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Piper school district taps Olathe educator for new superintendent

The Piper Board of Education has named Dr. Jessica Dain as the new superintendent for the 2020-2021 school year.

Dr. Dain, currently assistant superintendent of support services and middle school education for the Olathe School District, will begin her new position July 1, according to the Piper school district.

The Piper school board interviewed three finalists before selecting Dr. Dain.

“The Board is excited about the experience and enthusiasm Dr. Dain brings to our district,” said Jeb Vader, Piper Board of Education president, in a news release. “We believe Dr. Dain possesses the skills required to lead our district as we continue to strive to be one of the elite school systems in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Dr. Dain will work closely with Dr. (Blane) McCann, interim superintendent, to ensure a smooth transition of leadership prior to her arrival in Piper in July of 2020. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Dain to Piper.”

Dr. Dain holds a doctorate degree in educational leadership from St. Louis University, and has a master’s degree in educational administration and a bachelor’s in English and physical education from Emporia State University.

Dr. Dain has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, district-level director, and assistant superintendent in the De Soto, Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, and Olathe school districts during her 25-year career as an educator.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the students, colleagues, and stakeholders of this amazing district,” Dr. Dain said in a news release. “Piper USD 203 has an exemplary reputation in meeting the needs of every child, and I am beyond thrilled to be joining the family of this prestigious and successful district. I look forward to building strong and meaningful relationships with all members of the community as we begin the next chapter of building the future one child at a time.”

Dr. Dain also currently is a commissioner on the Olathe Human Rights Commission and vice president of the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Fund in Olathe, which serves needy children. She also serves on the Johnson County Multi-Disciplinary Committee, the Johnson County Disproportionate Minority Youth Committee and is a board member of the Johnson County Juvenile Corrections Advisory Board. She served on the Curriculum Leaders Advisory Council and the Kansas Redesign Committee for the Kansas commissioner of education.

Dr. Dain grew up in Emporia, Kansas. As a high school student, Dr. Dain was a Kansas Honor Scholar, most valuable player for her league in volleyball and earned all-class and all-state honors in volleyball and basketball.

Dr. Dain’s husband, Dr. Todd Dain, is also a lifetime educator and serves as the principal at Shawnee Mission South High School. They have three children. One child attends Northwest Missouri State University and two children attend Olathe Northwest High School.

Wyandotte County 4-H members qualify to attend National 4-H Youth Summit Agriscience Conference

Tabitha Burt, a 4-H member, with a display that was part of a poultry study she conducted with Elise Collins. The display was at the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library. The two Wyandotte County 4-H members have been given the opportunity to present their findings at a national 4-H Youth Summit. (Photo from Wyandotte County 4-H)

Elise Collins and Tabitha Burt, ninth grade 4-H members from the Piper 4-H Community Club, have been given the opportunity to present findings from their poultry study during the National 4-H Youth Summit Agriscience Conference in Washington, D.C., in January 2020.

The 4-H members conducted a survey at two libraries and the Providence-Ball YMCA as part of their study.

They created posters showing how those living in an urban community could raise chickens on a budget and the benefits of eating fresh eggs. Their display included a chick life cycle exploration set with model eggs showing stages of egg development, along with other educational materials and hatching incubators.

Piper boys win De Soto tourney

Sophomore Jaron Briggs went up for a shot inside in the second half of Piper’s win over Lafayette High School of St. Joseph, Missouri. (Photo copyright 2019 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Piper boys basketball team held off two late runs by the St. Joseph Lafayette Fighting Irish to win the championship of the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic on Saturday evening at De Soto High School.

The final score was 70 to 63. Piper never trailed, but the result was less comfortable than the score indicates. Lafayette had a chance to tie or take the lead twice in the final quarter.

In the first half, the Pirates looked like they would win it easily, building a 21-8 lead in the games opening minutes. Piper used its transition game to get easy scores, and hit 4 of 9 three-point shots in the half, going to the break with a 41-25 advantage.

In the second half, Lafayette slowed down Piper’s offense, applying pressure in the backcourt. The Pirates’ shooting touch also left them, hitting just 1 of 7 three-pointers. Through the third and fourth quarters, the Irish went on a 17 to 3 run that pulled them within 2 points with four minutes left in the game.

The Pirates responded with a run of their own to get some breathing space, but Lafayette continued to pressure. The Irish won key defensive rebounds and created consecutive turnovers to get back within 3 in the final minute.

With six seconds remaining, freshman Lance Bassett secured a defensive rebound and was fouled. He knocked down both free throws to secure the win.

Jaron Briggs led the Pirates in scoring with 18 points. Briggs was aggressive in driving the lane, and earned 6 points at the free throw line as a result. Tamar Bates scored 16, hitting all seven of his shots from the field. Bassett scored 11. Dylin Taylor-Cantu led the team with 5 rebounds.

Piper defeated Blue Valley Southwest and Olathe North in the first two rounds to get to the championship game. They hold a 4-0 record and will play at Bonner Springs on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. The game will be the Braves’ senior night for winter sports.