Staff Directory

StaffDivision | Team Name

Kansas State Board of Education

(785) 296-3203

Website

Board District Member Name Title Phone
1 Danny Zeck   (913) 683-1836
2 Melanie Haas Chair (816) 226-7728
3 Michelle Dombrosky   (913) 782-1835
4 Ann E. Mah Legislative Liaison (785) 266-9434 - home
(785) 231-0823 - cell
5 Cathy Hopkins   (913) 634-0445 
6 Dr. Deena Horst Legislative Liaison (785) 827-8540 - home
(785) 822-5521 - cell
7 Dennis Hershberger   (620) 931-7459
8 Betty J. Arnold   (316) 684-7792 - home
(316) 259-1610 - cell
9 Jim Porter Vice Chair (316) 617-6779
10 Jim McNiece   (316) 729-9742 - home
(316) 708 5752 - cell
  Deborah Bremer Executive Secretary (785) 296-3203

 

Office of the Commissioner

(785) 296-3202

 Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Dr. Randy Watson Commissioner (785) 296-3202
  Makayla Auldridge Administrative Officer (785) 296-3202
Dale M. Dennis Special Assistant (785) 296-4923
Jake Steel Director, Strategy and Operational Alignment (785) 368-7356

 

 

Communications and Recognition Programs

(785) 296-4950
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Denise L. Kahler Director (785) 296-4876
Angela Deines Communications Specialist (785) 296-7921
Cheryl Franklin Graphic Designer Specialist (785) 296-4909
Brittney Lewis Communications Specialist (785) 296-5223
Tiffany Littler Communications Specialist (785) 296-2551
Tamla Miller PSA (785) 296-4950

 

 

Office of General Counsel

(785) 296-3204

 Website

Name and email  Title Phone
R. Scott Gordon General Counsel (785) 296-3204
Ron Gish Special Investigator (785) 296-3204

 

 

Human Resources

 (785) 296-7795
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Wendy Fritz Director (785) 296-5363
Marisa Seele HR Professional (785) 296-3906
Kaley Taylor Administrative Specialist (785) 296-7795

 

 

Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services

(785) 296-3871
Division Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Dr. Frank Harwood Deputy Commissioner (785) 296-3871
     Sherry Root Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 296-3871
Gabrielle Hull Legislative Coordinator (785) 296-7840

 

 

Child Nutrition & Wellness

 (785) 296-2276
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Kelly Chanay, M.Ed, RDN, LD  Director (785) 296-2276
Karen Campbell Assistant Director (785) 296-2276
Emily Bonilla, MPH Assistant Director (785) 296-2276
      Katy Hatch, M.Ed. Admin. Spec. (785) 296-2276
Arleen Anderson, RD, LD Registered Dietician (785) 296-2276
Kirsten Angell Public Service Executive (785) 296-2276
Abi Boxberger Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Cassie Callaway Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Eryn Davis, RDN, LD Farm to Plate Coordinator (785) 296-2276
Barb Depew, RD, LD Farm to Plate Director (785) 296-0062
Robert Dillman, MS, RD, LD Procurement/FSMC Specialist (785) 296-2276
Angela Dittmer Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Valerie Donelan, MS, RDN, LD Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Diana Floyd Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Jeanie Galemore Senior Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Hilary Hanvey Senior Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Julie Henry Public Service Executive (785) 296-2276
Laura Hodgson Child Nutrition Consultant, Procurement Specialist (785) 296-2276
Dayna Kriley, MS, RD Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Jonathan Miller Body Venture Coordinator (785) 296-2273
Cordell Neely Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Judy Neely Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Alicia Newland Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Lynette Osner, RD Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Jessica Reece, RD, LD Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Pam Rosebaugh PSA (785) 296-2276
Rachel Schiferl, RD, LD Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Karen Seymour, RD, LD Child Nutrition Consultant - FFVP Program Coordinator (785) 296-2276
Holly Steinlage, MPH, RD, LD Professional Development Coordinator (785) 296-2276
Hannah Tillery Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276
Julia Whalen Child Nutrition Consultant (785) 296-2276

 

 

Fiscal Auditing

(785) 296-4976
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Laurel S. Murdie Director (785) 296-4976
     Peggy Hill PSA (785) 296-4976
Hallie Berens Auditor I (785) 296-4976
Lindsey Brown Auditor I (785) 296-4976
Kim Burd Audit Manager (785) 296-6058
Ali Cecchini Auditor I (785) 296-6289
Patrick Falta Auditor I (785) 296-4976
Josh Fairman Auditor II (785) 296-6254
Mandi Gilchrist Auditor I (785) 296-6381
Jessica Gomez Auditor I (785) 296-6329
Joe Haverkamp Auditor I (785) 296-6206
Rick Moen Auditor II (785) 296-6390
Charles Ohlrich Auditor I (785) 296-4976
Jamie Ribordy Auditor III (785) 296-6310
Janis Taylor Auditor IV (785) 296-6221

 

 

Fiscal Services and Operations

 

(785) 296-3264
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
John Hess Director (785) 296-4962
Angie Funk Assistant Director (785) 296-3264
Denise Dallman Accountant III (785) 296-5060
Patricia Henson Accountant (785) 296-8933
Aubrey Keesee Accountant (785) 296-3962
Jamie Merklein Accountant III (785) 296-3674
Angela Rosier Accountant IV (785) 296-0784
Sierra Stanley Accountant (785) 296-0976
Jan Williams PSA (785) 296-3263

 

Information Technology

 (785) 296-7931
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Ryan Kurtenbach Director (785) 296-3399
     Jenni Marlatt PSA (785) 296-7931
Kyle Lord Assistant Director (785) 296-6155
Todd Lowe Assistant Director  (785) 296-7115
Jennifer S. Shaffer Assistant Director  (785) 296-5240
     Anna Stallbaumer Admin. Spec. (785) 296-6829
Christine Armstrong System Software Staff Consultant (785) 296-5711
Trey Austin System Software Staff Consultant (785) 296-1203
Josh Bailey Database Admin. (785) 296-0758
Tammy Blaess Information Systems Manager (785) 296-2316
Sharon Bloom Project Manager (785) 296-3915
Julie V. Cook Information Systems Manager (785) 296-3300
Tristen Cook Tech. Support Consultant (785) 296-8392
Jennifer E. Cook-Miller Project Manager (785) 296-7943
Matt Cortez Requirements Analyst (785) 296-6916
Denise Davis QA Tech. (785) 368-7192
Eric Dehner Tech. Support Consultant II (785) 296-4961
Timothy Enneking Enterprise Security Specialist (785) 296-0950
Christopher Fletcher Information Systems Manager (785) 296-1067
Kevin Fross Enterprise Support Specialist (785) 291-3622
Jennifer Hayes Project Manager (785) 296-6331
Andrew Higgins Tech. Support Consultant II (785) 296-6766
Greg Hiszczynskyj Database Administrator (785) 296-4928
Brian Hosey Information Systems Manager (785) 296-3709
Jason Howe Webmaster (785) 296-3544
Mike Jordan Information Systems Manager (785) 296-1970
Daniel Kalas App. Dev. (785) 296-7778
Shuming Li App. Dev. II (785) 296-7976
Stuart Lillie System Software Staff Consultant (785) 368-7127
Bob Mather App. Dev. II (785) 296-2317
Richard Matteson Information Systems Manager (785) 291-3534
Karen McClintock Tech. Supp. Tech. II (785) 291-0599
Christopher Ortega Sr Trainer (785) 296-6829
Dina Patel App. Dev. II (785) 296-6143
Ian Preston Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 296-0574
Matt Preston App. Dev. II (785) 291-3679
Donna Reinert App. Dev. III (785) 296-1208
Freddy Richter IT Requirements Analyst (785) 296-8438
Phillip Salyer System Software Staff Consultant (785) 368-8040
Tom Tosh Data Coordinator (785) 296-5039
Charlotte J. Walker, CEOE Project Manager/Data Compliance Officer (785) 291-3312
Philip Watkins Tech. Supp. Tech. II (785) 296-5229
Nathan Weedin Tech. Supp. Tech. (785) 296-5084
Jared Wiley Requirements Analyst (785) 296-5080
Benjamin Wolf IT App. Dev. (785) 296-4958
Raymond Zwiener Enterprise Solutions Architect (785) 296-2226

 

 

School Finance


(785) 296-3872
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Dale Brungardt Director (785) 296-3872
     Katie Albright Admin. Spec. (785) 296-3872
Sara McCullah Assistant Director (785) 296-3872
Dessa Gifford PSE (785) 296-4965
Sarah Harter Sr. Admin. Asst. - School Transportation Safety Unit (785) 296-3551
John Calvert Head School Safety Specialist - Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Unit (785) 296-7056
Keith Dreiling State Director - School Transportation Safety Unit (785) 296-4567
Rose Ireland PSA II (785) 296-4973
Melissa Ostermeyer PSA - School Transportation Safety Unit (785) 296-5659
Marcia Ricklefs PSA (785) 296-4209
Dennis Tate PSA - School Transportation Safety Unit (785) 296-4545
Ben Thursby School Safety Specialist - Kansas Safe and Secure Schools Unit (785) 296-4946
Amanda Williams PSA (785) 296-2020

 

Division of Learning Services

(785) 296-2303
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Dr. Ben Proctor Deputy Commissioner (785) 296-2303
     Pat Bone Sr. Admin. Spec. (785) 296-2303
Payton Lynn Public Service Executive (785) 296-8362

 

 

Accreditation and Design

(785) 296-3379

Name and email  Title Phone
Jay Scott Director (785) 296-6818
Myron Melton Assistant Director (785) 296-8110
  Rue Huereca-Retana Admin. Asst. (785) 296-3379
Dr. Amber Miller PSE (620) 765-7490
Jean Rush PSE (785) 296-7884

 

 

Career, Standards and Assessment Services

 

(785) 296-3142
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Beth Fultz Director (785) 296-2267
    Vacant Admin. Spec. (785) 296-3142
Natalie D. Clark Assistant Director (785) 296-4351
    Barbara Bahm Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 291-3538
Dr. Jessica Dorsey Assistant Director (785) 296-3163
    Juanita Anderson Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 296-1978
Julie Ewing Assistant Director (785) 296-2325
     Beverly Victoriano Public Service Adminstrator (785) 296-8447
Stephanie Alderman-Oler STEM Program Manager (785) 296-8108
Amber Boyington TLC - Mathematics/ELL (785) 296-3142
Kevin Bronson EPC (785) 296-6214
Nick Brummet Counselor Leader Coordinator (785) 296-3142
Melissa Brunner TLC - Early Literacy/Dyslexia (785) 296-3142
Kathy Camarena EPC (785) 296-3152
Effie Conway TLC  
Dr. Laurie J. Curtis Early Literacy/Dyslexia Program Manager  (785) 296-2749
Cherryl Delacruz TLC - Mathematics (785) 296-3142
Dr. Tina Ellsworth TLC - HGSS (785) 296-3142
Sarah Evans TLC - STEM (785) 296-3142
Andy Ewing Education Program Consultant (785) 296-3860
Michael Flenthrope TLC (785) 296-3142
Todd Flory TLC (785) 296-3142
LuAnn Fox TLC - ELA (785) 296-3142
Jolene Goodheart-Peterson TLC - Math (785) 296-3142
Jennifer Hamlet STEM Program Manager (785) 296-6823
Jenna Hastert PSA (785) 296-4908
Hailey Hawkinson TLC - Early Literacy/Dyslexia (785) 296-3142
Carrie Hurd PSA (785) 296-2078
Joyce Huser EPC - Fine Arts (785) 296-4932
Mallory Jacobs TLC - Counseling (785) 296-3142
Lee Jones Public Service Executive I, ACT (785) 296-7922
Dr. Robyn Kelso Coordinator (785) 296-3444
Hanna Kemble TLC - CLC (785) 296-3142
Dr. Stephen King EPC (785) 296-7285
Betsy Lawrence TLC (785) 296-3142
Mary Lonker TLC - ELA (785) 296-3142
Nathan McAlister Program Manager - Humanities (785) 296-3142
Noalee McDonald-Augustine TLC (785) 296-3142
Casey Meier TLC - HGSS (785) 296-3142
Sindhuja Mishra Coordinator (785) 296-1859
Solomon Moore, PhD, LPC, NCC TLC  
Casey Peine TLC (785) 296-3142
Chelsea Pelfrey Coordinator (785) 296-0040
Kent Reed EPC - Counseling, SECD, Academic/Behavioral and Technical Integration, Juvenile Justice (SB 367) (785) 296-8109
Denise Scott TLC (785) 296-3142
Xuewen Sheng, Ph.D. Sr. Ed. Research Analyst - Research and Evaluation (785) 368-7435
Taylor Spangler EPC (785) 296-2307
Lara Staker TLC (785) 296-3142
Hayley A. Steinlage Sr. Ed. Research Analyst (785) 296-6177
Mark Stephenson Coordinator - NAEP (785) 296-4926
Helen Swanson EPC - FACS (785) 296-4912
Amy Walker TLC - HGSS (785) 296-3142
Brooke Wells Education Research Analyst (785) 291-3574
Mary T. Williams TLC (785) 296-3142
Blanche Wulfekoetter TLC - HGSS (785) 296-3142

 

 

Early Childhood

(785) 296-6602

Name and email  Title Phone
Amanda Petersen Director (785) 296-6602
     Beccy Strohm Admin. Spec. (785) 296-6602
Stacy Clarke EPC - SICC Coordinator (785) 296-3953
Trevor Huffman Coordinator (785) 296-1944
Natalie J. McClane EPC (785) 296-5081
Lisa Williams Kansas Parents as Teachers Consultant (785) 296-4964

 

Kansas Volunteer Commission

(785) 368-7436

Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Dr. Jessica Dorsey Assistant Director (785) 296-3163
Tierney Kirtdoll Monitoring and Grant Coordinator (785) 368-6211
Haley Matherly Program Development Coordinator (785) 296-5712
Sarah Nelson Traning and Engagement Coordinator (785) 296-7801
Amanda Noll PSA (785) 368-6207
Elaine Rodriguez Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator (785) 368-6232
Katherine Seeley Administrative Specialist  

 

 

Special Education and Title Services


(800) 203-9462 (Kansas Residents Only)
(785) 291-3097

Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Bert Moore Director (785) 296-4949
  Joyce Broils Administrative Specialist (785) 291-3097
Brian Dempsey Assistant Director (785) 296-5522
  Sarah Reed Administrative Specialist (785) 296-4602
Kerry Haag Assistant Director (785) 296-4952
  Alysha Nichols Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 296-6066
  Marissa Hales Sr. Admin. Asst. (785) 296-1222
Twyla Sprouse, PhD Assistant Director (785) 296-6714
Dean Zajic Assistant Director (785) 296-2425
  Sami Reed PSA (785) 296-2134
  Evelyn V. Alden PSA (785) 296-3868
Steve Backman EPC (785) 296-2267
Trish Backman School Mental Health Coordinator (785) 296-6937
Renee L. Brant PSE (785) 296-7077
Nicole Clark Program Consultant II (785) 296-4925
Dr. Crista Grimwood, EdD EPC - Dispute Resolution Coordinator (785) 296-7262
Jennifer Halbhuber Intern  
Pat Hill EPC (785) 296-3137
Joe Jewett Coordinator (785) 296-8337
Lisa Karney EPC (785) 296-6765
Christine Macy Coordinator (785) 296-3287
Stacie Martin PSE/Transition Coordinator (785) 296-6855
Josie McClendon EPC (785) 296-5608
Deborah Newby EPC (785) 296-3388
Stacey Noll Data Coordinator (785) 296-3129
Angela Rice PSE (785) 296-1785
Cary Rogers EPC (785) 296-0916
Emily Scott EPC (785) 296-4941
Kelly Steele Coordinator (785) 296-2050
Maureen Tabasko EPC (785) 296-1101
Melissa Valenza Coordinator (785) 296-8092
Mason Vosburgh Special Education Data Manager (785) 296-4945
Mark Ward, JD Attorney (785) 296-0920
Roxanne Zillinger EPC (785) 296-7260

 

Teacher Licensure

(785) 296-2288
Website

Name and email  Title Phone
Shane Carter Director (785) 296-2289
Catherine Chmidling, Ph.D. Assistant Director - Educator Preparation (785) 291-3573
Tanae Olson PSA (785) 296-5114
Jessica Apodaca PSA II (785) 296-0952
Leslie Bruton Coordinator (785) 296-8011
Christa J. Chesmore Coordinator (785) 296-1105
Cindy Coleman PSA (785) 296-4935
Sarah Eaverson  EPC (785) 296-6712
Cathy Garcia PSA (785) 296-2733
Joel Gillaspie, PhD Coordinator (785) 296-4351
Ed Kalas EPC - KESA (785) 296-2198
Luke McClurg PSA (785) 296-5138
Joe Midgley Licensure Operations Coordinator (785) 291-3371
Nikkolas Nelson Licensure Coordinator (785) 296-2280
Myra Stithem PSA (785) 296-3835
Ann Yates EPC (785) 296-5140

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directory questions:

Phone: (785) 296-3201
Fax: (785) 296-7933

Email Help Desk

Mailing Address:

KSDE
900 S.W. Jackson Street, Suite 102
Topeka, Kansas 66612-1212

Contact List by Subject

 

Abbreviations

AD
Accreditation and Design Team

Admin.
Administrative

AMOSS
A Measure of Student Success

CACFP
Child and Adult Care Food Program

CC
Career Cluster

CLC
Content Literacy Continuum

CNC
Child Nutrition Consultant

CNW
Child Nutrition and Wellness

CRP
Communications and Recognition Programs

Coord.
Coordinator

CSAS
Career, Standards and Assessment Services

CTE
Career and Technical Education 

DFAS
Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services

DLS
Division of Learning Services

EAG
Enhanced Assessment Grant

EC
Early Childhood

Ed.
Education

ELA
English Language Arts

ELL
English Language Learners

EPC
Education Program Consultant

ESL
English as a Second Language

FA
Fiscal Auditing

FACS
Family and Consumer Sciences

FAS
Division of Fiscal and Administrative Services

FCCLA
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America

FCS
Family and Consumer Sciences

FFA
Future Farmers of America

FSMC
Food Service Management Company

FSO
Fiscal Services and Operations

GC
Office of General Counsel

HGSS
History, Government and Social Studies

HR
Human Resources

ICC 
Interagency Coordinating Council

IPS
Individual Plan of Study

IT
Information Technology

KAP
Kansas Assessment Program

KEEP
Kansas Educator Evaluation Protocol

KCCMS
Kansas Course Codes Management System

KESA
Kansas Education Systems Accreditation

KIDS
Kansas Individual Data on Students

KITE
Kansas Interactive Testing Engine

KSBE
Kansas State Board of Education

KS VOL COM
Kansas Volunteer Commission

LiNK
Literacy Network of Kansas - Striving Readers Program

NAEP
National Assessment of Education Progress 

OC
Office of the Commissioner

PE
Physical Education

PSA
Public Service Administrator

PSE
Public Service Executive

QA
Quality Assurance

RE
Research and Evaluation

SECD
Social-Emotional and Character Development

SETS
Special Education and Title Services

SF
School Finance

SICC
Kansas Interagency Coordinating Council

Spec.
Specialist

SPED or SpED
Special Education

Sr.
Senior

SSSU
Safe and Secure Schools Unit

STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

STSU
School Transportation Safety Unit

Tech.
Technology or Technician

TL
Teacher Licensure Team

TLC
Teacher Leader Consultant

Copyright 2024 by Kansas State Department of Education | 900 SW Jackson St. | Topeka, KS 66612 Privacy Statement  |  Terms Of Use  |  System Maintenance Notices  |  Open Records (PDF)

The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)


To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.