Lawrence Public Schools
All Students. One Team.
Hello, Lawrence Public Schools Community,
As we move through April, our students, teachers, and school teams remain focused on our critical mission of teaching and learning. We have two priority goals: finishing our school year strong and setting the table for a successful 2025-2026 school year. I’d like to share with you some next steps for moving forward with priorities shared by our community during our conversations in the fall.
"Coming Attractions" in Lawrence Public Schools include:
Enhancing & Expanding Preschool Offerings Into Neighborhood Schools
Our vision is providing a high-quality early learning experience for every child in Lawrence. We'll start with a phased approach by opening preschool classrooms at Sunflower and Woodlawn Elementary Schools in August. These neighborhood school Pre-K classrooms expand on the excellent services already in place for families of young children at Kennedy Early Childhood Center and New York Montessori.
Growing New York Montessori
Speaking of New York Montessori -- the first public school of its kind in Kansas, we will continue to grow this innovative program, and for next school year expand to include the upper elementary grades.
Amplifying Elementary Science
Adding science to our elementary "specials" rotation will foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity while nurturing students' curiosity and promoting hands-on learning. All are crucial for a child's development and future success. Fully-certified and highly enthusiastic teachers will bring high-interest, hands-on, and standards-aligned science to all elementary schools.
Advancing STEAM@LMCMS
Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curricula features access to practical, applied STEM-oriented learning experiences that empower students to gain the skills they need to thrive in college, careers, and beyond. All of our middle schools currently offer PLTW Design & Modeling and Automation & Robotics courses. STEAM@LMCMS enables all of its students to experience Design & Modeling and a fine arts course of their choosing. LMCMS will add new PLTW courses each year, with Computer Science for Innovators and Makers coming in 2025-26.
Strengthening our Jayhawk Blueprint College Course Offerings Across High Schools
Research highlights the importance of students taking college courses during high school. This is an effective strategy leading to increased college access, persistence in college, and college completion rates, as well as potential cost savings and a smoother transition to college. We will enhance our existing partnership with the University of Kansas, enabling more students to access college coursework and earn college credit in high school.
We are excited to work collaboratively toward implementing these enhancements to our educational programming and offering our students additional opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive! Listen to my full report from the March 24 school board meeting.
I want to again emphasize our strong commitment to student and staff safety. You may find safety information and resources on our website.
It is always a pleasure to visit with students. Pictured above are Free State and Lawrence High student journalists who recently invited me for interviews. Watch Connor Austin's video at Lawrence High's Room 208 Productions and look for Free Press coverage of my conversation with Nick Sprecker and Laura Mosconi coming soon. Thanks to Nate Willems, who took the Free State photo.
These Free State student journalists gave me a news tip: the Kansas Scholastic Press Association named junior Anders Benson its Student Photographer of the Year today! The Free Press and Free Press Online also earned All-Kansas Awards, and educator Jared Shuff received the Sunflower Award, given to an outstanding new adviser. Congratulations, Firebirds! Continue reading below for a few more student and staff honors.
Caring, high-quality public schools are the outgrowth of engaged and supportive communities. Thank you for all you do to support the educational experiences of our more than 10,500 students and the remarkable teachers, staff, and leaders who serve them each day.
Jeanice Kerr Swift
Superintendent
Lawrence Public Schools
National Student Awards
Less that 1% of Scholastic Art Award Winners earn National Gold Awards. Congratulations to Lawrence High junior Simn Robinson, who earned both Gold and Silver Awards for photography.
LHS senior Celeste Stinson and sophomore Ari Kamat earned Silver Awards, given to the top 5% of all entries nationally. Stinson also earned Honorable Mention for her portfolio. Additionally, Stinson won first place and Best of Show at the Kansas State Youth Art Month exhibition.
Only one student per region wins the National Scholastic American Visions Award. Junior Ru Yother earned this prestigious honor for her ceramic sculpture "Multivocal Auspex."
These LHS students' talented teachers are Angelia Perkins. Photography, Todd Poteet, Drawing and Painting, and Emily Markoulatos, Ceramics and Metalsmithing.
Staff Honors
We appreciate the Lawrence Schools Foundation recognizing two of our many outstanding educational support professionals. The Foundation surprised Tracee Sowers, Cordley's administrative assistant, and Jennifer DeWitt, a paraeducator at Billy Mills Middle School, with its spring A.C.E. Awards. A.C.E. stands for Acknowledging Classified Employees. Each staff member received $500. We thank and congratulate these team members for their wonderful support of our students and school communities.
Did you know that the Foundation is celebrating 40 years? We are profoundly grateful to all who have served as Foundation board and staff members and Lawrence Education Achievement Partners. We appreciate every generous donor who has contributed to the Foundation's support of our students, staff, and schools. Thank you!
Job Olympics Champions
Congratulations to our Job Olympics Champions! These young adults involved in community transition programs at Community Connections at Pinckney took first place at the Johnson County Community College Job Olympics.
Many students also earned individual medals competing in career readiness and workplace skill events. They include job application/interview, hosting/setting/busing tables, sorting/filing/stuffing/labeling mail, sorting/folding laundry, custodial work, recognizing coins and making change.
This competition brings together more than 500 students with special needs from 40 schools. Thanks to the Community Connections at Pinckney staff, under the leadership of administrator Jenna Viscomi, for their care and support of our Job Olympics Champions!
