education moving forward.

“A Conversation with Dr. Jake Steel,” is now available on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.  

State Board taking closer look at

classroom technology use

During its May meeting in Topeka this week, the Kansas State Board of Education received draft recommendations regarding the use of technology in the classroom. 

Board members Melanie Haas and Danny Zeck began looking into the use of classroom technology and providing 1:1 devices for students. They said their presentation on Tuesday was a starting point for board discussions expected throughout the summer for how districts and their local boards of education can begin to modify educators’ instructional use of digital technology.

Read more...

KSDE names Dr. Zach Conrad

deputy commissioner of

Accountability and Technology

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has named Dr. Zach Conrad as deputy commissioner of the Division of Accountability and Technology.

In this role, Conrad will lead the agency’s work in accountability, assessment, research, evaluation, information technology and data reporting.



Conrad brings extensive experience in Kansas education, with a background spanning classroom teaching, district leadership, state agency work and research. 

Read more...

Daisy Parsons, a paraeducator in Dexter USD 471, is a member of the Kansas RTAP cohort. (Photo submitted by Daisy Parsons)

Essie Boatman, a paraeducator in Dexter USD 471, is a member of the Kansas RTAP cohort. (Photo submitted by Essie Boatman)

RTAP Apprentice in Action: Two Apprentices, One Community in Dexter USD 471

At Dexter USD 471, the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP) is more than an alternative pathway into teaching. It is a long-term investment in people who already know the community, care deeply about students, and are committed to staying. Through the RTAP, the district is intentionally growing its own educators while strengthening classrooms today.  

District leadership, including K.B. Criss, USD 471’s superintendent and K-12 principal, and Lacey Ware, board clerk, have supported the program to meet staffing needs while maintaining instructional continuity.  



“These are individuals who already understand our students and our school culture”, Criss shared. “RTAP allows us to support them as they grow into educators while they continue serving our students each day.”

Read more...

Reminder: Safe and Secure Schools

2026-27 grant application due June 12

House Bill 2513, passed during the 2026 legislative session, establishes a $2.5 million grant program available for use within Kansas K–12 public school district buildings. Costs associated with school buses or private schools are not eligible under this program.

This program operates on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis and is intended to support the following eligible expenditures:



• Secure infrastructure
• Secure technologies
• Communications systems
• First-year School Resource Officer (SRO) positions
• Naloxone

The Kansas State Board of Education will review and vote on proposed expenditures at its July 2026 meeting. Districts will be notified of award decisions shortly thereafter. All grant funds must be expended or encumbered by June 30, 2027.

Access the Safe and Secure Schools grant how-to guide - May 2026 for guidance.

Completed applications must be submitted in Excel format to John Calvert, john.calvert@ksde.gov, no later than June 12. He can also be contacted via email and (785) 296-7056 with questions. 

Reminder: Kansas Volunteer Commission offers 9/11 National Day of Service mini grants due June 8

The U.S. Congress designated Sept. 1, as a National Day of Service and Remembrance in 2009. AmeriCorps was charged with supporting this effort across the country.  

With funding from AmeriCorps, the Kansas Volunteer Commission is working with organizations across the state to engage volunteers in tribute projects to honor 9/11 victims, survivors, and others who rose in service in response to the attacks.  

The commission is offering mini grants to recruit and engage volunteers in meaningful service activities OR to deliver a service-learning activity that relates to 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. 

Grant applications are due June 8, for the grant period Sept. 1 - 30, 2026.  

Contact volunteer@ksde.gov with questions. 

Reminder: Kansas Preschool Pilot grant End of Year Report in Foundations for School Success web application due June 1

Kansas Preschool Pilot 2025-2026 grantees must complete their End of Year Report in the Early Childhood Foundations for School Success (FSS) Authenticated web application by June 1. 

This survey can be found in the KSDE Authenticated Applications. The login to KSDE authenticated applications can be found here. If you do not have access to FSS, follow the directions on p. 9 of the Early Childhood Foundation for School Success User’s Guide to gain access. To enter information into FSS, you will need a “District/Org Update” or "Multi-Org Update” user access level.  

This report provides important information to support early childhood investments in our state.  

Refer to p. 10 of the 2025-2026 Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) Grant Requirements and Application for a list of the questions in the report. 

Contact Natalie McClane, natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov, with questions. 

Reminder: Committee members needed for higher education preparation

standards revisions

The KSDE teacher licensure team is seeking volunteers to revise the following educator preparation standards: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Earth and Space Science, Gifted, Library Media Specialist, Music/Instrumental/Vocal, Physics, School Counselor, and middle-level Science.  

Volunteers should hold a license or be higher ed faculty in the content area. Click on the following link for more information about the revision process and to note your availability. Share this call with colleagues whom you think would be interested: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FW5NDYB  

Contact Catherine Chmidling, catherine.chmidling@ksde.gov, or (785) 291-3573 with questions. 

KSDE CNW to hold regional SNP menu planning trainings in June

The KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team will be hosting regional "Menu Planning for School Meals" trainings this summer. 

This six-hour training is intended for individuals responsible for menu planning in the School Nutrition Program (SNP). It will cover the basics of the SNP meal pattern, then break down how to calculate meal components. 

The in-person trainings will be held in the following locations: 



June 3: Manhattan 

June 4: Oakley 

June 9: Chanute 

June 17: Dodge City 

July 8: Haysville 

July 16: De Soto 

To register, email Pam Rosebaugh, pam.rosebaugh@ksde.gov, with the location you plan to attend. 

Final reminder: KSDE CNW team to host

procurement training on May 19 

The KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team will be hosting “Procurement 101: The Basics," 2-3 p.m., on May 19. This training will introduce the fundamentals of federal procurement, including key requirements and definitions. 

This virtual session is available at https://cnw.ksde.gov under Training, CNW Calendar. The training is also available on the KSDE Training Portal at  https://learning.ksde.org under K12 Staff, Child Nutrition & Wellness: Procurement. 

All sponsors must complete at least one hour of KSDE procurement training by June 30, of this year. 

Contact Holly Steinlage, holly.steinlage@ksde.gov, with questions. 

Reminder: Body Venture 2026-27 

applications due May 31

The “Request to Schedule Body Venture” form for the 2026-27 school year is available at https://cnw.ksde.gov > SNP > SNP What’s New. The deadline to apply is May 31. 

Body Venture is a traveling health education exhibit for K-5 students to help them learn about the importance of making healthy food choices and being physically active.  

Contact the Child Nutrition and Wellness team, cnw@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-2276 with questions. 

Kansas Literacy Summit planned for July 27, at the Great Ideas in Education Conference

Mark your calendars: The Kansas Literacy Summit will be held on Monday, July 27, the first day of the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference, at the Hyatt Regency, in Wichita.  

The summit is a full day of professional learning for reading specialists, LETRS^® facilitators or literacy leadership professionals. 

• Morning session: Dr. Dale Webster and Dr. Maya Valencia-Goodall from CORE will present on the intersection between structured literacy and multilingual learners.  
• Early afternoon session: Dr. Trina Spencer, researcher and designer of assessments and materials, will present on how to identify students who need additional support in oral language.  

The day will conclude with a panel discussion of Kansas educators who implemented our “Plan, Do, Study, Act” model to identify literacy problems in practice and address them.  

Attendees can register for the full Great Ideas conference and attend the Literacy Summit as “Day 1” of the conference; or register for only the summit by selecting “Pre-Conference Only” when registering. Register here for the summit and/or the Great Ideas conference.  

Contact Dr. Laurie Curtis, laurie.curtis@ksde.gov, with questions. 

Kansas FFA members recognized as

Star and Proficiency Award finalists for the

98th State FFA Convention

Members of the Kansas FFA will convene May 26 – 29, for the 98th State FFA Convention. 

Students who are finalists for the Kansas Star and Proficiency awards will be recognized during the event on the campus of Kansas State University, in Manhattan. 

Kansas FFA annually recognizes FFA members with the Kansas Star awards. These members have gone above and beyond in their attitude, involvement, community service and supervised agricultural experience. Finalists for the Kansas Star awards have mastered skills in production, finance and management. 

Proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Up to three finalists are chosen for recognition at state convention, with the winner being announced during session. 

Contact association@ksffa.org with questions. 

Reminder: State FFA convention to feature

Administrator Convention Experience 

The 98th State FFA Convention, May 27-29, will feature a special immersive experience for school administrators and CTE directors to learn more about the impact of school-based agricultural education programs.  

Jeff Hines, nationally recognized ag educator and principal of Paola High School, Paola USD 368, will facilitate this session, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., in the K-State Student Union, Room 202, on Thursday, May 28.  

Register here for the state convention, hosted at Kansas State University, in Manhattan. 

Contact Anthony Meals, anthony.meals@ksde.gov, with questions. 

Kansas Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health offers 

online PD session 

Beginning May 28, join the Kansas Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health (KAIMH) for ZERO TO THREE’s The Growing Brain  series. This is an engaging, virtual professional development opportunity designed for early childhood professionals who want to deepen their understanding of behavior, relationships, and healthy brain development. 

Through this seven-part online series, participants will explore: 

• Brain development and early experiences 
• Communication and language development 
• Social-emotional development 
• Executive functioning and self-regulation 
• Relationship-based strategies 
• Understanding and responding to challenging behavior 

Register here for all of the virtual sessions that will be 1:30 – 4:45 p.m., beginning May 28. The cost is $35 for a session or $200 for all seven sessions. Discounts are available. 

Contact KAIMH at info@kaimh.org with questions. 

Reminder: Register now for the 2nd Annual BOOST Summit, June 29-30

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and Educate Kansas are hosting the 2nd Annual BOOST Summit (Building Opportunities for Outstanding Teachers), June 29–30, at Emporia State University.  

This two-day event will feature dynamic breakout sessions focused on educator recruitment and retention, special keynote presentations from KSDE and The American Association of School Personnel Administrators leadership, and a spotlight on both evidence-based strategies and innovative, emerging practices. 

Summit information and registration can be found here.

Contact Cris Seidel, crisseidel@educatekansas.org, with questions. 

Reminder: “Screen Time and Young Minds” LICC virtual retreat set for fall 2026

The fall 2026 Local Interagency Coordinating Councils (LICC) virtual retreat will be 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on Oct. 23. 

Mark you calendars for this event targeted to providers and teachers of children birth to age 5 and their families, but open to everyone who wants to learn about the screen time effects on infants and kindergarteners. Angie Neal, a speech language pathologist, will review the impacts of screen time on developing brains, offer ways to mitigate the effects, and discuss how to have conversations about screen time with families. 

Register here for “Screen Time and Young Minds: What's the Real Impact - And What Can We Do Instead? Part 2.”  

Contact Stacy Clarke, stacy.clarke@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-3953. 

Reminder: WSU College of Education and Wichita USD 259 to host

Propellus Tech Summit on May 29 

The Wichita State University College of Education and Wichita USD 259 will be hosting the Propellus Tech Summit at the WSU Rhatigan Student Center, on May 29. 

Find more information and register here for this event that will include session on education technology and artificial intelligence, classroom ready ideas, hands-on learning and inspiring speakers. Teachers, coaches, administrators and students in teacher preparation programs are encouraged to attend.  

Contact propellus@wichitapublicschools.org with questions. 

Kansas Technical Assistance System Network  training opportunities

The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) provides evidence-based professional learning and technical assistance, grounded in the federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

• View upcoming professional learning opportunities on the TASN events calendar. 
• Learn more about TASN projects. 

Contact Michele Hayes, mrhayes@pittstate.edu, with questions. 

May

15: CTE Pathways Student Data Management window opens; closes Aug. 15. Contact: Pathways Helpdesk, (785) 296-4908.

15: Window closes to request June federal funds (Form 240), if funds are available. Contact: Amanda Williams, amanda.williams@ksde.gov, (785) 296-2020.

19: KSDE CNW hosts “Procurement 101: The Basics," 2-3 p.m., virtual. Go to https://cnw.ksde.gov under Training, CNW Calendar. Contact: Holly Steinlage, holly.steinlage@ksde.gov.

22: KIDS Collection TASC (Teacher and Student Connection) data submission closes. Contact: KSDE Helpdesk, (785) 296-7935.  

28: ESEA Title IA monthly office hour, 9 – 10 a.m. Register here: ESEA Title IA May Office Hours. Contact: Roxanne Zillinger, roxanne.zillinger@ksde.gov.

29: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) 2026-27 application due. Go to https://cnw.ksde.gov under SNP, SNP What’s New. Contact CNW@ksde.gov or (785) 296-2276 with questions.

31: Deadline to submit 2026-27 application for Body Venture exhibit: https://cnw.ksde.gov > SNP > SNP What’s New. Contact: Child Nutrition and Wellness team, cnw@ksde.gov, (785) 296-2276. 

June

1: Applications are due for the next Kansas Registered Teacher Apprentice Program cohort. Contact: Joel Gillaspie, joel.gillaspie@ksde.gov, or Aysha Satterlee, aysha.satterlee@ksde.gov.

1: Deadline for Kansas Preschool Pilot 2025-2026 grantees to complete EOY report in the Early Childhood Foundations for School Success (FSS) authenticated web application. FSS User’s Guide. Contact: Natalie McClane, natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov.

3-5: Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference and State Driving Competition, DoubleTree by Hilton Wichita Airport. Driving competition is June 3, in Maize. Go to https://www.kspta.net for conference information and registration.

8: Kansas Volunteer Commission 9/11 National Day of Service mini grant applications due. Contact: volunteer@ksde.gov.

9-10: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Landon State Office Building, Topeka. Click here for agenda and meeting materials.

10: ESI data from Dec. 1, 2025, through May 31, 2026, is due. Contact: Trish Backman, trish.backman@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-6937, or Brian Dempsey, brian.dempsey@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-5522.

12: Safe and Secure Schools 2026-27 grant application due. Access the Safe and Secure Schools grant how-to guide - May 2026. Contact: John Calvert, john.calvert@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-7056. 

23-25: KSDE Special Education and Title Services (SETS) Summer Leadership Conference, Wichita. Register here. Contact: Brad Schwartz, blschwartz@pittstate.edu.

29-30: 2026 BOOST Summit, Emporia State University. Register here. Contact: Cris Seidel, crisseidel@educatekansas.org.

30: Discipline data for 2025-26 is due. Contact: Trish Backman, trish.backman@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-6937, or Brian Dempsey, brian.dempsey@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-5522.

July

14: Deadline to register for 2026 Great Ideas in Education conference, Wichita. Contact Kelli Byrne, kelli.byrne@ksde.gov, with registration questions.

27-29: 2026 Great Ideas in Education conference, Hyatt Regency Hotel and Convention Center, 400 W. Waterman, Wichita. Contact: Pat Bone, pat.bone@ksde.gov.

31: Using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) to Engage Families and Support Learning (Intermediate ASQ), virtual, 9- 10:30 p.m. Register here. Contact: Natalie McClane, natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov. 

August

7: Introduction to the ASQ, virtual, 1 – 3 p.m. Register here. Contact: Natalie McClane, natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov.