Raymore-Peculiar announces Teacher and Support Staff Employee of the Year

Brett Beneke is the Teacher of the Year in the Raymore-Peculiar School District and Kelley Weida is the Support Staff Employee of the Year.

Beneke teaches English literature and composition to sophomores and juniors at Ray-Pec High School, where he has spent his entire four-year teaching career. He will be the district’s nominee for Missouri Teacher of the Year.

“He is very kind and supportive and pushes all of his students to be their best,” parent Kim McCauley said in nominating Beneke. “His love of English and literature is truly inspirational to his students. He sends regular email updates to the students and parents. These include a lot of helpful information and guidelines about their current projects, and allows parents to remain in the loop. Not typical at the high school level, but something we very much appreciate.

“His love for what he is doing is reflected in his teaching style and the amount of time and effort he puts into every aspect of his job. Writing is such an important skill that these students will use for the rest of their lives.”

Beneke earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of Kansas and his teaching certification from Avila University. He is pursuing a master’s degree.

Beneke said his most formative job after college was a two-year period in New Jersey working at Happiness is Camping for childhood cancer patients and survivors. That’s where he became interested in teaching, and he later returned to school to be become certified.

Last year, Beneke was selected to participate in a Fulbright Research trip to Rwanda, where he spent a month studying how educational structures and systems were used to rebuild the country after the 1994 genocide. He was able to compare learning strategies while exchanging ideas with educators here and abroad.

“Mr. Beneke is an exceptional teacher who is dearly loved and respected by his students,” Ray-Pec Principal Steven Miller said in a release. “He makes every effort to reach out to each and every one of his students so as to form connections with them on a personal level — thereby giving him an opportunity continually encourage their emotional and educational growth.”

Weida is the administrative assistant at Shull Early Learning Center. She has worked in the district five years as a school secretary and has been the administrative assistant at Shull since the early learning center opened last summer.

Asked how she makes a difference in the district, Weida said in part: “A friend told me that my position should be called the Director of First Impressions. I try to remember that every day — I take the responsibility of this to heart. I am intentional about having a smile on my face when answering the phone or greeting people at the door.

“I believe customer service, making others feel valued, connected and encouraged, is the most important part of my job.”

Weida, a Minnesota native, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and psychology from St. Cloud State University in her hme state. She earned a paralegal certificate from Johnson County Community College.

She also is involved in Pathway to Hope, an organization that helps families through mental-health challenges.

Weida and her husband Rob, who is principal at Peculiar Elementary School, lead “EnCourage,” a support group for parents of children with mental-health issues.

Belton chooses principal for Gladden Elementary

Starting in July, Deanna Feeback will replace Amanda Spight as principal of Gladden Elementary School in Belton.

Feeback, a Belton High School graduate, is now the assistant principal at Mill Creek Upper Elementary School in Belton.

She said she hopes “to bring to our community a continued passion for education and support of student learning” in a release

“I want to continue to build upon the successes we have established and achieved as a district while fostering strong community partnerships in order to promote the social, emotional and academic well-being of Belton School District students.”

Feeeback has earned an education specialist degree in school administration from the University of Central Missouri and a doctorate in school leadership from Baker University.

Spight is leaving Belton for a job in another area school district.

’88 grad gives 3D printer to Drexel

The Drexel School District has a new 3D printer, courtesy of 1988 graduate Carl Fugate.

Fugate is a chief architect at Capgemini, a company that provides technology consulting. He describes himself as someone who with a passion for technology and making things work.

He donated the Monoprice Delta Mini 3D Printer to the district’s technology department, hoping pass along his interest in science and technology.

Company donates gong to Belton band program

Palen Music Center recently donated a 34-inch gong and stand — a $1,170 value — plus $225 in repair credit to the Belton School District’s band program. The district said the gift was a thank-you for the opportunity to provide instruments to beginning band students.

“We truly believe in order for the fine arts to thrive in our schools, it takes a strong partnership between directors, administrators, parents and the music dealer,” Mike Steffen of the Palen Music Center said in a news release. “We are honored to be a part of your growing program and appreciate the opportunity to serve your district.”

Cass Career students will go to SkillsUSA nationals

Four Cass Career Center SkillsUSA students qualified for the national competition in June after earning gold at the state contest in early April.

Three of those students are members of the Crime Scene Investigation team: Belton senior Jenna Wyatt, Belton junior Gabrielle Stoddard and Ray-Pec junior Haley Ohrenberg.

Also going to nationals is Ray-Pec senior Coltin Smith, a firefighting student.

Thirty-five Cass Career Center students participated in the Missouri SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference, which took place April 5-7 in Linn, Mo.

Additional Career Center students earning awards at the conference included Belton seniors Ethan Burton, who earned first place in Welding Technical Information, and Victoria Gurera, who took third in Basic Health Care.

SkillsUSA is a national organization serving students studying for trade, industrial, technical and health occupations.

MAD Dash to benefit Ray-Pec foundation

The Raymore-Peculiar Public School Foundation will present its fifth annual MAD (Make a Difference) Dash 5K Walk/Run the evening of May 4 at Raymore Recreation Park.

Registration opens at 5:45 p.m., and the walk/run begins at 6:30 p.m. The cost, for those who register by April 23, is $15 for adults and $10 for students. Prices go up April 24.

For more information or to register, visit www.raypec.k12.mo.us. Under Departments, click Foundation/Alumni and find the event in a list on the left.

This story was originally published April 18, 2018 at 7:44 AM with the headline "Raymore-Peculiar announces Teacher and Support Staff Employee of the Year."