Congratulations to SFT’s 2024-2025 Trailblazers of the Month!
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the winner of the March 2025 Trailblazer of the Month Award: Ms. Kellie Atkinson!
Ms. Atkinson is a treasured third-grade teacher who is praised by students, families and colleagues for her unparalleled warmth, unwavering patience and undeniable effectiveness in the classroom.
“We are so blessed to have Kellie Atkinson at our school. She is loved by so many students, past and present,” said one nominator. “Kellie has such a calm nature and is so patient. I have known her awhile and I can’t think of one time when I have heard her complain. She is gentle and nurturing, compassionate and caring, and deeply cares about her students and co-workers.”
As with any grade level, students enter third grade with individual needs, evolving emotions, and personal nuances. Ms. Atkinson receives all students with grace and understanding and helps them continue finding their way towards their best selves.
“Our daughter was struggling with anxiety during her year with Ms. Atkinson, and Kellie helped our daughter work through it, with compassion, patience, and care,” said one dad. “Kellie was instrumental in helping us turn what could have been a very difficult year into one that my daughter would say has been one of her favorite years. Ms. Atkinson clearly connects well with her students, and truly cares about them. We are so fortunate to have her at SFT!”
Parents aren’t the only admirers of Kellie Atkinson, though. Her colleagues simply cannot say enough good things about her either.
“Ms. Atkinson is not just an amazing educator; she is a mentor to her colleagues,” said one fellow teacher. “Beyond her knowledge and expertise, Ms. Atkinson creates an environment where it’s okay to make mistakes, to ask questions, and to be yourself. She approaches learning with warmth and compassion and deepens the desire for learning. She is a team player and always willing to do what it takes to make SFT a great place to be. We are lucky to have her.”
In the words of another colleague, “Kellie is a true gem and one of the most caring people I know. She is not only an exceptional educator but also a joy to teach alongside. Kellie approaches challenges with creativity and has a remarkable ability to meet the unique needs of her students while making learning meaningful. Over the years, she has taken the lead in implementing various curriculums and programs, providing invaluable support to fellow teachers — a contribution that has had a lasting impact on SFT students. Her passion for building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues is evident, and she has a natural gift for fostering a sense of community. Kellie is the kind of person who makes every day brighter!”
And, to be sure, Ms. Atkinson is equally adored by the people who she shows up for every single day—her students, both former and current.
One former student, who Ms. Atkinson taught years ago when she was a kindergarten teacher at a different SMSD school, had this to say about this remarkable educator: “I had Ms. Atkinson 17 years ago when I first started kindergarten in SMSD. From that moment on, she has had such an impact on my life. I’ve been able to stay in touch with her throughout the years and she has been a guiding light in my journey to also becoming a teacher. Thank you, Ms. Atkinson for being one of the first teachers to spark a love for teaching in me. I am forever grateful to have had you all those years ago!”
A mom of a more recent student said, “Kellie remains, hands down, one of my 6th grader’s “All Time Best” teachers. Simply put, straight from the source, ‘Ms. Atkinson was just the best!’”
The mom continued, “Her ability to maintain a balance in her classroom while meeting both individual and classroom levels of learning was particularly helpful to us. Kellie has a deep care for the personal and academic growth of each of her students, and allows them to be uniquely themselves while learning classroom behavior. We are grateful for her!”
Ms. Atkinson’s warmth, inclusiveness and effectiveness as a teacher really shine through in all the remarks people shared about her.
“She always has a smile on her face and is so approachable. She truly is one of those people that makes every student feel important and that they matter,” said a nominator. “She continues to learn how to become a more effective teacher through various professional development courses. Ms. Atkinson does a great job of differentiating her learning to help each student succeed and reach goals at their own pace.”
This year is Ms. Atkinson’s 17th year teaching at Santa Fe Trail, where she has taught both first and third grades. Prior to joining SFT, she taught for 6 years at a different SMSD school. In addition to her time in the classroom, she also is a co-sponsor of STUCO, a role she has held for many years. She also serves on SFT’s Building Leadership Team, and she has also served on the SMSD ELA cadre for the past several years.
Sadly for the SFT community, Ms. Atkinson is moving out of town at the end of this school year. While we are truly happy for her and wish her the very best as she embarks on her new adventure, we are crestfallen to know these are our last few months of getting to soak up all her goodness at Santa Fe Trail.
In the words of one appreciative parent, “Kellie has a beautiful ability to help each kid feel seen, across all personalities and academic differences. My daughter loved her time in 3rd grade, and SFT will miss Kellie next year!”
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the winner of the February 2025 Trailblazer of the Month Award: Ms. Renee McCracken!
Ms. McCracken is a long-tenured special education teacher who is known for her compassion, patience and effectiveness in helping students with unique needs truly flourish at SFT.
“Ms. McCracken is genuinely passionate about serving special needs students. She is kind, selfless, generous of time and spirit, and truly sees gifts in children that others do not,” said one nominator.
For children with special needs who face challenges paying attention at school—or even attending school in the first place—Ms. McCracken finds ways to break through those challenges and pull out the best in these students.
“Ms. McCracken welcomed our son, new to the district this year, with open arms and a warm heart. She nurtured him through challenging days and reminded him of his worth,” the nominator continued. “We saw tremendous growth, including a renewed openness to school. The road remains bumpy at times, but Ms. McCracken is [our son’s] steadfast source of balance and support, reliably present for him, as she is for so many others, to help steer him back on course.”
Students with special needs are, of course, not a monolith, and each student requires individualized attention and a learning plan that will suit their personal and educational circumstances. Ms. McCracken delivers just that.
“She is hands-down the kindest, most forgiving, most positive-minded individual I have ever met. She is passionate about teaching special needs kids, and for the past 28-29 years, she has made it her life’s work to ensure that the district’s most marginalized and struggling students get the best education she can give.”
In addition to her teaching skills, parents, students and colleagues also appreciate Ms. McCracken for many admirable personality traits.
As one nominator said, “She is resilient and devoted. Day after day, she enters the classroom with a positive mindset, which she then instills in her students. She is humble and modest. She is funny and kind. Ms. McCracken’s refreshing and forgiving approach to education has changed students’ lives, including those in her class currently.”
This year is Ms. McCracken’s 21st year as a special education teacher at Santa Fe Trail, and her 22nd year in the teaching profession. Prior to earning her teaching credentials, she had worked for years as a paraprofessional. In addition to her one-on-one and group instruction with students, she also is part of an outstanding team of special education teachers who work together to strategically meet the needs of each student.
In the words of one appreciative parent, “Renee McCracken is an absolute gem. She has left a lasting impression on our son and on our own lives. We will forever be indebted to her for seeing the positive in [our son] when others could not. Her instruction has positively influenced our son, as well as our family. Ms. McCracken is a true SFT trailblazer and a one-of-a-kind teacher. Her students are blessed to have her in their lives, and SFT is a better place with her here!”
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the winner of the November 2024 Trailblazer of the Month Award: Mrs. Theresa “Terry” Welsh-Owara!
As an invaluable special education resource teacher at SFT, Mrs. Welsh-Owara is known for her extensive expertise, her uncommon compassion and her disarming disposition. In her role, she specializes in helping students who face a wide variety of challenges within the framework of traditional classroom instruction.
In the words of one nominator, “Mrs. Welsh-Owara brings many teaching gifts to our school. She works with students whose brains learn differently, specializing in teaching methods for students with Dyslexia and other learning differences. She takes the time to get to know her students, which is so important for students who have Individual Education Plans (IEPs).”
Parents, guardians, students and colleagues appreciate the care with which Mrs. Welsh-Owara goes about her work. As another contributor said, “She is kind, patient, experienced and helps students grow and reach their full potential. She is an amazing advocate for students, linking teachers, staff and parents/guardians together to foster success. She is reliable and communicative and a friendly face we are so lucky to have at SFT!”
Mrs. Welsh-Owara’s broad experience with working with students in need of behavior interventions has been invaluable to untold numbers of students and their families. One parent whose child has worked with her for several years said, “Mrs. Welsh-Owara is the perfect combination of loving and caring, mixed with guidance, positivity, and regulation. If a child is unregulated and planting their feet in the ground, she knows just how to handle them and how to get them back on track. I love how she provides kids with a couple different choices instead of just telling the child what they need to do. That makes a huge difference, especially when a child is unregulated and is not going to respond to orders. Her sweet demeanor resonates well with the children and parents!”
Many parents speak of the immeasurable difference Mrs. Welsh-Owara has made in their child’s ability to learn the subject matter and flourish in the classroom. Because her students’ needs are so diverse, it’s imperative that she individualizes each student’s learning plan, which she does deftly and carefully.
“Her ability to know and understand the complex learning differences of each student she works with is critical in helping students achieve their highest learning potentials,” one nominator said. “She is patient, kind and creative in her work with students.”
Yet another impactful trait of Mrs. Welsh-Owara’s is her outstanding attention to incentivizing students’ progress and celebrating their hard work. And she is mindful about helping parents/guardians figure out how to do the same so they can best support their own child through the challenging times.
One parent’s testimonial read, “Terry has worked with my son since 2nd grade and she has been nothing short of amazing. He truly would not be where he is today if it weren’t for her; she has had a HUGE impact on his growth. She pushes the kids to work hard, but also shows them their hard work pays off with rewards. She is a wealth of knowledge and held our hand through some processes we were unfamiliar with. Terry also has been awesome at reaching out to let us know when goals are met or exceeded, which gives us the opportunity to celebrate those wins at home.”
This is Mrs. Welsh-Owara’s 10th year as a resource teacher at Santa Fe Trail, and her 43rd year in the profession. In addition to her one-on-one and group instruction with students, she also is part of the school’s building leadership team and she’s SFT’s representative for the National Education Association. Colleagues appreciate her thoughtfulness and her consistent contributions to the collegial camaraderie among teachers and staff, including baking treats for professional development days and helping plan celebrations like baby showers and wedding showers for coworker-friends.
As one SFT leader said, “Terry is always calm and positive and will assist when opportunities arise, and she volunteers to go above and beyond.”
PTA is grateful to Mrs. Welsh-Owara for her and her family’s ongoing support of the annual auction fundraiser and our other student-focused initiatives. Her commitment to her students and to the school shows up in countless ways, including many days staying late at school, working long after the students have gone home.
In the words of one appreciative parent, “Mrs. Welsh-Owara just keeps showing up for student after student, family after family. She is making a difference in so many lives that will affect many people for years to come!”
Congratulations, Mrs. Terry Welsh-Owara, our November 2024 Santa Fe Trail Trailblazer of the Month! Mrs. Welsh-Owara was presented with a certificate, flowers and the privilege of parking in the Trailblazer of the Month parking spot in the upper SFT parking lot. We are so grateful for all she does for the students and families of Santa Fe Trail!
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the esteemed winner of the October 2024 Trailblazer of the Month Award: Mrs. Becca Nely!
As a longtime fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Nely is a fan-favorite among current and past students and their families. She is described as warm, attentive and patient and she is also adept at holding students to a character-building high standard. She has a way of making school enjoyable—even for students who struggle to enjoy school.
As one contributor said, “She builds great relationships with all students and partners with them to grow and develop. She is a team player and develops plans for each of her students to target maximum growth. We are very glad she is part of our SFT family.”
Mrs. Nely’s ability to acknowledge, appreciate and affirm a student’s full, well-rounded self is valued by many, including this nominator: “Mrs. Nely created an incredible year for our daughter. Her early education in child psychology has created an approach to working with her students that recognizes them as their whole selves. She seeks to understand each student as an individual and incorporates their personal style in her teaching approach. She is patient, kind, and keeps an incredible focus on ensuring the curriculum is absorbed deeply by the student. She outlines clear expectations and holds individual students accountable to those expectations. SFT is lucky to have a teacher as special as Mrs. Nely!”
Another nominator, who is a teacher herself and is familiar with the energy and creativity it takes to be a great educator, had this to say: “Mrs. Nely has been both of my sons’ fourth grade teachers. She is passionate about teaching, she communicates well with parents and is dedicated to the SFT community. My youngest son hasn’t always enjoyed school, and this year, in fourth grade, he loves it! He comes home every day, excited to tell me what he’s learned. He is shining this year, and I can’t help but attribute some of the success to Mrs. Nely. She taught my older son online during Covid. It was an incredibly stressful time for all involved, but she kept her composure and made sure my child was still learning, despite not being able to go to school physically. She is not only tough and resilient, but also kind and loving towards her students. Thank you, Mrs. Nely!”
This is Mrs. Nely’s 9th year as a fourth-grade teacher at Santa Fe Trail and she previously taught the same grade at Apache Elementary, making this her 13th year in the Shawnee Mission School District. In addition to masterfully fulfilling her duties in the classroom, she also supports students’ budding leadership skills as the co-sponsor of Student Council, and she is part of the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) coalition. The last few years, she also has provided a summertime learning program for small groups of students in her own driveway. As residents of Santa Fe Trail’s catchment area themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Nely have a daughter, now a sophomore at Shawnee Mission North, who is a Santa Fe Trail alumna; their son, a graduate of SMN, was a teacher education mentee at SFT in the second- and fourth-grade classrooms during his senior year.
Congratulations, Mrs. Becca Nely, our October 2024 Santa Fe Trail Trailblazer of the Month! Mrs. Nely was presented with a certificate, flowers and the privilege of parking in the new Trailblazer of the Month parking spot in the upper SFT parking lot. We are so grateful for all she does for the Santa Fe Trail community!
The Santa Fe Trail Elementary PTA is delighted to announce the esteemed winner of the inaugural Trailblazer of the Month Award: Ms. Shannon Sells, SLP!
As Santa Fe Trail’s primary speech language pathologist (SLP), Ms. Sells expertly delivers speech therapy services throughout the school. But, man, oh man, she provides so much more than speech and communication support! As one nominator put it, “All behavior is communication.” So, Ms. Sells deftly helps students navigate executive functioning, social skills, phobias and aversions, sensory sensitivities and much more. One nominator explained it was hard to put into words how much Ms. Sells meant to her child and to her family.
“Shannon goes above and beyond her job title and duties. Without her, we would not have survived the last 5 years. I know that sounds like an exaggeration, but it is 100% true.”
When a medical condition caused behavior changes in her child, the nominator says Shannon was their family’s savior. She knew exactly how to help the student with the sudden-onset challenges: anxiety, sensory issues, fears, phobias. And just as importantly, Ms. Sells knew just how to help the rest of their family cope with all of these changes and challenges, too.
“From the beginning, when we were all still figuring out what was going on, and still to this day, Shannon is a source of comfort to our child, a guide and a mentor making sure that our child always has the necessary tools and feels loved and supported. Our child has come a long way and it is thanks to Shannon!”
Ms. Sells is described as a conscientious professional who anticipates school-day or at-home experiences that a child may have trouble with and works with the child ahead of time in an effort to smooth their path. She works around each student’s schedule, she deftly creates data sheets to track progress and she really takes an interest in each child’s success. During the school day, you can find Ms. Sells in her classroom in SFT’s north hallway, working with students one-on-one or in small groups, back-to-back-to-back throughout the school day.
This is Ms. Sells’ 9th year at Santa Fe Trail and her 36th year in the Shawnee Mission School District. In addition to her unparalleled work in direct service to the children in our school, she also delivers early-intervention training for other educators, including Y Care teachers and staff. She serves on the student intervention team (SIT), a coalition of teachers and specialists who put their heads together to strategically support any given student facing notable challenges. Ms. Sells also is a treasured colleague, bringing an energetic and outgoing spirit to work and boosting morale just by being herself. As an additional testament to her dedication to our children and to her work—as if we needed more proof—every school day, Ms. Sells commutes to Overland Park all the way from Lawrence!
To close with the words of one nominator, “There will never be a way that we can truly show Shannon our gratitude. We can only hope that she knows how big of an impact she has made on our lives, and that we will never ever forget her! She means the world to us!”
Congratulations, Ms. Shannon Sells, SLP, September 2024 Santa Fe Trail Trailblazer of the Month! Ms. Sells was presented with a certificate, a bouquet of flowers and the privilege of parking in the brand-new Trailblazer of the Month parking spot in the upper SFT parking lot. We are so grateful for all she does for the Santa Fe Trail community!