 Lichelle
Alford
Principal
lalford@usd259.net |
Greetings! I would like
to welcome our returning families as well as our new families to
Buckner.
I am a product of the
Wichita Public School System. I attended Kensler Elementary, Peterson
Elementary, Wilbur Junior High and Northwest High School. To further my
education I attended Friends University, where I received a Bachelor of
Science Degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts Degree in
Teaching. Then I attended Wichita State University where I received a
Master of Education Degree in Educational Administration and
Supervision.
I have been a part of
USD #259 for 15 years. My experiences include: Classroom Teacher,
Learning Coach, Assistant Principal and Principal.
I am married to Darron Alford Sr., who teaches at Spaght
Multimedia Magnet School. I have 3 sons: Myles, Mycah and Darron Jr. |
| Tekisha Collins Secretary
tcollins1@usd259.net |
|
| Gwen Duggins Clerk
gduggins@usd259.net |
|

Jennifer Shanks
ECD 3/4 year-olds
jshanks@usd259.net |
I am so excited to teach Pre-Kindergarten/PKDD at Buckner! We have so
much fun everyday. It is truly an adventure! My husband, Jay, and I are
proud parents of a 2 yr old daughter, Morgan, and our son Wyatt is a PK
student this year at Dunbar! I am also the proud stepparent of our
daughter, Casey, a Goddard High School Freshman |

Laurie Baumun
Para-Educator
lbaumun@usd259.net |
I have been
with the district since 1996. I am married and have three children, James,
Jean, and Jesse. I also have 6 grandchildren!
|
 Patty Morris
Para-Educator
pmorris1@usd259.net |
I have been
with the district since 2003. I am married and have two stepchildren,
Scott and Amy. Scott is working towards a Masters in Human Resources at
Pittsburg State and Amy is a nursing student at Wichita State University.
|
 Michele Fisk
Kindergarten
kfisk@usd259.net |
I have been teaching in the primary grades for over ten years. I love my
work and love the environment at Buckner. I have taught first and second
grade here and this year have moved to kindergarten. I taught
kindergarten for years when I first began teaching. I have a daughter
named Meghan who just graduated and is beginning college. I also have
two dogs named Pearl and Dakota. |
 Lisa Gray
Kindergarten
lgray2@usd259.net |
I have been teaching at Buckner since the
fall of 1989.
I now teach kindergarten.
My own two sons have attended Buckner
beginning in kindergarten even though we live in another school
district,
|
 H. O. Lytle
Kindergarten
hlytle@usd259.net |
I have been a
teacher at Buckner since 1989. I have taught 3rd, 2nd, & 1st grades. For the past
11 years I have been teaching kindergarten and wouldn't want to change
grade levels for anything. The caring staff, wonderful parents and great
students make Buckner the best school to teach in. I have a son who is
married to Whitney and he is a medical resident in Chicago; another son at KU; and a 3rd son is at Ithaca College in NY. My wife works as a case
manager for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I like to spend my spare time
reading, playing golf, watching sports on TV (too old to play anymore!),
and updating the school's web sites. |
| Melissa Boone 1st Grade
mneeley@usd259.net |
This is my
first year teaching at Buckner, and I am so excited to be a part of this
special school! I taught 2nd grade last year at Pleasant
Valley Elementary, and this is my first year teaching 1st
grade. Having attended OK Elementary, Hadley Middle, and North High
Schools, I am proud to be working in the Wichita Public School system.
I graduated from Friends University two years ago and just got married
over the summer. I love teaching and have wanted to be a teacher since
preschool! Every day is an adventure, and I know this will be a great
school year. |
 Catherine Clark
1st Grade
cclark@usd259.net |
Buckner feels like family to me. I have enjoyed teaching here since
1991. I have always taught in the primary grades. I love teaching both 1st
and 2nd. I am able to enjoy the same students for 2 years. It
is so exciting to see the growth both academically and socially. The
only down side is when I have to let them go to 3rd grade. I
can’t imagine myself anywhere else! The staff, students and parents are
wonderful. |
 Erika Roberts
1st Grade
eroberts@usd259.net |
I
have been teaching at Buckner for four years. My first three years were
spent teaching third grade. This year however, I am currently working
with the fourth grade team. It's a real joy to teach at a performing
arts school. The students are all so talented and really work hard to
put on a good show ! This year I'm experiencing Buckner in a new way (as
a parent). My son Adrian is attending kindergarten here with Mrs.
Barnes.
|
| Katina Asmani 2nd Grade
kasmani@usd259.net |
|

Micheala Kambui
2nd Grade
mkambui@usd259.net |
I have taught at Buckner since 2003. I'm
proud to be a part of the Buckner staff. I enjoy looping with my
students, teaching them in 1st grade and then again in 2nd.
My class feels like my second family by the end of 2nd grade!
In my spare time I love to read and watch my son Mateo play football and
basketball. |
 Kim Taylor
2nd Grade
ktaylor2@usd259.net |
I've
taught first and second grade at Buckner for eleven years. I love both
grade levels and I especially love that I "loop" with students (keep the
same students for two years). It's incredible the amount of academic and
personal growth I see in two years time. I also love this age of students
because they're beginning readers and it's exciting to see the reading
process develop and flourish. |
 Alex Hogan
3rd Grade
ahogan@usd259.net |
This is my first year
officially teaching at Buckner, although I have been around for 2
years in several capacities: Co-op student, then student teacher with
Ms. Venable, then as a long-term sub for Mrs. Piros while on maternity
leave. I'm so excited to be here for another year!
I love to dance, watch
KU basketball games (Jayhawk alumn), and spend time with my new
husband; we got married in Florida in June! I have one Maine Coon cat
that acts more like a dog, two large fish tanks, and two finches.
Sophie, the cat, tries so hard to get all of them!
Buckner is a great
school and I can't wait to see the spectacular productions this year!
|
 Kelli Miller
3rd Grade
kmiller1@usd259.net |
This is my 12th year teaching in Wichita. I have taught
grades K-3. I am currently in the last years of my master’s program at
WSU. I recently finished my middle school math endorsement. I am
married with 2 children, ages 6 and 7. We live on a “farm” in Augusta.
We currently have 5 horses, 2 llamas,2 goats, 1 sheep, 3 dogs and 4
rabbits.
|
 Gale Worrell
3rd Grade
gworrell@usd259.net |
This is my 11th year in the Buckner community and my 34th year of
teaching. Most of those years were spent with third graders. I have also
taught 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and blends of 2/3 and 3/4 . It is my pleasure
to teach 3rd graders again this year. They are a special, fun group.
They come to school well on their way to making sense of the world
around them as they see it. I am eager to help each child work to find
information that makes him or her think about how that new information
fits into what is already known. I hope to help each child become a
Buckner star who sparkles with enthusiasm for learning and reflects an
image of personal progress and success. I am married; my husband sells
cement. We live in Wichita and have two grown daughters. I have a
grandson and a granddaughter and a bouncing German shorthair pointer. |
_small.JPG) Roxanne Moncure
4th
Grade
rmoncure@usd259.net |
This is my first year here at Buckner and I
am so excited to be working with such a dynamic group of students and
staff. I have lived in St. Louis, MO most of my life and just recently
moved to Wichita. I have taught sixth grade and fourth grade over the
past six years. I know this year will be an adventure as I learn a new
staff, new students, a new curriculum, and a new city.
|
| Carla Jacobs 4th Grade
cjacobs@usd259.net |
|
| Scott Torline 4th Grade
storline1@usd259.net |
|
 Lucas Rodriguez
5th Grade
lrodriguez@usd259.net |
My
name is Lucas Rodriguez IV or Mr. R. This is my 13th year here
at Buckner Elementary. Most of the time, I have either taught 3rd,
4th or 5th grade. I am currently the Site Technology
Coordinator here at Buckner also. I have lived in and gone to school in
Wichita all of my life. I have gone to OK Elementary, Hadley Jr. High,
and Wichita North. I received my teaching degree from Kansas Newman
University. I have completed my Masters degree from Wichita State
University. I am married and I have 3 kids (2 boys and 1 girl). I love
sports especially Baseball and Soccer. |
|
 Carla Venable
5th Grade
cvenable@usd259.net |
I have
been with the Buckner family since 1996. I was hired with USD 259 in
1993. Coming to Buckner was always my dream. I love the arts and feel it
is such a vital part of our education. Outside of teaching, I stay very
busy with our Latchkey program and my lawn mowing business of 11 years!
During the summer I enjoy my pool and playing poolside games! My most
challenging children are Webster, Chester, and Bootsie my cats.
|

Brenda Taylor
Inter-related
btaylor2@usd259.net |
This is my second year as the Interrelated Teacher here at Buckner. I’m
very excited to be here! Before moving to Kansas, I taught Special
Education in the West Memphis School District for three years and in the
Blytheville School District for two years. I received my formal training
at Cameron University in Lawton, OK Bachelor of Science degree in Human
Ecology/Sociology) and at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR
(Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of
Science degree in Special Education). I have been teaching Special
Education for the past 7 years. Teaching individuals with disabilities
is a very rewarding profession. I love what I do and I am looking
forward to many years to come here at Buckner! |
 Jennifer
Robinson
Para-Educator
jrobinson1@usd259.net |
This is my fourth year working as a para
for Buckner. But, I have volunteered and been a part of the Buckner
Family since 1997 when my oldest son Will began kindergarten here. I
have three sons (who have now graduated from Buckner), a husband Fritz,
2 dogs, 2 cats, 3 fish & 3 gerbils! I am a graduate of Friends
University with a degree in Art Education. |

Shirley Langford
Para-Educator
slangford@usd259.net |
I have been with the Buckner staff for 12
years and love my work and my students. Teaching in Special Education
over the past several years has been very rewarding and has led me to
open a Saturday Afternoon Reading Tutoring School. I have been tutoring
for the past 6 1/2 years. I graduated from the University of Central
America, Kansas City, Missouri with a Doctor of Philosophy in Christian
Education in 1993. |
| Kristin
Garrett LRE
Classroom Aid |
|
| Dione
Scott LRE
Classroom Aid |
|
| Deborah Wallis
LRE Classroom Aid/Lunch Aid
dwells2@usd259.net |
|
 Andrea Piros
Gifted Resource
apiros@usd259.net |
This is my 16th year teaching with USD 259 and Buckner! I began my
career at Buckner teaching 3rd and 4th grades. Realizing an imminent
need for an "in-house" gifted program, I worked with a team of teachers
to write a proposal and Buckner was awarded a program. We have been
going strong for 10 years! I have a Master's Degree in Special
Education, with a specialized certification in Gifted Education from WSU.
Gifted Education, as well as advocating for gifted children is truly my
passion. Additionally, I have been married for 16 years to my husband
Don. We have two beautiful children; Hannah is 7 years old and attends
2nd grade at Buckner and our son Sawyer is 18 months old. |
 Sarah Bishop-Jones
Dance
sbishop@usd259.net |
This is my second year of
working for USD 259 and Buckner. I have taught at WSU, Children's Theater,
Movement Authority here in Wichita, and other places in Texas and in
Chicago. I graduated from Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts in Boston
Mass.. I am a performer, choreographer and teacher of all grade levels. I
have also been to France as a U.S. delegate and to Italy to dance. Greece,
Macedonia, and Bulgaria are countries I have also visited for cultural
studies. I love music, theater, and traveling. |
 Mat Buckingham
Art
mbuckingham@usd259.net |
I have been an elementary art teacher in USD 259 since 1989. During
that time, I have been fortunate to work with many students in a number
of different schools throughout the Wichita area. The Buckner Performing
Arts School has been my “home” since 1993. |
| Kathy Brown Art |
|
 Denise Jackson-Simon
Drama
djackson@usd259.net |
I have been teaching Drama at Buckner since it became a
performing arts magnet in 1993. I have taught in the regular
classroom in Grades 4, 5 and Kindergarten at McCormick and Colvin Schools. My first
year was teaching an interrelated class at Kensler. I also worked one
year as an artist in residence at three middle schools. I love teaching
Drama at Buckner the most!!! |
_small.JPG)
Mary Price
Music
mprice@usd259.net |
I
have been teaching at Buckner for two years. I have taught in USD259
for 5 years and previously taught in Arizona for 13 years. I received my
M.A. degree from the University of Iowa. I have 4 children, 2 boys and
2 girls, 4 dogs and 1 cat. I love my family, animals and teaching music.
Buckner is a rewarding place to teach. The students here are wonderful
as is the entire staff. I love using the Orff process and the Kodaly
method when teaching Buckner students. My goal is to create music
individuals through singing, moving, playing, listening to, and reading
music. I love teaching at Buckner! |
| Lauren Hirsch Music |
|
| Chad Mickey
Strings |
|
 Sondra Oler
PE
soler@usd259.net |
I have
taught physical education in the district 18 years. Prior to coming to
Buckner I was at Lawrence Elementary for 13 years. I have organized,
choreographed, and directed many all-school programs; therefore I am
thrilled to be at Buckner. The students and staff are awesome! As well
as teaching the students many sports skills, I feel it is very important
to instill a love of being active. I try to be a role model to show how
important exercise is throughout your lifetime. I am married and have
three sons. Trey, my youngest is in 1st grade here a Buckner.
My middle child, Brock, is a sixth grader at Goddard. My oldest, Craig, is a
student at WSU working toward a degree in Graphic Arts. |
| Karl Ely PE |
|
| Susie Lee Counselor
rlee@usd259.net |
|
Ursula Wilson
Psychologist
uwilson@usd259.net |
I am the school psychologist here at Buckner, and I am here for 3 days a
week. This is my 4th year at Buckner, and I have really enjoyed seeing
the amazing things the students can do through the performing arts. I am
also assigned to Earhart Environmental Magnet, and I help at other
schools around the district. This is my 9th year working for USD 259,
and I have really enjoyed working with elementary aged students. My
husband also works for the school district, and we have two wonderful
children. Our daughter attends Buckner for kindergarten this year, and
our son is now 4 months. In my spare time, I enjoy exercising,
gardening, watching movies or any activity that I can do with my family.
|
Debbie Wilson
Social Worker
dwilson3@usd259.net |
I began working as a school social worker
at Buckner Elementary in the fall of 2005. I received my master's degree
in social work from Wichita State University in 2002 and have enjoyed
working primarily with children and families since then. I have 3
children: daughters, Danielle, age 21 and a senior in college, Kaylee,
age 18 and beginning college in December, 2007, and a son, Ian, age 12,
a 7th grader who is playing football this year for Maize Middle School.
I enjoy reading, music concerts, traveling and spending time with my
family and friends. I look forward to another year working with the
Buckner team to provide a great learning environment for all of our
students! |
| Addie York Speech
ayork@usd259.net |
I am very excited to be beginning my first year here at Buckner. I will
also be the Speech-Language Pathologist for Brooks Middle School. I have
lived in Wichita for three years with my husband Brian, who also works
for the district and our pug named Brutus. We also have a recent
addition to the family, our 7 week old son Kyson who has been such a
joy. I look forward to having a great year! |
|
_small.JPG)
Hazel Walls Nurse
hwalls@usd259.net |
I
have been in the district since 1993. I have been at several schools
all around the city. Before that I worked the hospital and was a
critical care nurse specialist and worked Emergency and had a
stretch with diabetic patients. As you can see nursing has been my
gig for a few years. The students, teachers and parents usually
call me Nurse Hazel. I DO LOVE THE Kido’s, they are great.
I have been married all my life (child bride for sure!!) My husband
is a saint. I have a Daughter and a granddaughter. If I had known
how wonderful granddaughters were I would have just skipped the
daughter part for sure… I am very glad to be here a Buckner.
|
| Lori Warren Librarian
lwarren@usd259.net |
|
|
LaDonna Ingram
Food Service
lingram@usd259.net |
|
 Gloria Gadson
Food Service/Latchkey
ggadson@usd259.net |
|
 Larry
Collins
Custodian (Day)
mailto:lcollins1@usd259.net |
I started working for USD 259
in April of 2003 as a custodial aid. Then in September of that year I went
full time. I have worked at Buckner during this time. Previously I worked
for Koch Fiberglass/Smith Fiberglass Systems for over 29 years. I have
been married for over 29 years and have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. |
_small.JPG) Marshall Turner
Custodian (Night)
mturner1@usd259.net |
|
| Bob
Jimenez Custodian (Part-time) |
|
 Carla Venable
Latchkey Director
cvenable@usd259.net |
I am
been with the Buckner family since 1996. I was hired with USD 259 in
1993. Coming to Buckner was always my dream. I love the arts and feel it
is such a vital part of our education. Outside of teaching, I stay very
busy with our Latchkey program and my lawn mowing business of 11 years!
During the summer I enjoy my pool and playing poolside games! My most
challenging children are Webster, Bootsie and Chester, my cats. |
 Denise Jackson-Simon
Latchkey Assistant
djackson@usd259.net |
|
 Elizabeth Walker
Latchkey
ewalker@usd259.net |
I have been
working for USD 259 since September of 1986. My 21 years have all been at
Buckner Elementary School. I have always enjoyed taking care of children.
I have been married for 47years and have 4 children. I attended L'Ouverture, Mathewson, and East High here in Wichita. |