The Lansing USD469 Lion Pridecast is back for its fifth season! Hosts Sharon Burns, Director of Communications and Marketing, and Miles Azzeh, Director of Teaching and Learning, kick off the season with a look at several initiatives that have kept district staff busy this fall.
The episode begins with an update on Kansas Heartland Virtual Academy (KHVA), the district's tuition-free virtual learning option for Kansas students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Now in its third year, the program has grown to approximately 270 students. Ms. Burns and Mr. Azzeh discuss the work involved in supporting students from across the state, including enrollment, course placement, residency verification, and state reporting requirements. They also recognize the KHVA team members whose work has helped the program grow.
The conversation then turns to teacher recruitment and retention, including recent visits from prospective teachers and upcoming university career fairs. Ms. Burns and Mr. Azzeh share how Lansing introduces future educators to the district and discuss the importance of mentoring, professional development, collaboration, and supportive relationships among staff. They also preview an upcoming district climate survey that will provide employees with an opportunity to share feedback.
Finally, Mr. Azzeh provides an update on the district's recent Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) check-in. He explains how the district's improvement goals connect to classroom instruction, including continued work with structured literacy in elementary grades and standards alignment in middle and high school classrooms.
Listen to Season 5, Episode 1 below to hear the full conversation and learn more about the people and programs supporting Lansing USD469 students.
Be sure to follow the Lion Pridecast on your favorite podcast platform to catch future episodes featuring district updates, classroom highlights, and conversations with the people who make Lansing USD469 special.
To view all episodes: https://www.usd469.net/page/lion-pride-cast-episodes-district-podcast