Board President Earns Distinguished Certification

Kearney School District Board of Education President Darlene Bailey was honored on Feb. 19 for earning a Distinguished Certification from the Missouri School Boards’ Association.

Dr. Bailey garnered this recognition by satisfactorily completing 64 Certified Board Member Credits and other professional development requirements. She previously earned her Essential, Advanced and Master certifications.

She also engaged in a variety of leadership, advocacy and presentation activities. This work included:

  • Attending two MSBA core meetings, with at least one in the current year

  • Reading one book from the MSBA Booklist for Reading Requirement and submitting a Reading Reflection

  • Observing a school board meeting in two other districts and submitting a Board Meeting Observation form

  • Completing eight activities involving leadership, advocacy and presentations in her most recent three years of board service

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Teacher Earns Invite to Innovative Classroom Training

Kearney School District is pleased to announce that Hawthorne Elementary kindergarten teacher Ashlyn Mansil is one of only 93 educators across Missouri selected to participate in the inaugural class of the Personalized Competency-Based Master Teacher Cadre program.

This professional learning opportunity is hosted by the Success-Ready Students Network (SRSN) in partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It is designed to equip educators with the knowledge and skills to master personalized competency-based learning (PCBL) through a dynamic blend of in-person and virtual experiences.

“I know everyone in Team KSD joins me in congratulating Ms. Mansil for being chosen to represent our school system in this cutting-edge program,” Superintendent Emily Miller said. “Her work with the cohort aligns perfectly with our focus on fostering innovative teaching and learning in every classroom.”

Mansil was picked for the program after a rigorous application process that included strong recommendations from district administrators. She’s in her second year at Hawthorne and eighth overall as a teacher.

The program will be divided into cohorts across the state led by seasoned educators with vast experience and knowledge in this area. In total, approximately 40 hours of learning will be completed between February and June through a combination of pre-work/self-study, four in-person sessions and a series of virtual sessions.

On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Mansil quietly and purposefully read a children’s book to her assembled students dutifully arrayed on the carpet at the front of her classroom. She then walked through the basic elements of fiction and had the students disperse to locate and read works that fit those criteria.

“I was really surprised and grateful to be chosen for this program,” Mansil said during a break from providing individual attention for various students. “I’m looking forward to working with a group of outstanding educators to learn how we can create even better classroom experiences for our students.”

Program participants will deepen their understanding of personalized competency-based learning and learn how to enhance classroom practices to design powerful, student-centered learning environments. As they engage with the content, they will build a collaborative network of educators dedicated to refining their craft.

By the end of the program, participants will have developed the expertise and leadership skills of a “master teacher” who not only excels in their own classroom but also serves as a mentor and resource to colleagues, guiding them in the effective implementation of PCBL. These educators will be prepared to take on supportive professional development roles within their districts and across others, expanding the impact of PCBL and benefiting both teachers and students across their schools.

“Ms. Mansil is a great choice for this program,” Hawthorne Elementary Principal Chauncey Rardon said. “Of course, I’m happy for her, but I’m also happy for our team at Hawthorne and the whole district because she’s going to help all of us learn how to implement these techniques in our classrooms.”

Visit www.srsnmo.org to learn more about the Success-Ready Students Network.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Kearney Police Arrest Impaired Driver After Pursuit

A 28-year-old male from unincorporated Clay County was arrested on Monday, February 24, following a physical altercation and a brief vehicle pursuit that resulted in property damage and a DWI arrest.

Earlier in the day, Kearney Police were alerted by Clay County Dispatch about a disturbance between two individuals, which escalated to a vehicle chase heading eastbound on Highway 92 toward the City of Kearney. Officers spotted the vehicles entering the city at 92 Hwy and Nation Road. While one of the vehicles pulled over to speak with officers, the other, a UTV, fled the scene.

The UTV, occupied by a single male driver, veered off the highway and began driving through yards on the south side of the roundabout, causing significant damage to property. After driving through several yards, the UTV returned to Nation Road, continuing south while attempting to evade officers.

A short vehicle pursuit followed until the UTV broke down near NE 140th Terrace. Officers were able to safely apprehend the driver. Clay County Sheriff’s deputies arrived to assist with the investigation of the earlier assault, which had occurred in the county.

During the investigation, a Clay County Traffic Unit Deputy conducted a DWI investigation, leading to the driver’s arrest on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. In addition to DWI, the man faces charges for fleeing from arrest, careless driving, and property damage.

The driver was arrested and transported to the Clay County Detention Center.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Boys Take Silver at District Wrestling Meet

The Kearney High School Boys Wrestling team traveled to Belton High School on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21-22, and took home the second-place trophy in the Class 3 District 4 tournament.

All 13 Bulldogs made it to at least the “blood round,” contributing to the team’s outstanding finish overall, according to Head Coach Jake Hill. Ryder Shelton, Blaine Turpin and Carter Temple all earned individual championships in their weight classes.

“Our boys wrestled great both days and I’m so proud of their effort,” Coach Hill said. “These guys really exemplify the Bulldog spirit with their grit and skills. We’re looking forward to state.”

State Qualifiers:

106 Brayden Robinson 2nd

113 Oliver Lee 4th

120 Phoenix Shelton 4th

126 Landon Westfall 2nd

132 Ryder Shelton Champion

144 Blaine Turpin Champion

157 Kale Davis 4th

175 Eli Helberg 3rd

190 Carter Temple Champion

The KHS boys wrap up their season by traveling to Columbia this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 28-March 1, to compete in the Class 3 State Tournament at Mizzou Arena.

KPGZ News – Ray Weikal contributed to this story.

Bulldogs Win in Athletics and Academics

Kearney student athletes earn top places in academics and athletics this weekend, according to announcements on individual social media pages.

Bulldog Wrestling

The boys wrestling squad earned the Runner Up position in Class 3 District 4 this weekend. Nine athletes were named State Qualifiers:

106 Brayden Robinson - 2nd

113 Oliver Lee - 4th

120 Phoenix Shelton - 4th

126 Landon Westfall - 2nd

132 Ryder Shelton - Champion

144 Blaine Turpin - Champion

157 Kale Davis - 4th

175 Eli Helberg - 3rd

190 Carter Temple - Champion

All 13 wrestlers made the blood round and contributed to the team score.

Golden Girls

The Kearney High School Golden Girls earned their fourth-straight state title on Saturday, Feb. 23. The team also earned second in Jazz and third in Pom. Ainsley Daniels took 3rd place in the Sophomore Solo competition; Arie Watkins claimed 8th in Senior Solo; and Jacee Hensley took 10th in Sophomore Solo!


Swim and Dive

Kearney High School Girls Swim & Dive team member Anna Williams earned 3rd place at the state meet on Feb. 22. Anna finished seventh last year and broke her own school record at this year's event.



Softball

The Kearney High School varsity Softball team received Academic All-State honors as a team. They had an impressive 3.768 GPA. This places them in the top 10 for Class 4.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.