Community News

Dear TPS Staff & Families:

This week, we are celebrating American Education Week by uplifting teachers across the district. We asked students, staff, families, and community members to nominate an educator who has impacted their lives to receive a special surprise throughout the week, and over 100 teachers have already been nominated. You can complete the Nominate an Educator form here.

All of our nominees will receive these special messages in a TPS e-card to brighten their day, many will be highlighted on social media, and several will receive a visit to their classroom with a special surprise. We can not thank our educators enough for their dedication and support of TPS scholars.

On November 18, we enjoyed hosting state legislators, city leaders, and community partners for our annual Principal for a Day event. We thank all of our participants for their support of public education.

As we prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am grateful for all of you and feel truly blessed to work alongside the amazing educators who dedicate their lives to serving others across the community.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dr. Tiffany Anderson

Superintendent

There will be no school for students from Monday, November 24 through Friday, November 28 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. School will resume on Monday, December 1.

We are thankful for all of our students, families, and staff who make the district great. Have a happy and safe holiday!

On November 14, students across Topeka Public Schools took part in the national Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, recognizing Ruby’s historic courage as the first student to integrate her elementary school, opening doors for generations to come.

We send a special thank you to retired TPS Administrator and Kansas State Board of Education member, Dr. Beryl New, for inspiring our Williams Science & Fine Arts Magnet School scholars through storytelling, as well as our community partners from Washburn University and Walmart for demonstrating kindness and equity in action for our scholars at Meadows Elementary.

View photos from events across the district on Facebook.

Join us in congratulating TPS educator Ms. Miranda Gil and Topeka West graduate Andrew Bazaldua on their recent incredible honors from Special Olympics Kansas!

Ms. Gil, a Topeka West High School Special Education teacher and supporting coach for the 501 Unified and Special Olympics programs, was named the 2025 North Central Region Coach of the Year. Andrew, a 2025 graduate, was recognized as the North Central Region Partner of the Year for his outstanding involvement and leadership throughout his time at Topeka West.

We are so proud of both of them and grateful for the dedication and support they’ve given to our student athletes and programs.

On November 17-21, Topeka Public Schools celebrated American Education Week and hosted our annual Principal for a Day event, which invites community leaders to shadow one of the district's principals and gain first-hand knowledge of how schools operate.

This year's special guests included state legislators, Rep. Tobias Schlingensiepen, Rep. Alexis Simmons, and Rep. Virgil Weigel; Rep. Beryl New from the Kansas State Board of Education; City Manager Dr. Robert Perez, Mayor Mike Padilla, and Mayor-Elect Spencer Duncan; as well as many of our valued community partners.

Topeka Public Schools extends special thanks to all our community partners for their ongoing support of our students! View highlights from the event on YouTube and photos from each school on Flickr.

120 students from across Topeka Public Schools are being treated to a shopping spree at Kohl's this holiday season! The shopping events continued this week and are part of Advisors Excel’s season of giving.

Students spend several hours paired with Advisors Excel employees, who help them pick out new toys, clothes, shoes, and more, as they pick out anything their hearts desire for the holidays.

The district extends special thanks to Advisors Excel for their continued support of our students and community! View photos from the shopping event on Flickr.

Throughout the month of November, Topeka Public Schools students and staff across the district have celebrated Native American Heritage Month through educational activities and cultural presentations.

Mr. Yale Taylor and Haskell University partnered to hold the Indigenous Youth Gathering at TCALC on November 13, bringing together students from across the area to learn and connect through interactive cultural programming, and inspiring words from Bobby Von Martin, a Choctaw artist and public speaker.

These events celebrate the strength and diversity of Indigenous cultures while providing students with opportunities to learn, engage, and honor the rich Native traditions that continue to shape our community. View photos from various events on Facebook and Flickr.

The week of November 10-14, students and staff honored military Veterans and thanked them for their service in celebration of Veterans Day, with a variety of school assemblies and celebrations taking place across the district.

In addition, JROTC members from Highland Park, Topeka High, and Topeka West have enjoyed assisting with various community events to honor Veterans, and we are so proud to have Veterans leading our JROTC programs!

Last weekend, JROTC cadets and marching band members from all high schools also took part in the downtown Topeka Veterans Day Parade. View photos from Veterans Day celebrations across the district on Flickr.

On November 13, we had the honor of celebrating TCALC Associate Principal, Ms. Laura Nichols, at the annual Topeka's Top 20 Under 40 event!

Ms. Nichols is an exceptional leader whose dedication to innovation, hands-on learning, and student success continues to elevate the Career & Technical Education experience in Topeka Public Schools. Her commitment to empowering students with real-world skills is helping shape the future workforce of our community, and we congratulate her on this well-deserved award.

Topeka West High School standout Senior Lily Bowen was selected as the November 2025 Senior of the Month! She was recognized by the Topeka Public Schools Board of Education at their meeting on November 6.

Lily shines academically and as a leader at Topeka West, serving as the captain of the Dance Team, and participating in golf, theatre, Link Crew, Student Government, and much more. She is dedicated to making an impact both in school and in the community, and serves as a volunteer at McCarter Elementary School. Learn more about Lily in this Senior of the Month video.

Topeka Public Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Brad Isnard as the district’s new Executive Director of Operations.

Mr. Isnard brings extensive experience in education finance, operations management, organizational leadership, and community service, paired with a strong commitment to operational excellence in support of students, staff, and families. A full biography is available on our website.

He looks forward to joining Topeka Public Schools and becoming part of the Topeka community as he supports the district’s mission to engage, prepare, and inspire students for a lifetime of learning!

As families prepare for the upcoming year, the 2025–2026 academic calendar is available to help with planning for important dates, breaks, and events. We encourage families to review the calendar early as they make arrangements for the coming year. The district Google Calendar is also available on our home page.

Stay up-to-date with everything you need to know about the 2025 Kansas Legislative Session on the Current Events page at kslegislature.org.

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The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. For students, the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 compliance coordinator is the General Counsel for the district. For employment, the EEO/AA and Title VII compliance officer is the general director of human resources. Compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000.The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3059 or by writing to 624 S.W. 24th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66611-1294.

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