Great Bend USD 428 employees returned to school Thursday morning for breakfast and a fall kickoff gathering at Great Bend High School. The GBHS Marching Band spent a week in outdoor training in July; members took the stage wearing red-and-black “Can’t Hide Our Pride” Panther T-shirts.
All district employees received “All In - Great Bend” T-shirts after the meeting when they headed to the Panther Activity Center for the annual Business Showcase, sponsored by Credit Union of America and the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce.
They were reminded of a Great Bend USD 428 goal: “By May 2027, all classrooms and learning spaces will be filled with students who can read, write, talk about, and do challenging work with the support of an inspired staff working together to lead learning among themselves and between students.”
Commenting on the excitement as returning teachers and staff filled the GBHS Auditorium, Superintendent Khris Thexton said, “This is what you expect when you come to school. I’m excited again to share with people shaping a bright and successful future for our students. The best part of working in education is the opportunity to start fresh each year with new students in the classroom. I want to express my gratitude for your dedication and enthusiasm.”
Assistant Superintendent John Popp talked about the core values the district has adopted:
• Respect and Empathy
• Collaborative Teamwork
• Appreciation and Trust
• Ownership and Support
• Courageous Professionalism
The core values are printed on the back of the T-shirts employees received.
Other speakers were Director of Teaching and Learning JoAnn Blevins, and Barton County Special Services Cooperative Director Ashley Riley.
In 2024 the Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 428, which sets goals for improved scores on the Kansas English Language Arts (ELA) Assessment:
• By 2030, at least 50% of the students in grades 3-8 will achieve level 3 or above on the Kansas ELA assessment.
• By 2033, at least 90% of students in grades 3-8 will achieve level 2 or above on the Kansas ELA assessment.
Level 1 means students are below the academic expectations for their grade level. Levels 2-4 are at or above grade-level expectations, and levels 3-4 are at or above academic expectations for college and career readiness.
Blevins acknowledged this is a challenge; at present, 77% of USD 428 students are at levels 1 or 2 in reading assessments and 76% are at those levels for math assessments.
“It’s hard to reconcile this,” she said. “I know you’re working hard and putting in the time. Our system isn’t providing the results that we want.”
This year, schools will focus on curriculum and instruction. The district has increased the number of collaborative days where teachers work together on professional development.
Just as elementary students have a district-wide reading initiative during the year, teachers will all read “Better Learning Through Structured Teaching,” by Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey, as the district works to follow an instructional model.
“It’s not about what’s new,” Blevins said. “It’s about finding what works and doubling down on it.”
She added, “Each person plays a role. We’re here and we exist for student learning.”
Thexton had the final word before releasing staff to head to the PAC. He started the program by thanking food service, custodial, maintenance, grounds, transportation and the IT department for all of the work they did over the summer to prepare for the new year, and he thanked the board of education and all staff. He finished by reminding everyone that teaching children is a collaborative effort. “It’s going to take all of us.”
