Olathe South High School Class of 1991

(Nov. 28, 1972 —              )

Kerry is principal of Olathe East High School, but she began her career in Olathe Public Schools in 1995 as a language arts teacher at California Trail Junior High School. From there, she was assistant principal at Santa Fe Trail Junior High and Olathe North High School, and later principal at Santa Fe Trail. Kerry has served on several district committees and given presentations on poverty at the district, city, state and national levels. In 2015, she was awarded the Kansas Music Educators Association’s Principal of the Year honor. Under her leadership, Olathe East was named KSHSAA Performing Arts School of Excellence for the 2024-25 school year. Kerry has been nominated for the Horizon Award and Kansas State Teacher of the Year. She is a hands-on administrator who remembers the “why” of teaching and education — the success of students. She motivates her staff and holds all students to high expectations. Kerry works with counseling staff to ensure students are enrolled in electives that best suit their passions. She makes an extra effort to make students feel valued. Kerry is intuitive to the needs of her staff and students academically and emotionally and adjusts her interactions and systems to follow.