Position: Retiring Principal
School: Florence Wilson Elementary School
School District: USD 457- Garden City Public Schools
City, State: Garden City, KS
Skyla Wehkamp was nominated by an anonymous colleague.
Mrs. Wehkamp has been a wonderful, inspiring leader at Florence Wilson Elementary School. She has spent 21 years at USD 457. Over the course of her long career in education, she has had a tremendous influence on the many lives of those she has encountered. She has been an exceptional leader who taught her students and staff to do everything with a passion.
Mrs. Wehkamp has been instrumental in providing students with well-rounded educations that go beyond the classroom. She has brought attention to the social-emotional wellbeing of her students and the responsibility of being civically-engaged individuals. Over her tenure as principal, she has strengthened the Soaring Eagles group. Soaring Eagles conducts monthly community service projects and takes students to the State Capitol to learn and present about what the Florence Wilson Eagles are doing to be more civically engaged. The group also created a tradition of supporting students in need by raising funds for foster students so that they may have a Christmas season filled with love and memories.
These are just a few examples of how Mrs. Wehkamp has helped her students and staff grow. The list is as endless as her impact. Mrs. Wehkamp has also conducted herself in a way that shows high moral and ethical standards. She is always doing what is best for the students, even if it is the more difficult path. She has never been one to take the easy way and is always seeking out ideas and feedback to help with student success.
"Florence Wilson Elementary has been lucky to have such a wonderful individual at the helm for so many years. We are all better individuals because of her," said her nominator.