James Libal, Leslie Simons, Taylor Monrean, Whitney Morrow, Josh Stock, Audrey Desandro, Beth Brubeck, Isabel Walker, Karla Trimble and Pastor Joseph Crowther

The Santa Fe Trail Middle School principal and group of educators’ innovative teaching idea, “Olathe Student Care (OSC),” is an interschool movement that connects middle school students and staff with human need in the surrounding communities. Three middle schools in the Olathe Kansas Public School District; Santa Fe Trail, Summit Trail and Indian Trail, have adopted the OSC program. With the financial support of a Voya Unsung Heroes grant, two additional schools can join the program for the 2024-25 academic year. Early in the school year, students meet with representatives from community agencies to learn about their missions. Coached by volunteer teachers, student groups work both in and out of school to research their areas of interest, imagine ways in which they can be positive change agents, and develop intervention project proposals. Student groups meet again later in the year to present their proposals to a “Shark Tank”-style panel comprised of the district superintendent, board members and community leaders.