Auburn-Washburn USD 437

From first-day butterflies to graduation caps, the journey has come full circle. In what has become one of our favorite traditions, members of the Washburn Rural High School Class of 2026 returned to their elementary schools this week, walking the same halls where their stories first began.

Congratulations, graduates! Your future is bright, and we can't wait to see all the amazing places life will take you. No matter where your path leads, know that your Auburn-Washburn family will be cheering you on every step of the way!

WIBW

Three Washburn Rural High School seniors earned appointments to three United States service academies. >>> https://www.wibw.com/2026/05/13/good-kids-washburn-rural-high-school-seniors-earn-appointments-us-service-academies/

Auburn-Washburn USD 437

The Auburn-Washburn Board of Education has reached an agreement with Dr. Katie Collier to serve as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools.

Dr. Collier currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of Blue Valley School District and brings more than 30 years of experience in public education. She was selected following a comprehensive national search that included extensive community input.

Dr. Collier will succeed Dr. Scott McWilliams, who is retiring after 11 years of service to Auburn-Washburn. She is expected to begin her role on July 1, 2026, pending formal board approval at an upcoming meeting.

Read the full media alert here: https://usd437.net/news/2026-03-auburn-washburn-board-of-education-announces-next-superintendent

Auburn-Washburn USD 437

Congratulations to our Auburn-Washburn students selected to perform at the Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop in Wichita! These talented musicians earned All-State honors through a competitive audition process. The All-State Elementary Choir performs tonight at Century II Convention Center. The other All-State ensembles perform on Saturday.

We’re also proud to celebrate Washburn Rural High School’s This Generation and the WRHS Jazz Band for being selected to perform. This is an incredible honor earned through a competitive audition process!👏

Auburn-Washburn USD 437

It’s been a banner year for state championships at Washburn Rural High School, and the banners just keep on coming! Congratulations to Daniel Allen, who captured the Class 6A state title in the 100-yard butterfly as well as a bronze medal in the 100-yard backstroke!

The Jr. Blues also had podium finishes in the following events:
🏅4th Place – 200-yard medley relay (Andres Morao-Jaspe, Castle Wallace, Daniel Allen, Thomas Appuhn)
🏅4th Place – 200-yard individual medley (Thomas Appuhn)
🏅4th Place – 100-yard backstroke (Thomas Appuhn)

Congratulations to these standout athletes!

Auburn-Washburn USD 437

WRHS Bank, Common Grounds Coffee Shop, and The Shack, the school-based enterprises (SBEs) at Washburn Rural High School, have earned Gold Certification and will be recognized at DECA’s International Career Development Conference in April in Atlanta, Georgia.

An SBE is an entrepreneurial operation in a school setting that provides goods and services to meet the needs of the market. SBEs are managed and operated by students as hands-on learning laboratories that integrate National Curriculum Standards in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. DECA advisors have utilized this effective educational tool for over four decades to provide their students with realistic and practical learning experiences that reinforce classroom instruction, enhance 21st Century skill development, and prepare students for college and careers.

The Washburn Rural DECA members who contributed to the certification were Nicholas He, Kaci Hodgson, Keegan Knudtson, Kate Muir, and Kailyn Petersen, with guidance from their DECA chapter advisor, Brian McFall. The SBEs at WRHS have operated for over 15 years, an accomplishment that reflects sustained excellence and commitment.

“DECA’s School-based Enterprise Certification Program is a rigorous process designed to help DECA members demonstrate their classroom learning in a practical, learning laboratory, and then translate that into meaningful outcomes,” said Christopher Young, Chief Program Officer at DECA Inc. “These DECA members are practicing important workplace readiness skills while preparing for college and careers.”

DECA’s SBE Certification Program recognizes outstanding achievement while motivating SBEs to pursue continuous excellence and growth. Enterprises may receive certification at three levels: bronze, silver, or gold. To apply, SBEs must submit comprehensive documentation demonstrating how they meet established marketing and retail standards. Documentation is reviewed by a certification committee, which determines the level of recognition awarded. DECA’s SBE program is sponsored by Otis Spunkmeyer Inc.

Auburn-Washburn USD 437 Police