Following more than three decades of service in public education, Superintendent Dr. Scott McWilliams has announced his plans to retire, effective July 31, 2026.

Dr. McWilliams joined Auburn-Washburn in 2015 after a distinguished career serving as a mathematics teacher, assistant principal, principal, and executive director of human resources.

As superintendent, he has guided Auburn-Washburn through a decade of remarkable growth and achievement. In April 2022, he led the passage of a $145 million bond election, which paved the way for transformational construction projects across the district. Under his leadership and guidance, Auburn-Washburn has expanded its early childhood education program, opened a second middle school, and launched the Innovation Center at Washburn Rural High School to broaden career and technical education opportunities for students.

In a message to staff and families, Dr. McWilliams reflected on his time as superintendent. “Serving as your superintendent has been the honor of a lifetime. Over the past eleven years, we’ve faced challenges none of us could have imagined and celebrated milestones that have shaped the identity of this district. Through it all, we’ve remained grounded in what makes Auburn-Washburn so special: collaboration, respect, open communication, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child.”

To read more about Dr. McWilliams' announcement, visit https://usd437.net/news/2025-09-auburn-washburn-superintendent-of-schools-announces-retirement.

🎓College Night is here!🎓

Washburn Rural High School juniors, seniors, and their families are invited to join us in the WRHS Auditorium at 5:30 pm tonight, Wednesday, September 17. The schedule is as follows:

⏰ 5:30 PM – College Visits
⏰ 6:00 PM – Presentation
⏰ 6:30 PM – FAFSA Information or College Visits

Don’t miss this chance to get prepared for the next step!

Washburn Rural High School students in Brad LeDuc’s AP Studio Art class unveiled their Unsung Heroes portraits on Friday – powerful, oversized works inspired by contemporary artist Chuck Close.

Over the past three weeks, students poured their creativity and care into celebrating two individuals whose quiet dedication has left a lasting mark on Washburn Rural High School – former teacher Cynthia Burgett and paraeducator Charles Moore. Students conducted interviews, wrote thoughtful essays, collaborated on design, and revealed the final portraits in a moving ceremony that celebrated both art and community.

In a heartfelt essay about Ms. Burgett, student Greer Callaghan wrote, “What made her proudest as a teacher were the small but powerful “ah-ha” moments when students suddenly understood, or when they sat taller after receiving a thoughtful comment on their work. She loved encouraging them. Both in advice and praise, she always strived to improve her students' points and make them feel proud of their work."

Of Mr. Moore, student Ayla Crowl shared, "Our group of AP art students has chosen him for this portrait project because we recognized the inspiration and bright spirit he brought to the school. We wanted to acknowledge the positive impact he has had."

Now in its 16th year, the Unsung Heroes project celebrates the extraordinary influence of everyday dedication. Thank you, Ms. Burgett and Mr. Moore, for reminding us how compassion and commitment can leave a lasting legacy.

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Volleyball Dual vs. Clay Center Community! Match starts at 5:00 PM in the WRHS Activity Center, and varsity coverage will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Reminder: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, is an early release day. All schools will dismiss 90 minutes early.

This morning, fifth-graders at Wanamaker Elementary School listened intently as 9/11 survivor Robert Matos shared his powerful story of being on the 55th floor of the South Tower when it was struck. Unlike many of his friends and colleagues, Mr. Matos survived that day – a reality he carries with both deep sorrow and profound gratitude.

The virtual visit marked the culmination of a 9/11 unit in which students learned about this pivotal moment in American history. Mr. Matos spoke candidly about how the tragedy reshaped his outlook on life. “Having the most is not what’s important,” he told the students. “Family, friends, relationships, and human connection are what matter.”

Though the topic was heavy, his message of resilience, gratitude, and belief in our future leaders was inspiring and filled with hope.

Come support your Jr. Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Varsity Football game vs. Blue Valley! Kickoff is at 7:00 PM at the WRHS Bowen-Glaze Stadium and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Squirmy Science is back! Our third graders visited the Outdoor Environmental Laboratory this week to dive into the fascinating world of vertebrates and invertebrates. From worms and insects to arachnids and fossils, students explored hands-on science in the prairie.

Special thanks to our partners at Topeka Zoo for bringing along some amazing creatures to show that even bugs play an important role in our environment and our food chain!

The tradition of excellence continues at Washburn Rural High School, with five seniors earning recognition through the highly competitive National Merit Scholarship Program. Tanner Haddock, Campbell Hight, and Ophelia Lackey have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists, a distinction awarded to less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors. Two additional high school seniors – Kaden Raines and Eli Replogle – were named National Merit Commended Scholars for scoring among the top 5% nationwide. More than 1.3 million students in about 20,000 high schools entered this year's competition by taking the Preliminary SAT as juniors.

Washburn Rural High School boasts a proud history of National Merit recognition. In the past six years alone, 36 Junior Blues have been recognized as National Merit Finalists, Semifinalists, or Commended Scholars!

Please join us in celebrating these high-achieving Junior Blues for their academic success! 💙🤍

Back row: Eli Replogle, Kaden Raines, and Campbell Hight
Front row: Ophelia Lackey and Tanner Haddock

Something exciting is taking flight at Washburn Rural North Middle School! Local artist (and former Washburn Rural High School art teacher) Michael Mize is designing a stunning window mural that students will bring to life with paint! 🎨