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New USD 259 Superintendent Welcomes Students On First Day Of School

Carla Eckels
/
KMUW
Alicia Thompson shook hands, gave hugs and guided students during the first day of class.

The superintendent of Wichita Public Schools shook hands, gave hugs and guided students through rows of greeters giving high fives on the first day of class outside of Brooks Magnet Middle School.

Superintendent Alicia Thompson could not hide her enthusiasm Wednesday morning.

"I’m so excited to be back at Brooks," Thompson said. "This is where I started my journey here in middle school, and my daughter’s coming here. She’s a sixth grader here, and so I’m just excited to be here to welcome students back."

Students were ready with book bags, pencils and smiles. Thompson said the goal for students is to keep learning, "to grow and to be the best that they can be, so we’re excited to be able to start that year out with them."

As Thompson embarks on her first year of heading the school district, she agreed it's a dream come true.

"Who would have thought a student starting in kindergarten at Carter Elementary school would actually sit in the seat of the superintendent of the largest school district in the state of Kansas?" Thompson said. "It's just amazing."

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Carla Eckels is assistant news director and the host of Soulsations. Follow her on Twitter @Eckels.

 

To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.

 

 

Carla Eckels is Director of Organizational Culture at KMUW. She produces and hosts the R&B and gospel show Soulsations and brings stories of race and culture to The Range with the monthly segment In the Mix. Carla was inducted into The Kansas African American Museum's Trailblazers Hall of Fame in 2020 for her work in broadcast/journalism.