News releases shared by Derby Public Schools will be added to this page as they become available.
2020-2021 School Year
• May 25 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on May 24
Summary: At the May 24 Board of Education meeting, Laura McLaughlin, volunteer, and Sarah Dowell, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of May.
• April 27 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on April 26
Summary: At the April 26 Board of Education meeting, Jett Endres, volunteer, and Jasmin Edwards and Terri Hamlett, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of April.
• March 23 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on March 22
Summary: At the March 22 Board of Education meeting, Ryan Rinn and Shane Wofford, volunteers, and Michael Tarwater, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of March.
• March 5 - 2021-2022 Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment Begins in April
Summary: Do you have a child that will be five years old on or before August 31, 2021? If so, we encourage you to complete Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment online coming up April 19-23, 2021!
• February 23 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on February 22
Summary: At the February 22 Board of Education meeting, Jeff Jewett and the Crossing Guard Crew from Derby Church of the Nazarene, volunteers, and Kendal Warkentine, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of February.
• January 26 - Derby Public Schools Teachers Recognized in Kansas Horizon Award Program at Board of Education Meeting on January 25
Summary: Congratulations to Sarah Fain, 1st-Grade Teacher at Oaklawn Elementary, and Becky Wendland, Social Studies Teacher at Derby High School, who were recognized at the January 25 Board of Education meeting as the Derby Public Schools nominees for the 2020-2021 Kansas Horizon Award. Wendland was also named a 2021 Horizon Award Winner.
• January 26 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on January 25
Summary: At the January 25 Board of Education meeting, Thu Le, volunteer, and Jennifer Fritz, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of January.
• January 8 - Derby Public Schools to Host New and Unique Summer STEM Camp for Kids of Active Military Personnel
Summary: Derby Public Schools has been selected among nine other military-connected school districts to launch a first-of-its-kind five-day summer camp called Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics for Kids of Active Military Personnel (STEMKAMP).
• January 7 - Becky Wendland, DHS Teacher, Announced as 2021 Horizon Award Winner
Summary: Becky Wendland, Derby High School Teacher, is one of thirty-two first-year educators from Kansas being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the 2021 Kansas Horizon Award program.
• December 30 - Derby Public Schools Celebrates School Board of Education Leaders This January
Summary: January is School Board Recognition Month, and Derby Public Schools would like to thank these community leaders who
serve as Board of Education members.
• November 24 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on November 23
Summary: At the November 23 Board of Education meeting, Tammy Coughlin, volunteer, and Thuy Pham, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the months of November.
• November 18 - Gage Chiropractic Center Donates Coats to Derby Public Schools Students
Summary: For the 15th year in a row, Gage Chiropractic Center has coordinated the donation of 221 winter coats for students at Derby Public Schools.
• October 27 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on October 26
Summary: At the October 26 Board of Education meeting, Marie Noffert, volunteer, and Jamie Welch, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of October.
• October 7 - Amy Bringhurst Announced as a Parent Educator of the Year
Summary: Amy Bringhurst, a dedicated school volunteer and Parents As Teachers (PAT) Educator, passed away unexpectedly this past January. She was recently nominated for the Parent Educator of the Year award, which is recognized during the National Parents as Teachers Virtual Conference.
• September 29 - Derby Public Schools I Make A Difference Award Winners Announced at Board of Education Meeting on September 28
Summary: At the September 28 Board of Education meeting, Derby High School Air Force JROTC volunteers and Tim Hamblin, staff, were recognized as recipients of the I Make A Difference Award for the month of September.
• September 15 - Emma Stubby Named National Merit Semifinalist
Summary: Congratulations to Emma Stubby, Derby High School senior, on being named a National Merit Semifinalist!
• July 27 - Board of Education Meetings Held via Zoom/YouTube Live
Summary: Current Derby Public Schools Board of Education meetings are being via Zoom/YouTube Live due to the 15-person limit on mass gatherings as mandated by the Emergency Public Health Order of the Sedgwick County Local Health Officer.
• July 22 - 2020 Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) Recognition
Summary: Derby North Middle School was designated a School of Excellence and Derby High School was identified as a School of Promising Practice by the Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) for the civic engagement opportunities they offer students.
• June 9 - Seeking Interested Individuals to Apply for Board of Education Vacancy
Summary: Derby Public Schools' is seeking applications for an open Board of Education position created by a recent resignation. In order to be eligible, you must live within the Derby Public School boundaries.
• June 9 - Experience Driving a School Bus During “Try-it-Out” Days at Derby North Middle School
Summary: The Transportation Department at Derby Public Schools is sponsoring two “Try-it-Out” days for persons interested in experiencing driving a bus. The district is currently seeking to fill bus driver positions prior to the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
• June 9 - Farmers to Families - FREE Produce Available to Community Members
Summary: Derby Public Schools is excited to share that we will receive nearly 1,000 boxes containing assorted fruits and vegetables from Liberty Fruit Co. to distribute from the Central Kitchen and Oaklawn Elementary.
If you are looking for a News Release from a previous year, please contact the Communications Department at (316) 788-8403.