PRESS RELEASES
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Blue Valley Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan Announces Retirement at the End of the School Year
After more than 30 years of dedicated service to education, Dr. Tonya Merrigan, Superintendent of Blue Valley Schools, has announced her plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year. Dr. Merrigan, who became the district’s first female superintendent in 2020, has been a valued leader in Blue Valley since joining as a high school counselor in 1999.
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Jill Bergee and Casey Engel selected as district nominees for Kansas Master Teacher
Congratulations to Blue Valley educators Jill Bergee and Casey Engel who have been selected as the district’s nominees for the 2025 Kansas Master Teacher award. The award program, established by Emporia State University in 1954, recognizes excellence in Kansas educators.
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Alex Muninger and Kim Vail named Blue Valley’s nominees for Kansas Teacher of the Year
Congratulations to Blue Valley educators Alex Muninger and Kim Vail who have been selected as the district’s nominees for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year award. Kansas Teacher of the Year, a Kansas State Department of Education program, recognizes exemplary classroom teachers with five or more years of experience who are leaders in improving schools, student performance and the teaching profession.
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Blue Valley earns #1 ranking in Kansas and lands in the Top 1% nationally in 2025 Niche ratings!
Blue Valley Schools has been recognized as the top district in Kansas, while also securing a place within the top 1% of districts nationwide, according to Niche. Additionally, Blue Valley was recognized as the district with the best teachers and ranked among the top 1% of best places to teach in Kansas.
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Brevin Armstrong and Audrey Burgoon selected to represent Blue Valley for Kansas Horizon Award
Congratulations to Blue Valley educators Brevin Armstrong and Audrey Burgoon who have been selected as the district’s nominees for the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award. Kansas Horizon Award, a Kansas State Department of Education program, recognizes educators who excel in a manner that sets them apart as outstanding during their first year in the classroom.
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MEDIA INQUIRIES
- All members of the media should contact the communications office at (913) 239-4347 or email kbrutto@bluevalleyk12.org before contacting any school, student or employee regarding school or district issues. We will help to accommodate your request and make necessary arrangements for photo and/or video permission if appropriate.
- Blue Valley Schools does not allow media activity that may negatively interfere with teaching and learning, misrepresent the district and/or students or compromise the safety of students and staff.
- The district will use its discretion to vet media requests based on the scope of the request, intended use, potential disruption to school operations, deadline, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act guidelines and other factors. Most requests, but not all, will be accommodated.
- All members of the media should contact the communications office at (913) 239-4347 or email kbrutto@bluevalleyk12.org before contacting any school, student or employee regarding school or district issues. We will help to accommodate your request and make necessary arrangements for photo and/or video permission if appropriate.
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MEDIA ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
- Members of the media should contact the communications office and receive permission before going to a school. If you have not prearranged your visit, you may be asked to leave school grounds.
- Once you have been granted permission to be on school grounds, you must provide a government issued I.D. at the buzz-in entry to enter all Blue Valley school buildings. For the safety of our students there will be no exceptions.
- Students and staff will be informed that they have the right to refuse to be interviewed, photographed or videotaped.
- Members of the media should contact the communications office and receive permission before going to a school. If you have not prearranged your visit, you may be asked to leave school grounds.
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PHOTOGRAPHY/FILMING
- Please respect our students and staff members’ right to privacy. Only students with photo releases may be photographed or filmed and only after the district has given permission (see “Media on school grounds”). Reporters and photographers should check with the school to confirm student photo releases before printing, posting or airing pictures or footage.
- Permission from the communications office is not necessary when covering public events such as athletics; cheer, dance, color guard and band competitions; theater and musical performances; and parades.
- Please respect our students and staff members’ right to privacy. Only students with photo releases may be photographed or filmed and only after the district has given permission (see “Media on school grounds”). Reporters and photographers should check with the school to confirm student photo releases before printing, posting or airing pictures or footage.
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PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST
Please see the guidelines for submitting a public records request. In some cases, the information sought may already be available online. Examples include budget information, policies and regulations, school board information and school and district state test scores.
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WEATHER-RELATED INFORMATION
Blue Valley Schools uses a variety of methods to distribute information about weather-related delays, early releases, closures
other news.and