Bradley Neuenswander

Deputy Commissioner, Division of Learning Services

Kansas State Department of Education

 

 

Brad Neuenswander has served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Learning Services Division since October 2010.

 

As the Deputy Commissioner, Brad assists the State Board of Education in leading the world in the success of each student.  Brad’s responsibilities include the oversight of all federal and statewide education and services in the areas of:  Teacher Licensure, Federal Title Programs, Career and Technical Education, and School Accreditation.  In addition, Brad oversees the state’s School Redesign Initiative; assessed and non-assessed curricular standards; the state assessments; and research, data analysis and reporting requirements.  He also ensures compliances with all state and federal education legislation including the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA).  

 

Brad began his education career as a Business Teacher in 1990 in Norton, Kansas.  He has served as an Assistant Principal and High School Principal, as well as Superintendent in Ellis, Kansas and in Cheney, Kansas.

 

Brad joined the Kansas State Department of Education in 2007 as the Director of School Finance and served in that position prior to his assuming his current position as Deputy Commissioner in 2010.  Brad also served as the Interim Kansas Commissioner of Education in 2014-2015.

 

Brad earned a B.S. in Business from Baker University, Baldwin, Kansas; Education Certification from Bethany College, Lindsborg, Kansas; his Masters of Education from Kansas State University; and he is currently working towards his doctorate in Education Leadership at Kansas State University.

 

Brad has taught classes at Fort Hays State University and Baker University.  He has also served as chair of the Kansas Association of School Board’s Legislative Task Force Committee and as a member of the United School Administrators of Kansas School Finance Task Force Committee.  Most recently, he served as chair of the Council of Chief State School Officer’s Deputy Commissioner’s Council.

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Dr. Randy Watson

Kansas Commissioner of Education

 

 

Known for his visionary leadership, Dr. Randy Watson’s roots run deep in public education.

 

As a former history teacher, school principal and superintendent, Dr. Watson has dedicated more than 35 years of his life working in public education settings across the state and ensuring every child receives a world class education. That dedication continues in his current role as Kansas Commissioner of Education.

 

The Kansas State Board of Education named Watson Kansas Education Commissioner in November 2014.

 

In his role as the state’s chief education officer, Dr. Watson provides leadership to the Kansas State Department of Education in carrying out the policies and programs set by the State Board of Education. Currently, Commissioner Watson is leading the agency in the redesign of Kansas public education. Fueled by the state board’s vision for education crafted in partnership with the citizens of Kansas, Watson is leading statewide initiatives designed to achieve this new vision that Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.

 

A native of Coffeyville Kansas, Dr. Watson attended Kansas State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in science in secondary administration, staff supervision and staff development, building level certification. Additionally, he received his doctorate of education in secondary administration, school law, curriculum development and instructional leadership, and district level certification.

 

The recipient of many awards, Dr. Watson was named an Alumni Fellow at Kansas State and in 2015, was honored by being named the Kansas Superintendent of the Year.

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Amy Radaker Hillman
Santa Fe Trail Middle School
Olathe School District

 

Amy Radaker Hillman grew up in a family of educators in western New York. After graduating from State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education she headed to Augusta, Georgia to teach 4th and 5th grade at Ursula Collins Elementary. This is the city where she met her fellow blackbelt husband Ben and where they started their family of 5 plus few extras…  Next, she taught the children of soldiers at Fort Gordon, Georgia at Freedom Park Elementary.

When Amy’s husband accepted a job in Kansas City, their family of five relocated to Olathe, KS. There she taught 5th and 6th grades at Washington Elementary and then shifted to Santa Fe Trail Middle to teach science. She earned her Master of Science degree at Emporia State University. Currently she teaches 6th grade project-based learning, 21st century skill-building and 8th grade AIM (Achieving through Individual Motivation) to future first-generation college students.

Amy also teaches for the International Academy of Science. As an Acellus science teacher with over 400 instructional videos, she reaches students from all over the world. Thousands of students, from upper elementary through high school, have taken her coursework.

Amy is most excited that she is part of the Kansas Can Mercury 7 Redesign experience here in Kansas. The teacher- and community-designed, student-driven ideas coming through this program are innovations that will increase equity in our community and give our students opportunities to become academically, civically and emotionally prepared Kansans. Our vision is to “Empower All Learners to Explore,” and Amy is overjoyed to be part of this project.