Topic: No Child Left Behind
Interview of Andy Tompkins, January 13, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Andy Tompkins has had a leading role in education in Kansas that started in 1970 when he was hired to teach English in Hugoton. That job quickly became Principal and then Superintendent of three different districts until he was tapped in 1996 as Commissioner of Education. Tompkins recounted in this oral history interview the changes that took place in public education in Kansas during his career. Tompkins' interview toucheed on special education, "A Nation at Risk", the movement to improve education, standards and the 1992 School Finance Reform Act. He was able to explain why things Show Morechanged and with what result. Tompkins portrays skilled leadership and a trusted leader committed to improving education for all. Show Less
Interview of Cynthia (Cindy) Lane, March 25, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Cindy Lane's leadership has helped transform Kansas education to benefit Kansas children. This interview shows the impact she had on education policy, from special education to the Kansas Board of Regent's newest endeavor, the Blueprint for Literacy. This quote from Dr. Lane sums up the interview: "Most of my career in KCK as a leader was to focus on outcomes that actually transformed kids’ lives, that opportunity piece." From changes in special education , to court cases on school finance, to the Kansas Board of Regents, she is still working to transform kids' lives.
Interview of Frank Henderson, May 21, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
At the time when a group of high school students discovered that Fred Seaman, the namesake of Unified School District 345 was the Exalted Cyclops of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920's, Frank Henderson was President of the Seaman School Board. In this oral history interview, he describes the process the board went through to investigate and analyze the students' recommendations to change the district name. At the end of the process, the name remained, but Fred Seaman's photo and memorabilia were removed from the school buildings and placed in the museum. He said the outcome didn't Show Moresatisfy anyone but it was unanimous. Henderson described many challenging situations at the local, state and national levels as he served on various state and national boards of education. Henderson's observations highlights major issues in education that affected school boards and local communities. The interview reflects Henderson's view that "Every Student Matters." He believes, "we, as fellow humans, have the responsibility to see the value in every person and do what we can to ...help that person fulfill their potential." Show Less
Interview of Connie Hubbell, May 21, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Connie Hubbell is well-known in state government circles as an effective advocate for education, mental health, and health care for seniors. In this oral history interview, she recalls her service on the State Board of Education -- for three terms -- and her time as President of the National Association of State Boards of Education. She recalls one of the significant accomplishments while on the Kansas state board leading it to mandate human sexuality AIDS education in Kansas public schools. Hubbell also recalls setting the stage for the inclusion of special education students into regular classrooms. Show MoreThat move began under her leadership of the National Association of State Boards of Education. She followed that experience with a run for Kansas Lt. Governor on the ticket with gubernatorial hopeful Fred Kerr. Although they were not successful, three governors subsequently noticed her management skills and offered her positions in their administrations, beginning with Governor Graves who appointed her Secretary of Aging. She retired from the position of Director of Governmental Affairs for the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services in 2021. Show Less
Interview of Dale Cushinberry, May 21, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
In his interview, Dale Cushinberry describes how the adults in his life provided opportunities for him and led him to a career in education in the Topeka area. He taught elementary school, coached basketball, and counseled students. He moved into school administration as a principal when he spent four years at Highland Park High School as assistant principal. Washburn University offered him a position in the Education department where he served for seven years. Throughout his career, he has tried to also have a positive influence on his students’ lives. Cushinberry states during his Show Moreinterview, that “… our kids are victims of our system failures. Systems that fail around them, whether it be the home front, whether it be our school, whether it be our churches, on and on.” He believes that “It’s our job to create an environment, to create a culture where our kids can meet success.” He created that environment at Highland Park High School as its principal for 16 years. Cushinberry discusses his strategies and his philosophy for working with students and their families.
Highlight -- short excerpt from the interview
Interview of Christy Levings, June 9, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Christy Levings’ interview highlights how schools and educators have adapted to significant changes in education over the past fifty years and how professional organizations such as the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) and Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) worked together in making those changes. Levings spent time as a national and state officer in the NEA and worked in forty-two different states. She credits her undergraduate years at Washburn University with instilling in her the need for “learning all the time…being a scholar.” Throughout her professional career, she has been committed to helping teachers and administrators Show Moreimprove their skills and the educational opportunities of their students and to advocating for the teaching profession.
Highlight -- short excerpt from the interview
Interview of Steve Abrams, June 26, 2025
Interviewed by Mark Tallman
Steve Abrams grew up loving to read and as an adult found it incomprehensible that others could not learn to read. His involvement as a member of his local board of education was initially focused on the issue of reading. He later championed Career and Technical Education training as another option for students while he served on the State Board of Education and on the Senate Education Committee. The interview has a substantive discussion of some of the issues the state board encountered during Abrams' term: No Child Left Behind, the Nation at Risk Report, Show Morestate assessments, standards for local schools, Quality Performance Accreditation, to name a few. Abrams states that it’s not easy to solve the issue of “wanting education to be successful for the students in the state of Kansas and still be affordable for the citizens of Kansas.” Show Less