Orchestra students, nationally board certified teachers also honored
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board accepted a check for $45,000 from the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence at its meeting Jan. 24.
The foundation had its annual dinner fundraiser in October.
The foundation was able to raise an additional $13,000 for the foundation's grant program.
"We were just blown away by the support of the community, the businesses, the donors, the sponsorship," said Curtis Brown, foundation board chairman.
Over four years, the foundation has raised more than $180,000 for school security upgrades, Brown said.
Other foundation grants have paid for renovations at Westside school, tech upgrades at the middle school, purchase of a laser engraver, purchase of books, to fix or replace broken musical instruments and purchase PE equipment at O'Loughlin Elementary School.
The board also recognized Hays High students Sydney Wittkorn and Kiersten Goertzen for making All- State Orchestra.
The board recognized Laura Gaughan, Kay Shippy and Kim Schmeidler as becoming nationally board certified teachers.
Gaughan completed her certificate in 2021, while Shippy and Schmeidler finished their certification in 2020, but because of COVID, the board was unable to give them the proper recognition.
Gaughan has been teaching for 30 years with 27 of those years in USD 489. Shippy is in her 31st year of teaching with all those years at USD 489. Schmeidler has been teaching at USD 489 for 21 years and has a total of 25 years in education.
"We are proud of the time and effort you put into passing the National Board Certification and truly grateful you have chosen to teach the students of USD 489," Superintendent Ron Wilson said.
"We are better because of you. Congratulations again on your achievement. Reminder that out of the 3 million teachers in the U.S., only 125,000 are nationally board certified. This is quite an accomplishment, and we are proud of you."