Wichita Collegiate School

Upper School Contacts

After graduating from Newman University in 1995, I spent three years as a Middle School teacher in the Wichita Public Schools. Over the last 18 years I have been an Upper School Administrator in independent Schools in Wichita, earning my Masters in School Leadership from Baker University in 2002.  I have spent the last 8 years as Head of Upper School at Wichita Collegiate, and consider myself very privileged to work at the premier school in the state of Kansas.  Each day, I marvel at the talented faculty and students I work with and am grateful for their dedication and kindness.  I sincerely love the work I do and appreciate that my wonderful wife Elaine and two beautiful daughters Maeve and Julia get to share the Collegiate experience with me.  I have always felt that my primary goal as Head of Upper School is to make sure students enjoy coming to school every day and that the faculty enjoy coming to work every day.  When those things are happening, excellence is sure to follow.   

I became a part of the Collegiate community in 2000 when I joined the Early Childhood division as the Administrative Assistant.  I’ve had also had the pleasure of working in the Middle School for over ten years.  I am currently the Upper School Administrative Assistant and also assist the Athletic Department.  I have such a sense of pride to be able to work every day with such great students, faculty, and staff!

Collegiate has been a part of my life since our family moved to Kansas in 1991, when my husband Scott joined the faculty.  In 2001, I began working at Collegiate as the Registrar, and began assisting the College Counseling department in 2014.  I enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of high school students and especially assisting them with the college application process.

Trent has been a familiar face around Collegiate as a former student, parent, coach and administrator since 2006.  Trent attended WCS up to the 7th grade.  Trent's children have been Spartans since day one.  Son Caleb, class of 2015; daughter Cayden, class of 2018; and son Canon, class of 2019.

An administrator since 2009, Trent is the Upper School Dean of Students. Prior to becoming the Dean, he served as the Athletic Director for the Upper School from 2007-2010.

Shanna passionately serves as the Upper School counselor as well as the Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). She considers the opportunity to engage, listen, encourage and counsel high school students a privilege. Objectively serving and advocating for others, in school and in the community, is the fuel that has ignited Shanna for nearly two decades. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) and a Master of Social Work from Wichita State University. Please visit her site at: https://sites.google.com/site/uswcsahmad/home.

Annette holds a BA from Oklahoma State University, UCLA Certification in College Counseling, Harvard Summer Institute College Admissions Counseling, and Naviance Summer Institute. She is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, the Great Plains Association of Admissions Counselors, and the Association of College Counselors of Independent Schools. 

Annette’s family moved several times including international postings in London and Perth, Australia before settling in Wichita in 2002. Counseling Collegiate students for the past 10 years, she find the trends ever-changing but her goal remains constant: understand the student’s aspirations, affirm the student’s strengths and find the best bridge to college for the student’s long-term success.  Annette brings specific expertise in the arts, aiding students who will be completing audition or portfolio-based applications.

Collegiate affords its students the best opportunity for academic, social, and athletic growth but it also creates an environment where teachers can be creative and work with some of the best minds in the city. All three of my children are Collegiate graduates, each was very different and Collegiate was able to meet their needs. This place is special and I am proud to be a member of its faculty. Please Visit My Website at

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/messamoreb/

I enjoy books—a given, I suppose, considering the subject matter. I especially love those written by Neil Gaiman. And, I've recently started reading a lot of screenplays. Most of my early life was lived in Boise, ID. (For me, then, there will always be something uniquely great about the mountain west.) My professional work covers a pretty broad spectrum: fiction, copy writing and editing. Before coming to Collegiate in 2011, I spent eight years in the Andover School District teaching the concurrent credit courses Comp I and British Lit II. I earned my graduate degree from FHSU and my undergraduate degree from Sterling College. I’m also very grateful for the opportunities to participate in the Kansas Writing Project, various AP Training Courses, and—most recently—the Writing and Thinking Conference at Bard College.

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/devriesp/home

The 9th grade English course is focused on developing both writing skills and literary analysis skills. There is nothing I love more than sharing my love of literature with students. With a Master's Degree in English Literature from Wichita State University, I bring knowledge of the material and a love of learning to my classroom each and every day. My husband Andy, my son Mason, and I are all active members of the Wichita Collegiate community and I currently serve as the Academic Dean for Freshmen, Yearbook Sponsor, and Head Lady Spartan Soccer Coach. In academics, activities, and athletics I work to provide all students with a positive and productive experience at Wichita Collegiate. Go Spartans! Please visit my website at

http://wcsfreshenglish.blogspot.com 

Collegiate has the educational and social environment that I wish every teacher and student in our country could experience. It is a delight to teach in a school community which celebrates the love and power of learning. My B.S.E. degree is in English and social studies, and my M.A. degree is in European history. I love both areas of study but particularly enjoy teaching English. I currently teach sophomore English and advanced composition, and I am the faculty sponsor of the Honor Council and the Literary Club. The following G. K. Chesterton quotation sums up the reason I teach: “Education is the soul of society as it passes from one generation to another.” Our department’s mission is to share with our students the great thinkers and ideas of the ages, to foster an appreciation of the artistry of great literature, and to help students develop confidence in themselves as thinkers and writers. I believe that the traditional liberal arts curriculum at WCS is vital to the transmission of our collective heritage and cultural values, and I love being part of a school where such a curriculum is our foundation.

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/mykel/home

I have enjoyed teaching at Wichita Collegiate since August of 1988. Throughout those years, I have relished the opportunity to discuss great literature with students and to watch them develop as thinkers and writers. The way our language works to convey meaning and move people has intrigued me ever since I earned my BA in English Literature at Manchester College long ago, and I have found ample ways to explore and share this fascination with my English students at WCS. As chair of the English department, I have also had the good fortune to work with a group of language arts teachers who are exceptionally talented, knowledgeable, and caring. My two daughters graduated from WCS, so I know firsthand the power that this community has to nurture each individual learner (teacher as well as student). It is my privilege to be part of that.

https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=wcsks.com_vgli1o1gs129kbr2h1hdqq17us@

group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America/Chicago

Emily came to WCS from The Independent School where she served as the Director of Fine Arts, the Upper School Fine Arts Department Chair and the Upper School Drama Teacher for the past 13 years.  She has a Bachelor's Degree in Theatre Acting and Design and two Master's Degrees, one in Elementary Education and the other in Theater Studies in Production and Design.  She has been an active leader both in her previous school and in the community.  Her numerous awards for producting, directing, costumes, graphic design, sets, costumes, and lighting are too many to list!  Our students are learning so much from this knowledgeable and passionate teacher.

http://goodpasturedrama.blogspot.com/

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I came to the United States with two purposes: To study art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and to stay in this beloved land. I hold a Bachelor in Fine Arts Degree from SAIC and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from the University of New Mexico. I have taught art for the last 12 years at different schools and universities in the states of NM, TX and KS. It is my WCS goal of art education to facilitate a safe environment for meaningful exploration and creativity, where Spartan students can be awakened to the interconnectedness of themselves as individuals to the whole through real life experiences, current events, and creative ways of classroom interaction. 

http://wcsartcave.blogspot.com/p/about-mrs-morales.html

I am a WCS graduate and can attest to the high quality of a Collegiate education. It has been a special privilege to be a part of this community again as a member of its faculty. I began teaching at Collegiate in the fall of 2007, when my husband Brian (sixth grade science) and I moved to Wichita. I taught fifth grade English in the Middle School before moving to the Upper School to teach French. I earned my B.A. in English and French from Manchester College, and I earned my M.A. in English from the University of Kansas.  In addition to a junior year abroad in Strasbourg, France, I did a Fulbright year in Amiens, France, working as a language assistant in a French high school. I began teaching French in 1998, and since then I have taught English in various positions before returning to French. I want my students to become confident students of French and for them to experience first-hand how important and empowering it is to learn a second language. I value fostering connections with my students and want them to know I am always in their corner, supporting them and guiding them. My husband and I have two wonderful children, and it has been a blessing to have them at Collegiate with us.

http://wcsfrench.blogspot.com/

For over thirty years I have had the privilege of sharing my love of Latin with the students of Wichita Collegiate School. Together we investigate and analyze the essential grammar and vocabulary of Latin, the admirable prose of Caesar and the amazing poetry of Virgil. I love having the opportunity to work with the students over a number of years, and enjoy seeing them become such wonderful thinkers, learners and leaders of tomorrow.  Although I was raised in Massachusetts, Kansas has definitely become my home.  My two sons attended Collegiate, and my husband taught Latin and Greek at Wichita State University.  I have a bachelor’s degree in Latin, a master’s degree in Classical Studies and PhD course work in Latin.

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/KehoeV/

I was born and raised in the Canary Islands, Spain where all of my family still lives. I came to the United States to attend college, receiving both graduate and undergraduate degrees from Wichita State University. I have had the privilege of teaching at Collegiate since 2004 while also watching my daughters’ receive a Collegiate education.  I love teaching Spanish and sharing with my students the language and the cultural diversity of all the Spanish speaking countries. Observing the growth of students through their year’s in the Upper School and their ability to communicate, love and appreciate the language and culture is the greatest reward I have as a teacher. I currently teach Spanish 2, Spanish 3 and AP Spanish Language and Culture. I also serve as Head for the Foreign Language Department, and Junior Class Academic Dean.

http://wcssrawhite.blogspot.com/

In 2004 I started dating my future husband, who happened to be a Wichita Collegiate graduate. I spent the next few years getting familiar with the people of Wichita Collegiate. In fact, I remember thinking the community reminded me of my own small-town high school experience. However, it wasn’t until I was lucky enough to get hired at Collegiate in 2011 that I truly understood what WCS is really about. Their expectation of excellence and focus on community is bar none. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Kansas. I currently teach the freshmen history course, World Cultures and Geography. I feel blessed to work in such an academically driven environment where both teachers and students are granted many opportunities to showcase their passions and creativity. Please visit my class website at wcsworldcultures.blogspot.com.

 http://wcsworldcultures.blogspot.com/

I was born and raised in Hastings NE, a town in southcentral Cornhuskerland.  After graduating from high school and Hastings College, I moved to Wichita and began a 30 year career teaching calculus and physics at Heights High.

I am married to Elaine Ruhter, a native Kansan, and have two children and two grandchildren. My hobbies include motorcycling, weightlifting, and caring for our beautiful collie dogs.

It is wonderful teaching here at Collegiate in the warmest, kindest atmosphere imaginable.  The high level of academics are second to none. 

I was raised on a farm in south-central Kansas. Growing up in a Jayhawk-loving household, I was thrilled the day I arrived on campus in Lawrence! After earning degrees in Mathematics and Business Administration, I spent a year working as a financial accountant for Raytheon Aircraft. I then followed a call into ministry and spent two years traveling and sharing my faith throughout the United States and Australia. I was very blessed by this experience, especially because this is when I met the man who would eventually become my husband. I have always loved studying mathematics and have always wanted to play an important role in caring for and nurturing young adults. And so, in 2005, it felt very natural to pursue a career as a high school math teacher. I began teaching in Toms River, New Jersey before moving back home to Kansas. I am honored to be a Collegiate Spartan and love getting to teach Algebra II, Introduction to College Algebra, and AP Statistics. My passion for teaching grows each year, as does my love for helping students discover their own joy of mathematics. Please visit my class website at 

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/sarah-gruetter

I am a graduate of Bethel College with my undergrad in Physical Education and I received my Master’s from Wichita State University in Sports Management. I am the Speed & Strength Coordinator, teach strength training classes in the upper school, and teach 7th & 8th grade PE in the middle school. I am the defensive coordinator for the upper school football team and I am the sprint coach for the upper school track team. I also serve as the middle school athletic director. My step-son is a 2014 graduate of Wichita Collegiate and my youngest attends school here as well. I love sharing my passion for the weight room with my students and student - athletes. The commitment by the students to the programs I am involved in is second to none. I have had the opportunity to teach at other schools and there is not a better school in the state or country in my opinion.

http://coachblacksblog.blogspot.com/

My husband and I moved to Wichita from the United Kingdom in 1997 for a three year job opportunity and I am pleased to say we loved Wichita so much that we decided to stay. I graduated from the University of North Wales, Bangor with a B.Mus(Hons.) and also completed my Post Graduate Cerificate of Education. Prior to WCS I worked at Clifton College and Redmaids in Bristol and Wycombe Abbey School just west of London. We have two boys who have both attended Collegiate and who thrived on the ethos that ‘at Collegiate you can do it all’. Currently I teach the AP Music theory class, vocal music in the Middle School and I am the Fine Arts Department Chair. I enjoy sharing my love for music with my students both in the classroom, on the stage and in the community. Music should be fun!

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/mrs-powell-s-page1/

I am a graduate of Wichita State University, where I completed both Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Instrumental Music Education. I strive for passion and excitement in the instrumental music classroom, and hope the musical experiences of the Collegiate student lead them to a lifetime of Fine Arts Appreciation! When not in the classroom, I am active as a professional musician, performing on upright and electric bass in area jazz groups, musical productions, and with the pop/rock cover band, Lucky People.

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/fischert/

I graduated from Friends University with a Music Business Degree in 2008 where I was highly involved in the percussion department and jazz program. I have now been teaching instrumental music at WCS ever since and I love it! I strive to help each student find their own voice on their instrument, and with that find an outlet to be creative. Outside of work I perform professionally on percussion and drumset for local jazz concerts, musicals, and many other live music productions. I also enjoy going to concerts, composing, running, golf, roasting/drinking coffee, and most of all my family.

https://sites.google.com/a/wcsks.com/hakes/home

As an alum of the class of 2002, I have spent most of my life on the WCS campus.  I cannot think of a better school community to be a part of.  I graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education.  After teaching 3rd grade for Andover Public Schools, I have been teaching 6th grade Literature at WCS since the fall of 2010.  I am extremely privileged to help provide the education I myself received from this wonderful school.  I also serve as the Varsity Baseball Coach.

http://wcsthinkspot.blogspot.com/

History is the most amazing thing to examine of all our classes...because we are creating it every day! I have been at WCS since 1977 (there's that History thing again!), and I have been privileged to watch our school blossom into THE best school in the Midwest.  My wife Sally and I have three grown children, all of whom attended WCS and graduated from here.  I grew up in New York and Nebraska (preacher's kid!) and attended York College and Harding University, as well as accumulating Masters hours at WSU.  I LOVE exploring the twists and turns of our nations' past with our students, and the chance to impress upon them their thread in the quilt of our society! Proba Te Dignum!

http://wcs7hawley.blogspot.com/

Head Girls Golf Coach