ABOUT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

  • Blue Valley Board of Education members live within their individual geographic member districts and are elected by a voting plan whereby six members live in geographic member districts and one runs at large.

     

    In a primary election, only residents from the geographic member district vote for the candidates. In all general elections, all residents vote for all candidates. This method reinforces the district's belief that all members represent all children in Blue Valley. Board members are elected to four-year terms. All seven serve the entire district without pay.

  • Portrait of BOE

MEET THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

  • Professional headshot of Dr. Sonya Evans

    Dr. Sonya Evans (NE Area, Member 4)

    Dr. Sonya Evans began her service on the Board of Education on July 17, 2023, to fill a vacancy. Dr. Evans holds an EdD degree from Saint Louis University, EdS from Saint Louis University, MBA from Rockhurst University, and a BS in Organizational Management and Leadership. Dr. Evans is a longtime Blue Valley resident with an extensive history of support and involvement in the district. Committees served include the Blue Valley Curriculum and Instruction Board Advisory Committee, Blue Valley Strategic Planning Committee, Blue Valley Educational Foundation (BVEF) Grant Committee, and BVEF Women’s Giving Circle. Additionally, Dr. Evans serves on the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) Advisory Board and has served on BVEF Advisory Board. She is a member of Leawood Rotary and very active in the community. Dr. Evans and her husband have resided in Leawood, Kansas and the Blue Valley School District for over 25 years. They have two sons that have attended or graduated from Blue Valley Schools. Currently, they have a grandson attending a school in the Blue Valley School District.

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  • Professional headshot of Jodie Dietz

    Jodie Dietz (S Area, Member 3)

    Jodie Dietz began serving on the Blue Valley Board of Education in January 2020. She is a 30+ year Johnson County resident with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Management. Jodie is a former probation officer here in Johnson County, currently works at Johnson County Community College, and has been active in the community and school district in a variety of capacities for over 25 years. She is currently on the Johnson County Friends of the Library board, a member of various advisory teams with the City of Overland Park, and on the Board of Directors for the CAPS Network. Jodie and her husband have been Blue Valley parents for 20 years. They have three children who attend or have graduated from Blue Valley schools.

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  • Professional headshot of Patrick Hurley

    Patrick Hurley (NW Area, Member 2)

    The 2024-25 school year marks Patrick's tenth year as a member of the Blue Valley Board of Education. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Rockhurst University and a juris doctor degree from Washburn University. He currently works as a licensed attorney. Patrick has been active in the community as a volunteer with the Sporting Blue Valley Soccer Club, the Johnson County Transit Authority Council and the Overland Park Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Committee. He served on several district committees prior to becoming a board member, including the Board of Education Finance Committee and the Blue Valley Educational Foundation Finance Advisory Committee. He and his wife, Allison, have lived in the district for 25 years and have one child graduated from Blue Valley Schools and one currently attending.

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  • Professional headshot of Jan Kessinger

    Jan Kessinger, Vice President (NE Area, Member 1)

    Jan Kessinger was appointed by the Board of Education in 2022 to fill a vacancy. He is a fifth-generation Kansas native who has lived in Blue Valley since 1984. Jan and his wife have three children who graduated from Blue Valley North, a granddaughter who graduated from Blue Valley Northwest, and a grandson who attends Northwest. Kessinger served four years as a Kansas State Representative and was on the Board of Directors of the Johnson County Research Triangle (JCERT). He has been a guest speaker at Blue Valley elementary schools as well as Blue Valley High School. He served as a project manager for the Kansas Commerce Department and is a retired management consultant.

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  • Professional headshot of Gina Knapp

    Gina Knapp, President (NW Area, Member 5)

    Gina Knapp was elected by the Blue Valley community to the Board of Education in 2021.  She grew up in the public schools of Johnson County, where she has lived most of her life.  Gina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Kansas and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Finance from UMKC.  She has spent the past 20 years of her career and volunteer service dedicated to youth development including with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and most recently receiving the National Service to Youth Award with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St Louis, where she leads their finance and accounting team.  Gina lives in Overland Park with her husband, Chris, and has three kids, one who is a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest and two who currently attend.

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  • Professional headshot of Jim McMullen

    Jim McMullen (S Area, Member 6)

    Jim McMullen began serving on the Blue Valley Board of Education in January 2022. He has lived in Johnson County most of his life. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. He began his career as a Middle School and High School English teacher in Mississippi, and then in Washington, D.C. Jim owns a merchant banking firm, Royal Blue Capital, based in Overland Park, which advises corporate clients in a range of strategic transactions. He previously served as a board member of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife have lived in the district for nearly 20 years; four of their children have attended Blue Valley schools.

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  • Professional headshot of Clay Norkey

    Clay Norkey (At Large, Member 7)

    The Blue Valley community elected Clay Norkey to the Board of Education's at-large seat in 2023. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation from Western Michigan University and earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. For nearly 25 years, Clay has been active in our community, such as chairing the Blue Valley Recreation Commission, co-founding the Blue Valley West chapter of The Father’s Club, and coaching youth sports for over a decade. He has chaired both the Board of Trustees and the Church Council at Church of the Resurrection and served as president of the Lawyers Association of Kansas City. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors for the CAPS Network and on the leadership team for the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Johnson County. In BV, Clay serves on five Board Advisory Committees: Finance & Operations, Communications, Student Activities, Facilities & Planning, and Curriculum & Instruction. Clay resides with his wife, Dr. Sherri Martin Norkey, a pediatrician, near Blue Valley West High School where all nine of their children graduated.

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