In the Shawnee Mission School District, everyone who serves our students is an educator and everyone plays an important role in helping each student achieve their personal best. Every interaction, every encouraging word, every effort is all done for one reason: Because Kids.
Throughout the year, the Shawnee Mission Board of Education honors team members as All Stars — individuals who go above and beyond to support students, families, colleagues, and our community. These outstanding staff members embody the heart and purpose of Shawnee Mission. They show up early, stay late, solve problems, lend a hand, and create spaces where students feel seen, supported, and inspired.
They do this work not for recognition, but because they believe in students and the power of public education.
Anyone in the community can nominate a Shawnee Mission team member to be honored and recognized as an All Star for their exceptional contributions! Click here for the form to nominate.
Here are some of the most recent All Stars recognized in the Shawnee Mission School District:
- Liz Rulifson, Rushton Elementary Nurse. Click here to see a video.
- Melissa Harder, Hocker Grove Middle School paraeducator. Click here to see a video.
- Meredith Bush, early childhood special education teacher, and Kate Mance, paraeducator at the Shawnee Mission Early Childhood Education Center. Click here to see a video.
- Alexis Bajich, Oak Park-Carpenter Elementary food service assistant. Click here to see a video.
- Stacie Anderson, Shawnee Mission Northwest post-high/special education teacher. Click here to see a video.
- Margaret Thompson, Indian Hills Middle School art teacher. Click here to see a video.
- Pamela Morris, Shawnee Mission North High School student services-administrative assistant. Click here to see a video.
- Shauna Hammett, ApacheIS kindergarten teacher. Click here to see a video.
- Lara Caldwell, Horizons High School teacher. Click here to see a video.
Shawnee Mission School District is the third largest school district in Kansas. The district serves students in Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in 34 elementary schools, five middle schools, five high schools, and several educational centers. It has been consistently ranked among the finest school districts nationwide for its high student performance. The district’s objective is that each student will have a personalized learning plan that will prepare them for college and careers, with the interpersonal skills they need for life success. The district serves a diverse student population from 14 cities within northeast Johnson County, Kansas, which is 10 miles from downtown Kansas City, Missouri. For more information, visit www.smsd.org.
There are multiple ways you can stay up-to-date on all of the news highlighting students and staff members in the Shawnee Mission School District throughout this school year. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or watch for stories posted under “recent news” on www.smsd.org. Have you heard our podcast? Click here to listen or subscribe.
