Dr. Greer's May 2026 Super Note

Hi, Maize USD 266 students!

I love the full-circle experience we see on our campus: Just days apart, our elementary schools host Kindergarten Adventure, when future kindergarten students and their families visit the school they will attend next year. Then, we welcome graduating seniors back to walk those same hallways one more time in celebration.

For many students, your journey in Maize USD 266 begins even earlier at our Maize Early Childhood Center. From those first days of school to graduation, you learn so much, in the classroom, but also beyond, in lessons of leadership, friendship, hard work, and life. No matter where you are on your journey, it is an honor for all of us at Maize USD 266 to support and cheer you on.

We also love to celebrate your accomplishments, and we have some big ones to recognize this month! We are so proud of the seniors from Maize High School and Maize South High School. Our 579 Class of 2026 graduates are ready for exciting futures thanks to the skills, experiences, and opportunities they gained along the way.

Together, these seniors earned:

• 461 industry-recognized certificates
• more than 5,841 college credits
• 4 associate degrees
• more than $13.9 million in scholarships!

Graduates, I cannot wait to see what you accomplish next, and I am also excited for what the future holds for all of our students. If you are an incoming freshman, I hope you will consider helping shape our district’s future by serving on my Superintendent Student Advisory Committee. You can learn more in an article below.

I invite you to explore the many student accomplishments shared in this final edition of Super Note for the 2025-26 school year. Thank you for all you do to make our schools and community such great places. I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Dr. Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

Congratulations to Maize South High School senior Isabella Ponce on earning a Rudd Foundation Scholarship! This prestigious award recognizes students who demonstrate hard work, grit, determination, and strong character and has provided Isabella a full ride to Kansas State University.

Student Shannon Jones recently made history by becoming the first student from Maize High School to receive the Timothy P. O’Shaughnessy Foundation Lifelong Learning Scholarship worth $40,000.

The Timothy P. O’Shaughnessy Foundation is a Wichita-based operating foundation established in 2016 to recognize, encourage, and support lifelong learning for deserving students from the Wichita area. Shannon’s selection marks a significant milestone for both the foundation and Maize High School. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate dedication, perseverance, and a strong commitment to personal and academic growth.

For Maize South High School senior Lauren Wise, service and career goals have developed side by side. In December, she was named a recipient of the Aaron Joel Smith Memorial Youth Volunteer Scholarship, earning a $15,000 award in recognition of her commitment to volunteering and community impact. The United Way of the Plains scholarship honors students across South Central Kansas who dedicate their time and talents to serving others.

Wise plans to attend the University of Kansas to study nursing, with long-term goals of becoming a nurse practitioner or a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA). Her interest in health care has been shaped through our Maize Career Academy Health Science pathway, through which she has taken anatomy and physiology, certified nursing assistant (CNA) coursework, phlebotomy, and health care work experience.

“I like helping other people,” Wise said. “Health care is what interests me the most.”

Congratulations to Maize South High School senior Grace Oard on being named a top 11 finalist in the Wichita State University Distinguished Scholarship Invitational! She competed against students from across Kansas and as far away as Texas for one of three $64,000 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships, among the largest undergraduate scholarships in Kansas. She was recognized as a student demonstrating a strong commitment to leadership in her school, student organizations, and community.

Congratulations to our Kansas Governor's Scholars! The Governor's Scholars program honors the top academic 1 percent of Kansas high school seniors. Scholars are selected from accredited public and private schools in the state.

We are proud to celebrate four Maize South High School seniors who have been named Kansas State Department of Education 2026 Kansas CTE Scholars, recognized for their work and achievement in their career pathways and for their efforts pursuing career and technical education.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Maize USD 266 Superintendent Student Advisory Team will play an important role in the district. The dedicated group of high school students provides insights that are crucial as the district establishes direction on key issues, giving them a unique opportunity to influence decisions that affect our community. The Superintendent Student Advisory Team consists of students, freshmen through seniors, from across the district, ensuring representation from all grade levels.

They meet regularly and enjoy lunch, work on projects, and give Dr. Greer ideas and feedback to help make Maize USD 266 the best it can be for students. For those interested, there are also opportunities to serve in additional ways, including by helping on the District Site Council.

If you will be a freshman next year and would like to join this fun and important team, please send an email to Wende Doyle at wdoyle@usd266.com. Please include your name, 2026-27 school and grade, and share why you'd like to be involved.

Looking for something fun, active, and a great way to make the most of your summer? Maize USD 266 has summer camp opportunities for students of all ages and interests!

Whether you want to try a new sport, build your skills, meet new friends, or just stay active and have fun, there’s something for you. Camps are led by experienced teachers and coaches and are designed to help you grow, work as a team, and enjoy your summer in a positive, supportive environment.

Make it a summer full of learning, activity, and new experiences. We hope you find a camp that’s a great fit for you!

Mark your calendar now for one of our favorite annual summer events: Super Story Time! This free event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 at the following times. Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer will share children's stories with attendees.

• 10 a.m.: Elementary-age story time (inside for about 25 minutes)
• 10:30 a.m.: Preschool-age story time (outside for about 20 minutes)

Take a look back at recent student accomplishments!

Congratulations to the Maize South High School boys tennis team for winning the 5A state tennis championship! The team also won the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League (AVCTL) Division 1 Championship and 5A Regional Championship. Check out recent news coverage to learn more about their amazing season.

Congratulations to students for recent media awards for their work completed at our Maize Career Academy!

• Maize High School senior Hailey Blurton was named Video Journalist of the Year by the Kansas Scholastic Press Association.
• The OneMaize Media team received All-Kansas Honors, recognizing the news website and OneMaize Show as elite examples of Kansas student journalism.
• Maize High School junior Spencer Broberg received the Heartland Chapter Emmy Award for his work as a graphics artist. His portfolio was voted best in the Midwest.

Congratulations to student musicians selected to perform in the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) All-State Band and Orchestra, an honor that places them among the very best musicians in the state! After first earning a spot in the South Central KMEA District Honor ensembles, they advanced through a second, highly competitive round of auditions against hundreds of students statewide.

Our state championship-winning Eagle and Maverick wrestlers were recognized during the April Maize Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to them!

The Maize High School boys wrestling team won the 6A State Championship and set the state record for points (237). The team is coached by Tyler Gonzales. Congratulations to all team members: Reese DeMoss, Tony Guebara, Josiah Johnson, Everett Joyce, Reid Joyce, Atticus Marcenaro, Baron Rosas, Vincent Rosas, Zach Siatka, Cooper Smith, Talon Verbeck, and Tucker Verbeck. They are pictured with Maize Board of Education President Andrew Johnson and member Melanie Smarsh.

Congratulations to Maize High School senior Zach Rife, who captured back-to-back titles at the 6A State Swimming Championships this year, sweeping both the 100 and 200 freestyle for the second consecutive year. He was also named the 6A Athlete of the Meet. He was honored during the March Maize Board of Education monthly meeting.

During the May Maize Board of Education meeting, we congratulated Maize High School student Ayva Frizzell on being named the Military Youth of the Year for both McConnell Air Force Base and the state of Kansas, a prestigious honor recognizing her leadership, character, and dedication!

The Military Youth of the Year program honors outstanding military-connected students who demonstrate resilience, academic success, and a commitment to service. Ayva earned this recognition through a competitive process that included essays, recommendations, community service, and public speaking. Her journey reflects the resilience shared by many military-connected students.

Maize USD 266 has received the special designation of a Kansas Purple Star District, one of only 11 schools or districts recognized statewide since 2022. The Purple Star designation is awarded to military-friendly school districts and schools that have demonstrated a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military, including active duty, National Guard, or reserve.

In March, student Jaycie Pedigo traveled to Topeka with Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer and Maize High School Cheer Sponsor Katie Jennings, among others, to represent Maize USD 266. Jaycie shared with the Kansas Board of Education about Maize High School Cheer's tradition of supporting Kansas Honor Flights, which transport veterans to Washington, D.C. In nine years, our students have funded 19 trips, welcomed 65 trips home, and donated more than $16,000. In addition, our students and educators support many projects districtwide that honor service members through cards, letters, art projects, assemblies, volunteer days, spirit events, and school recognition.

Explore recent coverage of our students doing amazing things! Congratulations, we are so proud of your successes!

Our Maize Central Elementary School students received a fun surprise at field day this week! Players from the Kansas State University football team stopped by to spend time with students and join in on the fun! Students had the chance to high-five and interact with players, including Avery Johnson, a Maize High School graduate and former Maize Eagle football player who also attended Maize Central Elementary School. Thanks to the Wildcats for making the day extra special!

Our Vermillion Elementary School 4th-grade students received a memorable surprise from the Kansas Highway Patrol recently! The visit came after students wrote cards to Trooper Adam Ellis, who was injured in the line of duty. Wanting to personally thank students for their support, Trooper Ellis and Kansas Highway Patrol Colonel Erik Smith, a Vermillion Elementary School alumnus, arrived by helicopter and landed outside the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center. The troopers took time to thank students for their support and answer questions. The students also got a closer look at the helicopter and watched it land and take off.

Complete High School Maize hosted its annual end-of-year BBQ lunch recently, welcoming guests from other schools, departments, and the community. Students prepared, cooked, and served lunch while showing what Wolf Pack hospitality looks like. We’re proud of the way our students serve and support the community!

Congratulations to the 2026 Maize Education Foundation Scholarship recipients! The Foundation maintains three funds in support of scholarships for graduating seniors from Maize High School and Maize South High School.

Students are asked to complete an application for each scholarship they wish to be considered for, answering questions about leadership, community service, extracurricular involvement, and academic achievement. A volunteer group of retired educators, Maize USD 266 alumni, and Maize Education Foundation board members judge applications to help the Foundation select recipients.

The Maize Education Foundation supports student career exploration, community service, and independent learning through its Student Enrichment Grant program.

Students in grades 7 through 12 can apply for a grant of up to $500 to help cover the costs associated with certain educational activities. This cycle, grant funding will help students attend school-sponsored trips to Washington, D.C. and several out-of-state conferences, including the Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, Massachusetts. They also will have the opportunity to create community service initiatives that support local families in need.

Congratulations to this spring’s recipients!

On the Path is a series that highlights Maize Career Academy pathways and the students within them, showing how hands-on learning, real-world experiences, and supportive instructors help students explore their interests, build skills, and prepare for careers. Check out our most recent stories below, and find links to stories about Culinary Arts, Health Science, Early Childhood Education, Agriculture, and Welding at www.usd266.com/news.

Did you know that students are a HUGE help to keeping schools safe? Help us keep you safe by providing anonymous tips. If you see something, please say something!

There are three ways to submit an anonymous tip:

1. Click here to be taken directly to a secure tip reporting website.
2. On your smartphone, download the free P3 Tips app from the App Store or Google Play. Then, follow the on-screen prompts to submit your tip.
3. Call 316-267-2111.

The Kansas School Violence hotline is a 24-hour hotline to report impending school violence. The hotline exists through a partnership between the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Highway Patrol. The line is monitored 24 hours a date by the KHP Emergency Communications Center.

You can call 1-877-626-8203.

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Super Note is a Maize USD 266 e-newsletter from Superintendent Dr. Greer to students. Please enjoy reading this publication!