New Elementary Teachers
New Faces in the Halls of PES and LES!
Perry Elementary and Lecompton Elementary are excited to welcome two new staff members this school year!
The first new face is one that many in the USD 343 community will recognize. Lecompton Elementary is happy to welcome Ms. Kelsey Kasson as a 1st grade teacher! A 2013 graduate of PLHS, Kelsey went on to graduate from Wichita State University. Kelsey started her education career as a para-educator for USD 343 for five years. After that, Ms. Kasson was asked to step into the role of a long term substitute for Keystone Learning Services. Outside of the classroom, Kelsey enjoys gardening, fishing, playing board games, attending concerts, going on little road trips, and visiting zoos. For fun, she plays in a women’s volleyball league in Lawrence. When asked about why she wanted to return to USD 343, Kelsey answered, “Where else would I go? I chose USD 343 because I had such a wonderful experience in the district when I was growing up. I knew that nothing had changed and I wanted to be a part of a fantastic community.”
Our second new elementary staff member will be joining the Perry Elementary family this fall as a first year Kindergarten teacher. We are proud to welcome Ms. Samantha Buettner to the district this year! Samantha is originally from Rosenberg, Texas; however, a fun fact is that her dad lived on Perry Lake for a while before Samantha was born. Ms. Buettner graduated from Kansas State this past spring with her degree in Elementary Education after completing her student teaching in Manhattan. While at KSU Samantha was a member of the cheer leading team. When asked why she wanted to come to USD 343, Ms. Buettner responded, “I wanted to come to USD 343 because of the strong sense of community in the district and surrounding areas.” Ms. Buettner will also be taking over as the PLHS cheer coach this year!
As we begin the 2024 school year, be sure to give a warm Perry-Lecompton welcome to both Kelsey and Samantha when you see them in the buildings and community!