Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman is joined by Blue Valley board members Jan Kessinger and Clay Norkey and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden to discuss the district's 2026 Legislative priorities ahead of the 2026 Kansas Legislative session.

What if academic success was about more than test scores—and every student had a team behind them helping them find their path?

In this episode of BV Unmuted, Superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman sits down with Melissa Blevins (Blue River Elementary), Dr. Tyler Alexander (Blue Valley Southwest) and Kelly June (Executive Director of Academic Services) to unpack what it really means to be a champion of learning from kindergarten through graduation.

You’ll hear how Blue Valley’s youngest learners are building powerful foundations in reading and math, with ACT scores nearly four points above the state average, 903 AP scholars, a 96.7% graduation rate and a growing number of students leaving high school with college credit and market value assets already in hand.

But the heart of the episode is how those outcomes happen:

• Teachers using data as a tool for support, not judgment, to personalize instruction for every learner.
• Classrooms where productive struggle, student voice and engagement drive growth for both AP and on-level students.
• Intentional work to connect learning to real life through Individual Plans of Study, career-connected opportunities, clubs, activities and strong relationships with staff in every building.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind Blue Valley’s results or how we’re preparing students to become curious thinkers, compassionate leaders and lifelong learners, this episode pulls back the curtain on the systems, mindsets and people making it happen.

Meet Blue Valley’s new superintendent, Gillian Chapman, in this episode of BV Unmuted. From grilled cheese lunches to big-picture goals for innovation and personalized learning, Dr. Chapman shares her story and vision for the future of Blue Valley Schools.

Joined by students from elementary, middle and high school, the conversation is filled with honest questions and heartfelt answers about why she chose Blue Valley, what has surprised her most so far and how she hopes to be remembered by the end of the school year.

Tune in and get to know the person leading Blue Valley into its next chapter.

In this episode, we dive into Blue Valley’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan, examining the district's progress and impact.

We'll highlight advancements in student support, including mental health first aid training and social-emotional learning initiatives. The discussion also covers the district's commitment to staff wellbeing, professional learning and achievements in literacy and math.

Hear from Deputy Superintendent Dr. Katie Collier, Director of Human Resources – Recruitment & Retention Dr. Kelly Wessel and Executive Director of Operations Jake Slobodnik as they reflect on the collaborative efforts of staff, the community and the Board of Education.

Our #BVUnmuted series continues with a focus with an update on the district's personal electronic device policy. Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan is joined by Blue Valley North Principal Dr. Tyson Ostroski, Executive Director of School Administration Scott Roberts and Blue Valley North Social Studies Teacher Jeff Breedlove.

#BVTogether

Our #BVUnmuted series continues with a focus with an update on the approved 2023 Bond. Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan is joined by Executive Director of Operations Jake Slobodnik, Director of Safety and Security Dan Carney, and Senior Coordinator of Digital Resources Liz Chopp.

#BVTogether

Our #BVUnmuted series continues with a focus on the impact of our teachers in the Blue Valley Schools. Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan is joined by three Blue Valley Schools students, Caroline, Arianna and Maverick to discuss the positive impact that our teachers have on their students.

Our #BVUnmuted series continues with a focus on the Blue Valley legislative priorities. Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan is joined by School Board President Gina Knapp, Vice President Jan Kessinger, and Chief Financial Officer Jeremy McFadden to discuss these priorities in the upcoming legislative session.

#BVTogether