Forbes has announced the Shawnee Mission School District is one of the best employers in the state of Kansas. The SMSD is the top PreK -12 education institution listed on the 2026 “Best Employers By State” list and marks the fourth consecutive year the district has been included on this ranking.
“We are very proud of this recognition,” Dr. Jeremy Higgins, associate superintendent of human resources, expressed. “We are a large organization and so many people play an important role in making sure all of our staff feel valued and feel a sense of belonging, no matter how they serve in Shawnee Mission.”
SMSD benefits
The Forbes ranking is based directly on employee survey feedback evaluating factors including competitive pay, benefits, leadership, company reputation, flexibility, and opportunities for career advancement.
In addition to these benefits, the district also offers an onsite health clinic for employees at the Center for Academic Achievement and a fitness center, featuring trainers and a variety of group exercise class offerings.
“We want everyone to have a wonderful experience here in the district whether they are students, family members, or our employees,” Dr. Higgins stated. “For our staff specifically, we know that them having a positive experience directly impacts the students they serve and the learning that occurs in our classrooms, as well as the retention of staff year over year.”
One of the key strategies in the district’s Strategic Plan is People, outlining the district’s commitment to “enhancing our community-centered environment to recruit and retain diverse and exemplary educators, staff, and families by being the best place to learn, work, and connect.” Teachers, parents, students, and community members are working in support of this strategy through work related to expanding mentorship opportunities, enhancing professional development. Teams helped develop a retention plan in the effort to “continue to build a strong, sustainable workforce equipped, empowered and connected to the district’s mission.”
Teaching and non-teaching roles
Shawnee Mission employs more than 3,500 individuals who serve in teaching and non-teaching roles. This includes classroom educators, as well as those who serve in operations and maintenance, in student nutrition services, in Information and Communication Technology, as paraeducators and aides, and more. In Shawnee Mission, everyone who serves in schools is considered an educator.
For Brigette Jones, currently a secretary at Santa Fe Trail Elementary, her time in Shawnee Mission has come full circle. She grew up attending Shawnee Mission schools. Now, her resume includes time as a paraeducator, attendance clerk, and administrative assistant for 17 years.
“Now having the opportunity to give back to the same community that played such an important role in my own education is incredibly humbling to me,” she expressed.
While the job is challenging, she said one of the best aspects of her job is a strong sense of community and connection.
“We have colleagues who care about students, support one another, and bring different experiences and ideas to the table to make a difference,” she described. “Education is about so much more than academics. We are building relationships, helping students develop confidence, teaching them how to work with others, and creating environments where they feel safe, valued, and excited to learn”
A place to build tomorrow together
For Ryan Wilson, Rushton Elementary School principal, Shawnee Mission has been a place to start and continue to grow in a career in various roles across the district. He is now in his 15th year in the district having started as a first-grade teacher and served as a classroom teacher for various grade levels. He also has served as a teacher on assignment, administrative intern, and has moved into the role of principal.
“I am an example of someone who began as a teacher and throughout my experiences, I had an abundance of opportunities to try new positions and grasp fresh challenges,” Wilson expressed. “Through this process, I have continued to learn so much about education and how to better support the students, staff, and the communities we serve. That is why I chose to become a leader in the SMSD; I truly believe in our power to change lives and bring a high quality public education to all whom we serve.
Wilson also noted the district’s commitment to belonging as being a quality that is “second to none.” Belonging is a key strategy outlined in the community-developed Strategic Plan. Not only do team members work to ensure everyone feels valued and belongs, work is done to make sure all voices are valued, respected and heard, Wilson noted.
“Throughout the year, there are many opportunities for all positions to engage at the building and district levels,” he added. “These opportunities allow people to share their experiences and stories, as well as provide collaborative forums for problem solving to create opportunities for win-win solutions. Employees are also provided with top-notch job training and professional development aligned with proven information and strategies.”
The biggest benefit of working in the SMSD is the people, shared Anna Cook, orchestra teacher at Shawnee Mission North High School.
“Every day, students are learning, growing, creating, problem-solving, and building relationships with the adults and peers around them,” Anna Cook shared. “There are educators and staff members working incredibly hard to meet students where they are and help them become successful in whatever path they choose. I speak on this as more than an employee in the district, but a mom who has two first-graders. We feel incredibly lucky to be in this district, where there are high standards for education but an equally high standard for community and a sense of caring for our children.”
Anyone who may be considering applying for a position in the Shawnee Mission School District is encouraged to visit this page: https://www.applitrack.com/smsd/OnlineApp/default.aspx. We are One Shawnee Mission and we are Building Tomorrow Together.
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.
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