Some months are filled with more good things than I could possibly fit inside my newspaper column, and this October has been one of them! It’s been a wonderful whirlwind for our schools, families and community.

Homecoming and fall sports are a highlight of this season, and it’s been fun to watch our community cheer on our high school student athletes.

Tennis rounded out the season eight for eight and then we finished first in our league before having all six of our girls travel to state in Topeka. We had five of the six girls place in the top 12 places, with the team placing fourth overall. Hats off to Inarie Rippert and Reygan Coonrod, who were state runners-up in 3-2-1A doubles!

Football has also had a stand-out season, garnering the attention of the Salina Post. The team is 7-0 as I write this, and it’s been fun cheering on cross country and volleyball all season long as well. Congratulations to Kylan Turnipseed for surpassing 2,000 assists and Peyton Coonrod on surpassing 1,000 digs! A special thank you to everyone who plays a part in our students’ success.

Fall sports have also rallied support across USD 327 communities. It’s been inspiring to see businesses come together to sponsor ticket buy-outs for two of our home football games for all students and fans, whether home or visitor. Big thanks to Connally Agency, State Farm Anthony Hopkins and Farm Bureau Financial Services Dan Reed for such a generous and spirited gift. And thanks to the sponsors who made the Oct. 6 tailgate party possible — Home Lumber, Cats Pride and Grow Ellsworth County. Bearcat pride runs deep!

It’s also been exciting this fall to watch our growing career and technical education program partner with area businesses and organizations to provide students valuable workplace experiences. Even more exciting? The feedback we’ve heard from our business partners.

Quick to jump in and learn Awesome go-getter Excellent worker Rocking it Very professional Hard worker These comments are just the beginning. Oct. 23 is Bearcats Give Back Day, where students from Ellsworth Jr./Sr. High School and their staff advisors will help people across the community with their needs and requests. Thanks to Mrs. Stover and our advisors for the coordination and oversight of this awesome collaboration. I never tire of the moments that bring together students, families, business owners and the entire community. Everyone wins!

None of this good work is possible without the talented educators across our district too. I’m pleased to share that three of our outstanding teachers are being recognized through the Kansas Teacher of the Year and Kansas Horizon Award programs. Please join me in celebrating Jill Naasz, fifth grade teacher at KMS, and Amy Johnson, EJSHS math teacher, for representing USD 327 in the 2025 Teacher of the Year program. Congratulations also to fourth grade teacher and EJSHS alumna Jenna Zamrzla, for being our district’s Horizon Award winner and state nominee.

All three of these outstanding educators will benefit from participation in the statewide Kansas Exemplary Educators Network, a free professional learning program offered to the state’s top educators. Please thank these three teachers for their inspired service to students the next time you see them around our community.

My column would be incomplete without a shout-out to the work of our school board. Their strategic plan is in effect and we are currently working on setting goals as well as creating a district-wide brand. This brand will encompass all three communities we serve, which speaks to our motto, Better Together, Striving for Excellence. This month’s column is full of stories about this plan in action and also demonstrates work with three of our strategic themes: Educate for Excellence which includes Support Exploration and Engagement Opportunities, Connect with Family and Community, and Invest in Faculty and Staff.

And finally, please make plans to vote on or before Tuesday, Nov. 7, for the school board race and city council elections. Our student council and FFA officers are gathering the candidates together for a voter meet-and-greet which is scheduled for Oct. 23 to support our upcoming school board election. These things don’t happen without a great deal of coordination behind the scenes. I am grateful to Karl Dawn Stover, our career and technical education coordinator, and Kendra Ploutz, Student Council sponsor, with the help of former EJSHS staff member Jerry Marsh, for spearheading this upcoming event. We are Better Together, Striving for Excellence!

Let’s Grow!

Deena Hilbig is the superintendent of USD 327. She can be reached at (785) 4725561.