It is with tremendous pride we announce the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Staff Awards. These individuals were nominated by their colleagues and selected by a 17-member district committee that evaluated each nominee's commitment to excellence, collaboration, and student success. Award recipients will be honored at a special reception on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Washburn Rural High School Innovation Center. The event is open to the public, and family, friends, and community members are encouraged to attend to celebrate the following honorees:

Erin Finley
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Auburn Elementary School

Zach Raugewitz
Secondary Teacher of the Year
Washburn Rural High School

Sandi Liby
Master Teacher
Pauline Central Primary School

Susan Poling
Distinguished Certified Support Staff
Farley Elementary School

Jeri Jones
Distinguished Classified Support Staff
Washburn Rural High School

Lisa Buchanan
Distinguished Operations Support Staff
Washburn Rural Middle School
@Washburn Rural North Middle School

Distinguished Staff Awards are presented annually to staff who exemplify dedication to Auburn-Washburn's mission of delivering exemplary, world-class education for all students, instilling in them the academic knowledge, skills for success, and character required to be happy, responsible, productive citizens.

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Girls Soccer game vs. Olathe West! Varsity game starts around 6:15 PM at the WRHS McElroy Field and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Students from Washburn Rural Middle School had an impressive showing at the Kansas History Day contest this past weekend. The theme, "Rights & Responsibilities in History," inspired powerful and thought-provoking projects that earned 11 students a spot at nationals. Please join us in congratulating these students who qualified to compete at the University of Maryland this summer.

Kallan Schoenfeldt
🥇1st Place | Junior Individual Documentary
Blinding the Masses

Braxton Bohnstedt, Will Heinen, Thomas Reed
🥇1st Place | Group Website
Kennedy vs the KKK: One Man’s Responsibility to Defend Civil Rights

Krishika Gosai, Delaney Hermann, Penelope Houser
🥈2nd Place | Junior Group Documentary
Our Cry Is A Simple One: “Give Us the Ballot”

Annika Ahumada
🥈2nd Place | Junior Individual Website
Road to Racism: Building the Highways of America

Anaiah Covey and Gabrielle Mercer
🥈2nd Place | Group Website
Born a Woman, Deemed Insane: A Woman’s Right to Freedom and Her Responsibility to Free Others

Madison Heston
🥈2nd Place | Junior Historical Paper
Rights, Radium, and Responsibilities: Women of the Radium Dial Factory

An extra special shout-out goes to teacher Lindsey Dowell, who has led and supported these students each step of the way. For her dedication and guidance, Mrs. Dowell was honored as this year's Kansas History Day Teacher of the Year!

The Washburn Rural High School Art Department is proud to present the 15th Annual BluePrint Art Exhibition, showcasing the incredible talent of our student artists. This year’s show will be displayed in two spaces – the Innovation Center lobby and the newly renovated H hallway. Join us for an Open House on Tuesday, April 22 from 4:00–7:00 pm, and explore more than 500 original works of art created by students throughout the 2024–25 school year.

2025 BluePrint logo designed by Arlo Krauska in Ms. Shetler's Graphic Design class.

Three shining stars from the Farley Elementary School community were honored with special awards last night at the Board of Education meeting. They are sixth-grade student Alexa Mitchell and staff members Tasha Ullom and Layne Nash.

Alexa Mitchell was presented with the Shining Star Student Award. A Farley Fox since kindergarten, Alexa leads quietly by example, showing strength, perseverance, and integrity. She consistently puts forth her best effort. Principal Katie Sonderegger shared, "She continues to give her best without being asked or reminded. She doesn’t need applause or external rewards to do the right thing. She simply does it, because that’s who she is."

Library aide and paraprofessional Tasha Ullom was honored with an All-Star Staff Award for bringing heart, skill, and dedication to everything she does. She connects naturally with others, approaching each student with compassion, patience, and high expectations. Principal Sonderegger shared, "She instinctively knows how to build meaningful relationships, meet kids where they are, and help them grow. Her positive energy is contagious, and students gravitate toward her because they know they’re seen, heard, and supported."

PE teacher Layne Nash was also presented with an All-Star Staff Award. In recognizing Mr. Nash, Principal Sonderegger shared, "Mr. Nash is the kind of teacher every student – and every school – dreams of having. He doesn’t just teach physical education; he teaches essential life skills. His lessons are grounded in teamwork, respect, perseverance, and kindness – skills our students will carry with them long after they leave our building." He’s especially impactful for those needing extra support, with Sonderegger adding, "The opportunity to earn “Nash Time” is one of the most powerful motivators we have."

Please join us in celebrating Alexa, Tasha, and Layne – three deserving individuals who embody the spirit, dedication, and excellence of Auburn-Washburn.

Jay Shideler Elementary School welcomed some special guests today as part of Financial Literacy Month. Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson and students from Washburn Rural High School’s Banking and Finance program visited the school to teach important money management lessons to students in grades 1-4. Each grade level explored a different financial concept:

1️⃣st Grade: Understanding needs vs. wants and managing limited resources
2️⃣nd Grade: Making financial decisions and considering opportunity costs
3️⃣rd Grade: Saving, spending, borrowing, lending, and the role of banks
4️⃣th Grade: Exploring compound interest and the basics of investing

This teen teach-in is just one of the ways the district is promoting financial literacy among our youngest learners. A big thank you to Treasurer Johnson and these WRHS students for making financial literacy fun!

Join us in wishing these Washburn Rural Middle School students good luck as they travel to Overland Park next week!

Today, we had the privilege of welcoming seven Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees for a district-wide showcase, including two of our very own – Annie Stryker from Pauline Central Primary School and Kathryn Louderback from Washburn Rural Middle School. These educators are part of a statewide cohort that has spent the past year traveling to each other's districts to learn from one another and share best practices.

During their visit, the nominees toured @Washburn Rural North Middle School and the Innovation Center at Washburn Rural High School. They also explored our outdoor educational campus, visited the Early Childhood Center at Pauline Central, and received a tour of the Kansas Statehouse from Senator Brenda Dietrich.

It was an honor to be part of this professional exchange that supports continued growth and excellence in teaching!

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Girls Soccer game vs. Manhattan! Varsity game starts around 6:15 PM at the WRHS McElroy Field and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.

Come support your Lady Blues and all the students participating at tonight's Girls Soccer game vs. Junction City! Varsity game starts around 6:15 PM at the WRHS McElroy Field and will be live streamed at http://wrhs.net/live.