2024 Career Exploration Summer Camp Agenda
For Educators Pre-K through 8
August 1, 2024
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Tentative Schedule
8:30 - Kristin Brighton: Welcome and Housekeeping
8:45 - Randy Watson: How Early Career Exploration Supports Kansans Can Goals and Frameworks
9:25 - Addie Justus: Meet Our HP Ambassadors
9:35 - Genia Deets, HirePaths Teacher Ambassador, Elementary QUEST, Green Springs Elementary and Havencroft Elementary, Olathe
9:50 - Valerie Brown-Kuchera, HirePaths Teacher Ambassador, K-12 Information Literacy and Library, Quinter Schools, Quinter
10:05 - Break (10 minutes)
10:15 - Natalie Clark: Introducing Secondary CTE Opportunities and Exciting Younger Students to Get Involved
10:45 - Lesa Schulte, HirePaths Teacher Ambassador, Preschool, USD 303/SKACD 613, Ness City
10:50 - Kaley Schnack, HirePaths Teacher Ambassador, 2nd - 5th Grade Title Teacher for Reading and Math, Bickerdyke Elementary, Russell
11:00 - Shonda Anderson: Introducing Kids to Apprenticeships
11:30 - Andrea Tiede and Shannon Molt: Lessons Learned from The STEM Summer Institute in Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
11:45 - Ann Mah: Closing keynote
Our Speakers
Kristin Brighton is the founder of HirePaths, a campaign to inspire Kansas kids to establish a high-demand career in Kansas. She is also one of the principals and founders of New Boston Creative Group LLC, an integrated marketing communications firm based in Manhattan. A mom of young adults, Ms. Brighton was first elected in 2019 to the USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden School Board, and she was the 2016 chair of the board for the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dr. Randy Watson was named Commissioner of Education by the Kansas State Board of Education in November 2014, while he was still serving as superintendent of McPherson Public Schools, USD 418. During his tenure with the Kansas State Department of Education, Dr. Watson has rapidly become known for his visionary leadership to position Kansas as an innovator in rethinking a century-old school model. The Kansans Can vision to lead the world in the success of each student continues to drive the work of the Kansas State Board and the state education agency. Among the forward-thinking initiatives are balancing the emphasis between academic test scores and the characteristics Kansans identified as ensuring student success. Dr. Watson was instrumental in introducing statewide outcomes for social-emotional growth, kindergarten readiness, individual plans of study, graduation attainment and post-secondary success.
Addie Justus is the program manager for HirePaths, a campaign to inspire Kansas kids to establish a high-demand career in Kansas. She is also a senior content marketer at New Boston Creative Group LLC, an integrated marketing communications firm based in Manhattan. Born and raised in Kansas, Ms. Justus is passionate about workforce development and seeing our state continue to grow.
Genia Deets is a dedicated educator with over 25 years of experience shaping young minds in Olathe Public Schools, USD 233. As an elementary teacher, she has been a beacon of inspiration, fostering a love for learning and creating a nurturing environment where students thrive in both general and special education settings. Ms. Deets’ passion for education extends beyond the classroom as she serves as a HirePaths ambassador, advocating for opportunities and pathways for students and educators alike. She also is the founder of the nonprofit, Mail-A-SMILE, that supports youth literacy and empathy for others. With her wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to empowering others, Ms. Deets continues to make a profound impact in the field of education, shaping the future one student at a time.
Valerie Brown-Kuchera is in her 31st year of education. Prior to taking on the position of K-12 school library and STEAM Lab director at USD 293 in Quinter, she served as a high school English teacher, a gifted facilitator and a college instructor. She uses HirePaths curriculum and materials to enhance library instruction for students of all ages, even early elementary. Ms. Brown-Kuchera enjoys reading, remodeling her Victorian house, and traveling with her husband and three children.
Natalie Clark is assistant director of the Kansas State Department of Education Career, Standards and Assessment Services team in the areas of Career and Technical Education and Individual Plan of Study (IPS). Mrs. Clark joined the agency in 2016 as an education program consultant in the areas of business management and entrepreneurship, finance and marketing. She also served as the IPS coordinator. Her high school classroom experience has been in the areas of business and computer studies, and she has been an adjunct faculty member for Barton Community College. Mrs. Clark is a former certified municipal clerk who earned a bachelor of science in secondary education, business and computer studies from Kansas State University. She later received a master of science in business education from Emporia State University. Mrs. Clark’s hometown is St. John, Kansas, where her family has lived for seven generations. She and her husband, Bill, have been married 37 years, and they have two children. Tyler lives in Winfield with his family, including sons Ryder and Waylon, and Taylor is a music educator at Pratt Middle School.
Lesa Schulte is a preschool educator in Ness City, USD 303, and is in her 13th year of teaching. She recently switched to special education, which allows her to co-teach with the regular education preschool teacher. Now, Ness City has an all-inclusive preschool, and Ms. Schulte absolutely loves it! Being a HirePaths Teacher Ambassador has allowed her to show others the importance of play-based career exploration, even at a young age. When Ms. Schulte is not at Little Eagles Preschool, you can find her with her husband and two kids, often fishing at the lake.
Kaley Schnack will be starting her 12th year of education in fall 2024. She is currently in her fifth year as a Title Teacher at Bickerdyke Elementary in Russell, USD 407. She uses HirePaths curriculum and materials to support her intervention work with her students as well as to enhance the district's CAPS after-school program. Mrs. Schnack enjoys spending time with her son and husband, and her family added another baby this summer. She also likes to travel, watch sports (KC Chiefs, KC Royals and FHSU Tigers) and craft with friends in her free time.
Shonda Anderson is the Director of Internships and Apprenticeships for the Kansas Department of Commerce. She oversees the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship and has been able to realize a more than 50% increase in total number of apprentices in almost 3 years. She grew up in Colorado, where she earned an undergraduate degree in agriculture and resource economics and agricultural education from Colorado State University. Over 20 years ago, life brought her to Kansas, where she earned a master’s in agricultural economics from Kansas State University. Previously, she worked as the director of apprenticeship for Kansas City’s Metropolitan Community College. She is a proud mother of two and will never forget she started her career driving dump trucks for her dad’s asphalt business
Andrea Tiede is the executive director of teaching and learning for Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools, USD 383. In this capacity, she champions educational excellence and supports initiatives that enhance teaching practices and student outcomes across the district, including increasing enrollment in dual credit and career and technical education.
Shannon Molt currently serves as the director of student services for Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools, USD 383. In this role, she helps manage the Department of Defense Education Activity grant to support the district’s Educate and Empower through Data-Driven Personalized Learning program. The program focuses on increasing enrollment in dual credit and career and technical education.
Ann Mah holds a bachelor of science in engineering in physical science and master of science in curriculum from Emporia State University. She taught high school science for five years, then became an engineer at Southwestern Bell Corporation. She retired from SBC after nearly 22 years and started her own training and speaking company. A Topeka YWCA Woman of Excellence, Ms. Mah was also the 2002 National President of the American Business Women’s Association. In that capacity, she traveled nationwide to speak on business and education issues. An avid community volunteer, Ms. Mah has served on the United Way of Greater Topeka Board of Directors and the Shawnee Heights Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors, as well as the Lutheran Fine Arts Council of Topeka. She served in the Kansas House of Representatives for eight years and is currently in her second term as a member of the Kansas State Board of Education, representing District 4. She is married to Larry Mah.