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Staff Directory
DR. STU MOECKEL
Superintendent of Schools stumoeckel@eudoraschools.org
DR. BILL DEWITT
Head Principal, Eudora High School billdewitt@eudoraschools.org
CARA KIMBERLIN
Assistant Principal and Activities Director, Eudora High School carakimberlin@eudoraschools.org
SEAN HAYDEN
Assistant Principal, Eudora High School seanhayden@eudoraschools.org
JESSICA JOHNSON
Director of Cardinal Academy/Assistant Principal jessicajohnson@eudoraschools.org
JEREMY THOMAS
Head Principal, Eudora Middle School jeremythomas@eudoraschools.org
TY PATTISON
Assistant Principal and Activities Director, Eudora Middle School typattison@eudoraschools.org
SETH HEIDE
Head Principal, Eudora Elementary School sethheide@eudoraschools.org
JAMIE GRADO
Assistant Principal, Eudora Elementary School jamiegrado@eudoraschools.org
SARAH MILLER
Assistant Principal, Eudora Elementary School saramiller@eudoraschools.org
KRISTEN LEWIS
Early Learning Center Director kristenlewis@eudoraschools.org
ALBANIA ANDRADE Communication and Engagement Specialist, albaniaandrade@eudoraschools.org
MACHAELA BESHEARS Transportation Director machaelabeshears@eudoraschools.org
BETSY CRABILL Finance Director betsycrabill@eudoraschools.org
HEATHER HUNDLEY Director of School Improvement Services heatherhundley@eudoraschools.org
SHANDA HURLA Eudora Schools Foundation Executive Director shandahurla@eudoraschools.org
CHUCK JAMES Director of Facilities chuckjames@eudoraschools.org
RON LONG Technology Director ronlong@eudoraschools.org
NICOLE PARKS Food and Nutrition Director nicoleparks@eudoraschools.org
YEMEN SHAABAN After School Program Director yemenshaaban@eudoraschools.org
AMANDA BRUNKOW
Human Resources Director amandabrunkow@eudoraschools.org
AMY SHANKS Human Resources Director amyshanks@eudoraschools.org
STEPHENIE SUDDUTH District Nurse stepheniesudduth@eudoraschools.org
AMY O’HARE amyohare@eudoraschools.org
Directory of Schools
Eudora Early Learning Center 1310 Winchester Rd. 785-542-4920 elc.eudoraschools.org
Eudora Elementary School 801 E. 10th St. 785-542-4910 ees.eudoraschools.org
Eudora Middle School 2635 Church St. 585-542-4960
ems.eudoraschools.org
Eudora High School 2203 Church St. 785-542-4980 ehs.eudoraschools.org
Eudora Schools Virtual Learning 785-542-4989 esvl.eudoraschools.org
Eudora Unified School District No. 491 1310 Winchester Rd. P.O. Box 500 Eudora, KS 66025 785-542-4910
eudoraschools.org
Eudora Proud: Our Promise to Every Cardinal
The Eudora School District is committed to continuous improvement that meets every student where they are. With guidance from our Board of Education, we follow a strategic plan centered on belonging, excellence, and growth. Together, we are building systems that elevate learning and prepare every student for future success.
“Every student in Eudora Schools is known by name, strength, and need, and graduates prepared for the future they choose.” This is Our Promise.
Our Promise reflects the heart of the Cardinal spirit: belonging, support, and opportunity. At its core, Our Promise is a commitment to continuous improvement and an ongoing effort to strengthen practices and elevate learning for our future.
These commitments matter now more than ever. As society changes at an unprecedented pace, education must remain flexible and adaptive. Students are growing up in an ever-shifting landscape shaped by new technologies, evolving workforce demands, and rapidly changing social expectations. To prepare them for futures we cannot fully predict, schools must continually refine their practices, respond to emerging needs, and create learning environments that are both stable and responsive. Our Promise positions Eudora to do exactly that, ensuring every student is supported in a world that is constantly changing.
What “Our Promise” does to support our Cardinals
• Fostering a Culture of Belonging — The plan emphasizes a welcoming community where each student feels known, supported, and empowered to engage, lead, and thrive. Our team continuously looks for opportunities to foster family partnerships, improve student attendance and participation in activities, clubs, and mentoring, as well as engage in opportunities to enhance their learning habits and leadership skills. We have over 90% of our families participating in prekindergarten-12th grade parentteacher conferences, are working to reduce our chronic absenteeism from 15% to 10% across the district, and have over 95% of students participating in activities, clubs, organizations, and/or mentorship.
• Prioritizing Instructional Excellence — By investing in highquality instructional materials, structured literacy, coherent curricula, and ongoing professional development, the district aims to give every student equitable access to highlevel learning. Our walkthrough focus is Every Teacher, Every Day, which keeps us grounded in what matters mostunderstanding student learning and continually supporting our teachers through connections, feedback, and coaching.
• Preparing for the Future — Recognizing that not all Cardinal journeys end in the same way, the plan ensures graduates are ready for whatever path they choose. At Eudora High School, Cardinal U expands those opportunities by allowing students to earn college credit, career and technical education certifications, and real-world experience through partnerships with universities and technical schools.
Beyond the classroom, our community continues to rally around student success. The Eudora Schools Foundation (ESF) plays a key role by funding classroom grants, offering Lunch-and-Learn opportunities that connect students with local experts, and most recently bringing to students a scholarship funded by Truity Credit Union to help EHS students earn college credit while still in high school. Also, during its fifth annual Community Give Day, they raised $84,000, demonstrating just how deeply Eudora believes in its schools. Alongside that effort, our Employee Giving Campaign contributed another $15,000, providing support for anything our students and staff may need.
Together, these investments show what #EudoraProud looks like in action—an entire community working side-by-side to open doors, remove barriers, and ensure every Cardinal has a path to thrive.
Eudora Schools Foundation Grants in Action
Grants awarded by the Eudora Schools Foundation in October 2025 are already making a meaningful impact on students across the district. One focused on creative math instruction and the other on strengthening fine motor skills and eye tracking—demonstrating how these investments are supporting both innovation and student growth.
Lights, Camera, Calculate - Grant Recipient: Adam Brickner (Fifth Grade Teacher)
The “Lights, Camera, Calculate” grant gives students a real-world way to demonstrate their math learning. Through a classroom newscast named after the grant, each student has the opportunity to play a role in
creating an episode with local, realworld applications. The newscast is then shown to the rest of the class and shared with parents, highlighting the specific math skills each student has been working on.
The activity begins with a provided template outlining the problem students will solve, the questions they will answer, and instructions for meeting expectations. From there, the group creates a script, produces the videos, and edits their newscast.
In a current project, students are comparing grocery prices in Eudora from 1975 to 2025, applying skills in adding and subtracting decimals while researching real data.
Q: What changes have you noticed in students’ understanding of math since starting this program? In their interpersonal skills?
“This project gives the opportunity for students interested in technology, video editing, writing, and other subjects to see how it connects with math. It can also develop a new view of math for students who may not prefer the subject. In addition, students develop interpersonal skills through collaboration during script writing and video production” said Mr. Brickner.
Beyond strengthening math skills, the project builds communication and creativity. Students have even noted connections between their
learning and visits to local businesses such as Gene’s Market, Zeb’s Coffeehouse, and Barbwire BBQ—demonstrating the impact of community-based, relevant instruction.
Visual Processing and Scanning Activities for Better Readers - Grant Recipient: Michele Fairchild, OTR/L
This grant was requested to support occupational therapy staff and teachers in encouraging students who struggle with visual processing skills that affect reading, writing, and classroom engagement. It provides fun, challenging, and task-specific
exercises designed to target these areas.
The tools and activities funded through the grant help address skills such as visual tracking, visual discrimination, reversals, sequencing, directionality, form constancy, visual synthesis and figure-ground perception, visual-spatial awareness and closure, and visual-motor coordination.
Many students continue to exhibit primitive reflexes that have not yet integrated. These children often do not naturally cross the midline, either physically or visually—a skill essential for active classroom participation.
While the work is ongoing, this grant is helping staff identify and define more specific areas of need for each student.
Michele Fairchild and Taylor Gillihan have expressed their gratitude for the grant and how it allows them to continue supporting these students.
Together, these grants awarded to staff at Eudora Elementary foster both academic growth and student development across the district. They provide a foundation for helping students build essential skills, gain confidence, and connect classroom learning to real-world experiences. These investments not only enhance instruction but also empower teachers and staff to provide meaningful, individualized support—leaving a lasting impact on students’ success.
A Day in the Life at Eudora Early Learning Center
Aday at the Eudora Early Learning Center (ELC) is thoughtfully designed to support the whole child—academically, socially, emotionally, and physically—while creating a warm and engaging environment for our youngest learners. Play-based learning experiences are prioritized.
Each morning begins with a welcoming circle time, helping children ease into the day, build routines, and connect with their classmates. This is followed by the first read-aloud, focused on building early literacy skills.
Throughout the day, students participate in center-based learning and small-group instruction in reading and math. These small groups allow teachers to provide targeted, developmentally appropriate support while meeting individual learning needs. Additional content areas—such as science exploration, social studies concepts, social-emotional learning, and creative expression—are intentionally embedded into daily activities.
Children enjoy two outdoor play times each day, supporting physical development and self-regulation.
Midday includes lunch and rest time, giving students an opportunity to refuel and recharge so they can remain focused
and engaged throughout the afternoon. Learning continues with activities such as music and movement, STEAM exploration, daily sentence work, greeting circle, and hands-on centers that encourage curiosity and creativity.
ELC students also benefit from enriching specialty experiences. Singing Sarah, a certified music therapist, visits weekly to lead a 30-minute interactive music class that promotes socialemotional development, participation, and a love of music through singing and
movement. Art with Claire, held monthly, is a 30-minute hands-on art class that inspires creativity and helps children explore self-expression through a variety of materials and techniques.
The day wraps up with a second read-aloud, reinforcing comprehension skills, expanding vocabulary, and nurturing a lifelong love of books. Schedules are slightly staggered across classrooms to ensure smooth transitions for outdoor play and lunch. Staggered schedules help reduce congestion, maximize learning time, and ensure students have consistent access to shared spaces while maintaining a calm and well-organized environment.
By the end of the day, students leave having learned, played, created, and grown—ready to return tomorrow for another engaging day at the ELC.
Recognition with a Twist: EMS’ Teacher of the Month Belt Tradition
Eudora Middle School’s Teacher of the Month recognition has become a celebrated tradition, combining staff appreciation with a touch of fun and friendly competition. While the school has recognized teachers in various ways over the years, the idea of awarding a championship belt came from Mr. Brandon Parker, who suggested it as a playful twist. In the summer of 2024, Principal Jeremy Thomas found a site where custom belts could be made and decided to create one for EMS teachers. The first official belt winner was crowned in September 2024, kicking off a memorable tradition that continues today.
Each month, teachers nominate their peers and vote to select the winner. This process ensures the award reflects the voice of the staff, celebrating those who go above and beyond for their students and the school community. The goal is
simple: to recognize dedication, boost morale, and show appreciation among colleagues.
“The belt adds a fun and lighthearted element to the recognition. It creates excitement, brings staff together, and makes the award something everyone looks forward to. It keeps things light and humorous so we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Over the years, the belt has been at the center of some unforgettable moments. Highlights include Mrs.
The Card
Plegge wearing boxing gear to hand the belt to Ms. Pate, Ms. Pate losing the belt in an arm-wrestling match with Mr. Jacobs, and Mrs. Beck winning the title via FaceTime while she was at Disney.
The EMS Teacher of the Month belt has proven that recognizing excellence doesn’t have to be serious—it can be fun and memorable.
What is Cardinal U: Dual Credit, Career and Technical Ed, and Peaslee Technical Training Center
We often hear students and families ask, “What is Cardinal U?” At Eudora High School, Cardinal U is more than a program — it’s a launchpad for students to explore career paths, earn college credit, and gain hands-on experience before graduation.
Cardinal U encompasses:
• Dual credit courses — available both online and inperson through partner colleges. Allen Community College, Baker University, and Emporia State University offer online classes, while Johnson County Community College classes are in-person only, taught by EHS teachers. Starting in Fall 2026, some of our EHS teachers will also offer in-person
classes through Baker University and Allen Community College. These courses enable students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously.
• Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses — offered through Allen County Community College, such as teaching, business, and health careers. These courses are free for students to take and may be transferable to other postsecondary institutions.
• Peaslee Technical Training Center — hands-on career and technical education opportunities for junior and senior students. These courses provide industryrecognized credentials and valuable experience in highdemand technical fields.
Truity Cardinal U Scholarship: Removing Financial Barriers
Thanks to a generous partnership between Truity Credit Union and the Eudora Schools Foundation, eligible EHS students can apply for the Truity Cardinal U Scholarship, which helps cover tuition costs for Cardinal U college courses. This Scholarship ensures that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of students who want to pursue college-level opportunities while in high school.
Who can apply?
• Eudora High School students officially enrolled in Cardinal U
• Students who qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch (eligibility verified) Applications are available online through the EHS Cardinal U page. Interested students and families can reach out to EHS admin and counselors to learn more.
Student Voices: Q&A from Cardinal U Participants
Grayson Moody (11th grade)– Dual Credit Student (Online classes)
Q: What’s been the biggest benefit of earning college credit while still in high school?
Moody: “This experience has helped me learn how to balance high school coursework while also taking college classes and earning college credit. I would definitely recommend taking a college class as a high school student. It gives you more flexibility—if you finish your assignments early, you can work on homework from other classes. Additionally, if your assignments are completed and your grades are strong, you may have the option of going home early or coming to school at a later time.”
Katelyn Peterson (11th grade)– Career and Technical Education (Business Finance, Health Science (Sports Medicine, CNA))
Q: How do you think the course(s) you selected are preparing you for life after high school—college, career, or both?
Peterson: “I plan to become a nurse, and the CNA program is helping me in the long run. I’ve learned how to perform CPR and how to treat patients with respect and kindness. Having hands-on experience has changed how I think about my career goals in many ways, but most importantly, it has helped me understand what to do in real-life situations I may face in the future.
The most impactful part of my CNA training has been the experiences we share as a class, such as field trips and hands-on lab activities. With my CPR certification and my soon-to-be CNA certification, I see myself taking one step closer to becoming a nurse.”
Porter Bruce (12th grade)– Peaslee Tech Student
Q: What made you choose to take part in the Peaslee Tech apprenticeship and how has it helped prepare you?
Bruce: “I’m gaining valuable knowledge that I can apply. I really enjoy working and learning with my hands, and it has definitely helped point me toward more blue-collar jobs.”
Excellence in Eudora Elementary
Day on the Farm at Douglas County Fairgrounds
Eudora fourth graders spent the day on February 4 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds participating in A Day on the Farm. The interactive field trip gave students a closer look at agriculture and food production through a variety of engaging learning stations. Topics ranged from grain and livestock production to soil and water conservation, pollinators, fruits and vegetables, and overall health and wellness. The experience was brought to life with live animals, giving students an up-close and memorable way to connect classroom learning to the real world.
High School
Culinary Students
On February 6, our EHS Culinary team competed at JCCC in their annual high school competition. They had just one hour to prepare two servings of an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert. Scored on a point system (70+ = bronze, 80+ = silver, 90+ = gold), our students earned a bronze medal and received valuable critiques to help them improve their dishes.
Congratulations to Alyssa H., Kat M., Garrett M., Noah V., and Joe S. for their hard work and dedication!
All school recognition assembly Eudora Elementary held an allschool recognition assembly on February 6 to celebrate students’ hard work, achievements, and positive contributions. The assembly featured the “Character Strong” character trait student awards for perseverance, as well as familynominated staff awards and staff awards for perseverance—showcasing Cardinal pride and encouraging everyone to continue striving for their best.
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Excellence in Eudora
Middle
School
EMS YEP Club Empowers Students and Builds Community
The Eudora Middle School Youth Empowerment & Prevention (YEP) Club has been busy fostering leadership, promoting kindness, and raising awareness around mental health and healthy lifestyles. YEP is a youth-led organization with chapters in Baldwin, Eudora, Lawrence, and Perry-Lecompton middle and high schools. Its mission is to empower students to create positive change within their schools and communities while learning about leadership, substance misuse prevention, suicide prevention, teen dating violence prevention, and mental health promotion.
This past fall, the EMS YEP Club held bi-monthly meetings before school to plan and lead meaningful activities for their peers:
• October – Anti-Bullying/ Positive Friends Campaign: Students set up a table at lunch, invited peers to sign an anti-bullying
pledge, and handed out bracelets with positive messages.
• Red Ribbon Week: YEP! partnered with STUCO to sponsor a door-decorating competition aligned with the year’s theme and provided prizes for the winning class doors.
• November – World Kindness Day: Club members prepared candy bags with the message, “In a World Where You Can Be Anything, Be Kind,” and handed them out to students while wearing kindnessthemed shirts.
• December – Community Building Event: YEP! helped sponsor a spirit day during the last middle school girls’ basketball game, working with the PEP Club to provide popcorn for attendees and promote positive community relationships.
On February 10, 2026, Youth Mental Health Day, EMS YEP students traveled to Topeka, Kansas, to collaborate with other groups, learn about mental health supports, and meet with local legislators.
Through these activities, EMS students apply YEPs principles by
Hunger Games
designing projects that promote healthy lifestyles and engaging with peers from their school and beyond. Looking ahead, the club plans a spring event where law enforcement officers will join students during Power Hour, fostering connections and dialogue between students and local officials.
By participating in YEP, EMS students gain various skills, while creating meaningful experiences that strengthen their school and community.
Eudora Middle School students put their budgeting and teamwork skills to the test during the Hunger Games (EMS enrichment program) at Gene’s Heartland Foods on Friday, January 30, 2026. Each group worked with a $250 budget to shop for nutritious items to donate to the Eudora Food Pantry, racing against the clock to stock the shelves with healthy, much-needed food for the community.
Labart, DDS, MD
