Auburn-Washburn USD 437

Earlier this week, members of the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation made the rounds, distributing surprise checks to educators across the district! Nearly 60 grants were awarded, totaling more than $50,000. Every school received some level of support for innovative projects and initiatives, including early literacy kits, coding robots, interactive technologies, and more! We are deeply grateful to the Foundation and its volunteer leaders, who spend countless hours planning, fundraising, and reviewing applications to make programs like this possible. Their passion and commitment helps keep Auburn-Washburn a place where students and educators thrive.

We’re proud to announce that Washburn Rural Middle School has been recognized as a Kansas Green School and was awarded the Silver Globe Award by the Kansas Association for Conservation & Environmental Education! The Silver Globe Award recognizes schools that go beyond environmental awareness and take measurable, student-led action to improve their campus and community through sustainability, conservation, and environmental investigations. Green Club Advisor and ESTEEM Program Facilitator, Kathryn Louderback, shared the following with members of the Board of Education on Monday night: "This recognition is a direct result of the work of our students and school community. They led recycling drives, collected over 1,000 pounds of plastic film, conducted environmental investigations, completed citizen science projects like monarch tagging, and achieved positive outcomes in our school learning community. We were able to achieve this recognition through partnerships and collaborations within the school, with the help of STUCO, cafeteria staff, custodial support, and classroom teacher participation. These efforts not only helped our school become more sustainable but also empowered our students to become leaders and problem-solvers." Congratulations on being named one of the top environmental education schools in Kansas!

The Auburn-Washburn Board of Education invites you to share your voice in the search for our next superintendent! Please consider joining us at one of the following in-person meetings: 📆 Mon., Oct. 20 at 5:15 PM | Washburn Rural Middle School 📆 Wed., Oct. 22 at 6:00 PM | Washburn Rural North Middle School 📆 Thur., Oct. 23 at 6:00 PM | Washburn Rural High School 📆 Wed., Oct. 29 at 6:30 PM | Shuler Education Center In addition to these in-person meetings, please consider participating in our online survey, which gives every stakeholder an opportunity to share their input on the qualities most important in our next leader: https://lnkd.in/g_DGrU62. Your voice matters in shaping the future of Auburn-Washburn. Thank you for joining us in this critical process as we work together to ensure a bright future for our students and community.

Following more than three decades of service in public education, Superintendent Dr. Scott McWilliams has announced his plans to retire, effective July 31, 2026.   Dr. McWilliams joined Auburn-Washburn in 2015 after a distinguished career serving as a mathematics teacher, assistant principal, principal, and executive director of human resources.   As superintendent, he has guided Auburn-Washburn through a decade of remarkable growth and achievement. In April 2022, he led the passage of a $145 million bond election, which paved the way for transformational construction projects across the district. Under his leadership and guidance, Auburn-Washburn has expanded its early childhood education program, opened a second middle school, and launched the Innovation Center at Washburn Rural High School to broaden career and technical education opportunities for students.   In a message to staff and families, Dr. McWilliams reflected on his time as superintendent. “Serving as your superintendent has been the honor of a lifetime. Over the past eleven years, we’ve faced challenges none of us could have imagined and celebrated milestones that have shaped the identity of this district. Through it all, we’ve remained grounded in what makes Auburn-Washburn so special: collaboration, respect, open communication, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child.”   To read more about Dr. McWilliams' announcement, visit https://lnkd.in/g5Mj7cjG.

Today marks a new era in the Auburn-Washburn district, as teachers and students embark on the first day of classes at Washburn Rural North Middle School! https://lnkd.in/gZr5SRC5

Our 2025 New Staff Academy kicked off this morning, bringing together passionate educators for two days of collaboration, connection, and preparation. From exploring our district’s mission and values to diving into essential tools and practices, we’re equipping our newest team members for a strong start to the upcoming year. Please join us in welcoming nearly 70 new members to our Auburn-Washburn team! 💙

BIG NEWS! The Board of Education has just approved major changes to Auburn-Washburn's bus driver and paraprofessional compensation! Now is a great time to join our team, and here's why: 👉 Increased starting wage for bus drivers, with additional pay for relevant experience 👉 A new experienced-based pay ladder for paraeducators, which gives credit for prior relevant experience 👉 Open positions are also available for crossing guards, teachers, substitutes, custodians, and more 👉 Enroll your children in USD 437 schools, even if you live outside the district 👉 Receive health insurance benefits for full-time positions 👉 Enjoy flexible hours where you can pick your days to work and have summers off If you’ve been considering a new opportunity, now's the time! Apply today at careers.usd437.net.

These outstanding members of our transportation team represented Auburn-Washburn earlier this month at the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association Safe Driving Competition. Affectionately known as the Bus 'Road'eo, this event brings together the top drivers from across the state to test their skills through a closed-course competition and written safety exams. Our team came home with some impressive hardware: 3rd place – Safe Driver Team Category: Anna Cooper, Sue Carrick, and Stephanie Johns 3rd place – Experienced Conventional: Stephanie Johns To qualify for state, these drivers first excelled at the Eastern Regional competition in March, winning the following awards: 1st place – Experienced Conventional & Overall Top Score: Anna Cooper 1st place – Rookie Conventional: Sue Carrick 2nd place – Experienced Conventional: Frank Kent 3rd Place – Experienced Conventional: Stephanie Johns Congratulations to these drivers for their award-winning performances! Interested in joining our team? We're looking for dedicated professionals to get our students to and from school safely. Apply online today at careers.usd437.net.

Hot off the press! The latest edition of School News is on its way to your mailbox! Inside, you’ll find: 🏆 Award-winning student and staff achievements ✂️ A look inside the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Washburn Rural North Middle School 📚 Highlights from every school in the district 🛠️ Construction updates and future plans 📆 Key back-to-school dates and registration information Can't wait for your mail to arrive? A digital version is available now at https://lnkd.in/gc2MsYPJ.

It was a great year! From state championships to academic honors, Auburn-Washburn continues to set the standard.