Public Service
-
Austin Vincent
Staff Attorney
I’ve always been passionate about agriculture. I grew up on my family’s fifth-generation ranch, where I learned the value of a handshake and satisfaction of a job well done. But it wasn’t until my senior year of college that I realized I wanted to dedicate my career to the industry. A policy…
Read More -
Brandy Sayre
Court Reporter
Growing up, I wanted to be a physician. After graduating from high school, I started working for a court reporting firm editing transcripts. I did that while I was in college, and I decided what I really wanted to do was to be a court reporter.Court reporters are trained professionals who capture…
Read More -
Skyler Fiske
Middle School Teacher
Growing up, I wanted to be a pop star or a teacher. Since my pop stardom never took off, I decided teaching would be a better path. In fact, my mom was a teacher, and I always loved helping her set up her classroom. Watching her grade papers and prep for school was fascinating. Between her…
Read More -
Sheyvette Dinkens
Business Educator
I wasn’t initially interested in being a teacher and didn’t intend to enter the field of education. For many years, I worked on founding and running a nonprofit organization in Topeka, Kansas: Women Empowerment. The organization was built to inspire, lift and bring local women together.
Read More -
Genia Deets
Elementary School Gifted Teacher
When I was little, I loved playing school — and being the teacher, of course! I would arrange my stuffed animals and plan exciting lessons on everything from being nice to counting. I’m thrilled to be living this dream in an actual classroom today. But I will say, my stuffed animals had much less…
Read More -
Jen Kesler
Second Grade Teacher
I always admired my teachers growing up and wanted to be just like them. I knew I wanted to work with kids. Although I struggled in school and had to work very hard, I’m a “helper” by nature, so I knew I wanted to support kids who struggled like I did. I didn’t take any education-related classes…
Read More -
Valerie Brown-Kuchera
Director of K-12 Library and Information Literacy Program
I’ve always wanted to be an educator. Growing up in a remote country home with parents who were not high school graduates, I relied on impressions of educated people portrayed in the books I read. My favorite stories showed professors and librarians as trusted mentors and wise, caring advisors who…
Read More -
Lindsey Holtry
Educational Technology Coach
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I was the oldest of four girls and loved working with kids at our school, church and local community center. In high school, I did a lot of volunteering in areas I loved and knew would be a part of my future career. I coached volleyball,…
Read More -
Kaley Schnack
Title 1 Teacher
I remember wanting to be a teacher as early as kindergarten. The school I attended growing up was a special place. The teachers provided a sense of community and a strong support system for everything we did, and I idolized my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Harris, for her sweet spirit and love of…
Read More -
Cade Fiske
Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor
As I was growing up, I knew my future career would be related to helping people. I wanted to be able to interact with others and have a direct impact on their lives. I considered everything from a banker to an orthodontist. At one point, the idea of becoming a teacher kept popping up in the back of…
Read More