Buckner Staff

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., and have 3 boys.
Felecia Phillips Secretary fphillips@usd259.net	Welcome back to all of the Buckner families and to the new Buckner families I say “Welcome to Buckner – the best School in Wichita”! I’m so excited to be back another year and in a new position. This is my second year with Buckner and with USD 259. My experience in support staff goes back 15 years; I have a Masters in Human Resource Management from University of Phoenix and been a Human Resource Specialist for Millington Naval Air Station, Yokosuka Naval Base, and Tinker AFB.
Dione Scott Clerk dscott1@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. I’ve taught in the district for 7 ½ years, and PK/PKDD is truly the BEST. Everyday is an adventure! My husband, Jay, and I are proud parents of two daughters and 1 son. I like to spend my free time with family and friends, reading, and relaxing!
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 and Amy is a nursing student..
Lisa Gray Kindergarten lgray2@usd259.net	I began my teaching career at Buckner in 1989. For most of those years, I taught 1st and 2nd grade both in a combination class as well as in a looping situation. I currently teach Kindergarten and I just love it! I have stayed at Buckner all these years for many reasons, but the most important one was the performing arts aspect. I truly believe that the fine arts make a well rounded person and since we are in the business of molding young minds, the performing arts is a perfect match. I believe in the performing arts program so much, my own two sons attended Buckner, although we live in another school district. Performing arts is very important to our family and Buckner is the best place to experience it on a weekly basis!
Melissa Boone Kindergarten mboone1@usd259.net	I feel so blessed to be able to teach at Buckner! I started here in 2008, and I student-taught at Buckner when I was in college. I fell in love with the environment, the staff and the students. Our students have such a unique opportunity to experience quality academic learning infused with the performing arts. Having attended OK Elementary, Hadley Middle, and North High Schools, I am a product of the Wichita school district and am proud to be working in it. Kindergarten is such a special and important time in a child’s life, and I’m excited to be a part of it!
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 who just graduated and is beginning college. I also have two dogs named Pearl and Dakota.
Katina Asmani 1st Grade/Teacher-in-Charge kasmani@usd259.net	I started teaching in 2002 and I have taught first and second grade. I am married with 1 son and 1 daughter. I received my bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University in elementary education and I later went back to school at Friends University and received Masters of School Leadership. I have always wanted to be a teacher and I really enjoy working with children every day!!
Kayla Buckner 1st Grade kbuckner@usd259.net	I am so excited to be teaching at “my” school!!!! Performing arts is my middle name and I can’t wait to get this adventure started. This will be my second year of teaching first grade and I have enjoyed every minute of it. The first four years of my teaching experience have been with kindergarten. I am truly a primary fan!! I love to start the excitement and love of learning. Throughout the first five years of my teaching, I received a Masters in Curriculum & Instruction and a Masters in School Leadership. This will be the first year I am able to come home and spend quality time with my 4 year old daughter; when she’s not too busy with all of her extracurricular activities.
Micheala Kambui 1st Grade mkambui@usd259.net	I have taught at Buckner since 2003. I'm proud to be a part of the Buckner staff. I enjoy teaching 1^stgrade. My class feels like my second family in our home away from home! In my spare time I love to read and watch my son play football.
Catherine Clark 2nd 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 1^st and 2^nd. 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 3^rd grade. I can’t imagine myself anywhere else! The staff, students and parents are wonderful.
Erika Roberts (A.M.) 2nd Grade eroberts@usd259.net	I ‘m originally from Columbus, Georgia. Wichita has been my home for the past 13 years. I am married and have 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl). I began teaching at Buckner in 2002. I have taught grades 1^st thru 4^th. 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. Not only am I a teacher, I’m also a Buckner parent. Two of my children are students at Buckner.
Rebecca Borton (P.M.) 2nd Grade rborton@usd259.net
Kim Konecny 2nd Grade kkonecny1@usd259.net	Buckner has been my “home” since 1998 and there’s no other place I’d rather be! For years I’ve been known at Buckner as Mrs. Taylor but I have a new name due to recently getting remarried. My last name is a little tricky to read/say and I’ve found it’s helpful to show people the phonetic version of my last name: ku ness nee. Hope that helps! My teaching experience has been at the primary level, as I have always taught either 1^st or 2^nd grades. I love both grade levels and love to see students grow academically and socially. It’s very rewarding to see students “shine” in their own unique ways. I am also a Buckner parent as I have two children who attend school here.
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!
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.
Kelli Miller 3rd Grade kmiller1@usd259.net	This is my 12^th 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.
Carla Jacobs 4th Grade cjacobs@usd259.net
Roxanne Holden 4th Grade rmoncure@usd259.net	This is my third year here at Buckner and I am so excited to again be working with such a dynamic group of students and staff. I am again teaching the 4^th grade and I love working with this age group! I moved to Wichita three years ago from St. Louis, where I was raised. I was a teacher in St. Louis for six years before coming to Wichita. I was recently married in June and I love to travel internationally whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I most recently visited South Africa this past summer and had a blast!
Scott Torline 4th Grade storline1@usd259.net	My name is Scott Torline or Mr. T. This is my second year at Buckner Elementary. Previously I have taught fourth, fifth, and G.E.D. to juvenile delinquents. I am the morning and afternoon patrol monitor as well. I grew up in Dodge City, KS where I graduated high school. I earned my teaching degree at Fort Hays State University. I am married with two wonderful daughters. Outside of school I enjoy hunting, fishing and sports.
Carla Venable 5th Grade/Latchkey Director 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.
Lucas Rodriguez 5th Grade lrodriguez@usd259.net	My name is Lucas Rodriguez IV or Mr. R. This is my 13^th year here at Buckner Elementary. Most of the time, I have either taught 3^rd, 4^th or 5^th 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.
Kat Travis 5th Grade ktravis@usd259.net	I grew up in Southern California and decided to become a teacher after leaving the field of Engineering for the job of stay-at-home mom. As an instructional aide I found that teaching was much more exciting than satellite communications. At the age of 34 I started college for the first time and after 9 years of hard work I graduated with a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. I have been teaching for 7 years, 2 years in first grade and 5 years in 5th grade. In my spare time, I play guitar and sing in a folk rock band with my husband of 2 years. We met in a country-western church band in Las Vegas and moved to Wichita 3 years ago. When not playing music the we like to camp at any lake in the area and ride jet skis.
Gina Hamm IR Teacher ghamm@usd259.net
Tanya Penner IR Teacher tpenner@usd259.net
Jennifer Robinson Para-Educator jrobinson1@usd259.net	I have been a part of the Buckner Family since 1997 when my oldest son began kindergarten here. I was a volunteer, tutor and on the site council at various times. In 2004 I became a Para-educator working in the interrelated room helping children with special needs. My husband Fritz and I have three sons (who have all graduated from Buckner). 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.
Brittany Banks LRE Aid/Lunch Aid bbanks1@usd259.net
Adriana Galvez LRE Aid/Lunch Aid agalvez@usd259.net
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; a girl in second grade and an 18 month old son..
Sarah Walden Dance swalden@usd259.net
Susan Hovey Art shovey@usd259
Jacque Junkins Art jjunkins@usd259.net	My name is Jacquelyn Junkins and I am the part-time art teacher at Buckner. My husband and I are from Atlanta Georgia and we moved to Wichita because he is a pilot in the Air Force. I am really excited to be teaching my students the elements and principles of art along with helping them use their art as a way to express themselves.
Denise Jackson-Simon Drama/Latchkey Assistant 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!!!
Mary Price Music mprice@usd259.net	I have been teaching at Buckner for three years. I have taught in USD259 for 6 years and previously taught in Arizona for 13 years. I received my M.A. degree from the University of Iowa in Vocal Music Education and Music Therapy. 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 enjoy using the Orff process and the Kodaly method when teaching Buckner students. My goal is to create musical individuals through singing, moving, playing, listening to, and reading music. I love teaching at Buckner!
Misti Rohde Music mrohde@usd259
Chad Mickey Strings cmickey@usd259.net
PE
Luan Broadfoot PE lbroadfoot@usd259.net
Kerry Dees Counselor kdees@usd259.net
Ursula Wilson Psychologist uwilson@usd259.net	I am the school psychologist here at Buckner. I have really enjoyed seeing the amazing things the students can do through the performing arts. This is my 10th 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 with one of them attending Buckner. 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: 2 daughters and a son. 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 began working as the Speech-Language Pathologist at Buckner in the fall of 2008. I currently live in Wichita with my husband Brian, who also works for the district, my son, and our pug named Brutus. I enjoy working with the students and staff at Buckner, it is a wonderful school. I look forward to having another great year!
Colleen Laske Nurse claske@usd259.net
Lori Warren Librarian lwarren@usd259.net	My name is Lori Warren and I am very excited about teaching in the library again this year. I completed my undergraduate teaching degree at Newman University and I am currently working on my masters degree in Literature at Baker University while simultaneously finishing my library certification at WSU. Good thing I love school! Before teaching third grade and library classes in Wichita, I owned and operated Kids Korner daycare for 15 years. I have been married twenty years to my high school sweetheart Scott and we have two teenage sons and one dog in our happy family. I am working at two libraries this year; Lewis Open Magnet and Buckner Performing Arts Magnet in the libraries. I am blessed to be working at two wonderful schools with the greatest staffs at both schools!
LaDonna Ingram Food Service lingram@usd259.net
Gloria Gadson Food Service/Latchkey ggadson@usd259.net
Larry Collins Custodian (Day) 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.
Marshall Turner Custodian (Night) mturner1@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.