Tuesday Talk with Dr. Dain

Piper Nation,

Below you will find a brief update from the Piper USD 203 Board of Education outlining the progress made to date in the superintendent search. The Board remains committed to a transparent and inclusive process, and I appreciate their leadership and diligence in gathering and reviewing valuable community input.

Thank you for your continued support of the Piper School District!

#PurpleReign

Proud to be a Pirate,

Dr. Jessica Dain, Superintendent

Piper USD 203

Dear Piper Community,

As the Board of Education continues its work to identify the next Superintendent of Schools, we would first like to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Jessica Dain for her dedicated service to Piper USD 203. Dr. Dain’s leadership and commitment to our students, staff, and community have helped strengthen the district and advance opportunities for our learners. We are thankful for the positive impact she has made during her time in Piper and wish her the very best in her upcoming retirement.

This message serves as an update on the work being completed to identify our next Superintendent of Schools.

First and foremost, thank you to the community members, parents, staff, and students who participated in the community survey. We are grateful for the strong engagement, with more than 700 respondents providing thoughtful input to guide this important decision.

In addition, our search firm, KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards), has conducted nine different focus groups involving 124 individuals. These groups included community members, parents, administrators, classified staff, certified staff, and students. The perspectives shared in these conversations have provided valuable insight into the priorities, expectations, and hopes our community holds for its next leader.

In early March, the Board of Education met with Dr. Michelle Hubbard from KASB to review the preliminary feedback collected through the community survey and focus groups. KASB has since compiled and analyzed all of the data to identify the key attributes our community believes are most important in the selection of our next superintendent. This feedback directly informed the development of the leadership profile and is guiding the next phase of the search process. A summary of this data is also highlighted in the graphic included with this article.

We remain committed to transparency and meaningful engagement throughout this process and will continue to provide updates as the search progresses with a goal of hiring the new superintendent at our April 13th.

Thank you for your continued involvement in our incredible school district.

Sincerely,

Ashley Biondi, President

Piper USD 203 Board of Education

In an effort to protect the district’s facilities and ensure their long-term use, community members may notice the new fencing system that has been installed at the District Stadium. These facilities represent a significant investment for our students and community, and the fencing helps us safeguard those assets from unintended damage. The stadium and track areas are designated for official school district activities and approved facility rentals only. Individuals using the facilities without authorization will be asked to leave, and law enforcement will be contacted if necessary for trespassing. Our intent is not to create a sense of restriction, but rather to responsibly protect and preserve the facilities so they remain in excellent condition for students and community events for many years to come.

At Piper Prairie Elementary School this week, our teachers took advantage of the beautiful weather to move learning outside! Students practiced fine motor skills by writing with sidewalk chalk and strengthened phonics skills by identifying consonant blends—such as underlining the sl, bl, or fl in words like slip, black, or flag. Small shifts like this show students that learning doesn’t only happen at a desk. Fresh air, movement, and sunshine can spark curiosity and help students build a genuine love of learning. Even 10–15 minutes outside can make practice feel fresh and engaging. A little sunshine and movement can go a long way in helping learning stick!

State assessment season is approaching, and we want to share a few important dates for families. Our spring Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) testing will take place over several weeks: Science March 30–April 3, ELA April 7–10, and Math April 13–17. In addition, second grade students will take the Kansas Second Grade Reading Assessment on April 15. These assessments give schools and families important information about student learning and progress. You can help your child feel confident by encouraging a good night’s sleep, a healthy breakfast, and a positive mindset on testing days. Thank you for your support!

The Piper Middle School and High School BBQ teams are opening orders again! If you missed out last time, now’s your chance to grab a pound (or two) of our delicious pulled pork.

📅 Ordering opens: March 9
📅 Ordering closes: March 20
📍 Pick-up begins: The week of March 30

Thank you for supporting our student BBQ teams as they continue to grow. Every order helps us fire things up!

👉 Click the link below to access the order form and payment. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnoreuzlhpplVgX7gLiwxecDZVqCABV8mTjxSQ7yd6KbvMhQ/viewform

This month’s Classified Purple Reign Award is presented to Diane Baumgartner, Registered Nurse at Piper Early Childhood Center.

Diane was nominated by her supervisor, who shared that she is someone you can always count on. Her flexibility allows her to adjust seamlessly to changing needs, and she never hesitates to step in and help wherever support is needed. Diane generously shares her advice and experience while remaining open to feedback and expectations.

Her team-first attitude and dedication to supporting students and staff make a meaningful difference every day. We are grateful for Diane’s commitment and proud to recognize her as this month’s Classified Purple Reign Award recipient. Diane was joined by her principal, Mrs. Stasi Willmon.

This month’s Certified Purple Reign Award is presented to T.J. Dorian, Agriculture Teacher, FFA Sponsor, and Football Coach.

T.J. was nominated by a parent who shared: “Timothy Dorian is truly deserving of the Purple Reign Award for the extraordinary influence he has had on students both in and beyond the classroom. For my son, Mr. Dorian has been a role model on and off the field, pushing him to grow through football while also connecting with his interests outside of high school. He instills a strong work ethic and encourages students to think creatively and independently in the classroom. For my daughter, he has brought real purpose and excitement to daily high school life by introducing agriculture classes and FFA to Piper. She especially enjoys the real-world learning opportunities through field trips, FFA competitions, and hands-on agricultural experiences. She is inspired, motivated, and already envisioning her future because of him. Mr. Dorian is more than a teacher and coach—he is a household name and a true legend.”

T.J.’s dedication to his students and the meaningful opportunities he creates for them exemplify the spirit of Purple Reign. We are proud to recognize him as this month’s Certified Purple Reign Award recipient. T.J. was joined by his principal, Dr. Justin Bogart.

It has come to our attention that Children's Mercy Hospital will no longer be In-Network for those enrolled in the Sunflower Network through KanCare. Changes of the KanCare provider may be made up until March 5th. Children's Mercy providers are having their staff direct parents to their insurance provider for questions, and informed us that negotiations are still happening. Please reach out to your insurance to change your network provider if you receive services through Children's Mercy Hospital to continue to receive ongoing services.

Piper Early Childhood Center is hosting a kick-off event on May 8 to welcome and screen new incoming students for the 2026-2027 school year. Students who are currently attending PECC will not have school this day (and do not need to attend the event).

Piper High School is proud to announce the creation of a Military Hall of Honor, a tribute to our alumni who have answered the call to serve our country. We are transferring the military service pictures currently housed at Piper Middle School (the old high school) to their new home at Piper High School. However, we are missing photos for the Classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, and we need your help to complete this important display.

If you are a recent graduate serving in the military—or know someone who is—we ask that you provide an 8x10 photo in uniform, landscape (horizontal) format. Photos may be dropped off at the Piper High School office and left with Dr. Justin Bogart, Principal.

There is no cost for alumni or families to participate. This is our way of honoring your service and sacrifice. From all of us at Piper Schools, thank you for serving our country and for representing what it means to be part of the Piper community. We are proud to include you in this lasting tribute.

Text messages will now accompany emails and phone calls to share important updates, including weather-related notices and cancelations. To setup text alerts, please follow the link below for instructions on updating your contact information in Parent Skyward to ensure you're connected.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact your building secretary.

The March Board of Education Meeting will take place on Monday, April 16, at 6 p.m., in the Board Room. Community stakeholders who wish to address the Board of Education should complete the following form (linked below) and send the completed form to the Board Clerk, Kim Buckner, at kim.buckner@piperschools.us no later than 12 p.m. (noon) the day of the meeting.

Access Board Docs (Agendas and Corresponding Reports)

Reminder that patrons can access agendas and corresponding reports via the website prior to or after each Board of Education meeting. For access, click here, where you will find agendas and reports from previous Board meetings.