Dr. Kelly Gillespie with USA-KS President G.A. Buie upon receiving the Outstanding Service Award.

Each year, USA-Kansas bestows upon one of its administrators the Outstanding Service Award.  This is the highest honor the organization awards. Nominations are reviewed by the individual presidents of each of the 10 statewide member associations.  This prestigious recognition is for outstanding contributions to the profession and exemplary leadership throughout the state. 

During the summer 2019 USA-Kansas Conference, Dr. Kelly Gillespie was named the recipient of the coveted award.  On behalf of her team at Southwest Plains, Kelly would like to express “…sincere thanks for this distinguished recognition.  It was a total surprise!  Simply put, to be named the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award by the USA professional organization is humbling. “

​Kelly thanks all Kanas administrators for their tireless work to support education, both teachers and students, in the great state of Kansas.

"My entire life, I have been passionate about education."
​ -Dr. Kelly Gillespie

Starting with her first job as a classroom teacher, Kelly has been in education for over 30 years including time as a special education teacher, gifted facilitator, university adjunct professor, and high school principal. For the last two decades, she has enjoyed serving as an educational consultant and now CEO of Southwest Plains, a vibrant consulting firm known for its high quality service and innovation.
Kelly explains, “Core values drive my decisions, my time, and my life…

• Quality of work matters.
• Perseverance reaps rewards.
• Make a difference in someone’s life every day.”

Her forte is listening, building relationships, and collaborating to design solutions. Kelly explains that certainty for the future lies in commitment to growth. She explains, “Growth means taking calculated risks. Growth means being comfortable with change and uncertainty. Growth even means flaunting your mistakes like a champ!”
Dr. Gillespie is active on the national conference circuit, has authored her first book, published numerous articles, and was recently named recipient of the prestigious E. Robert Stephens Award for her research on digital observation. Kelly’s expertise and passion lie in:

• solution-focused leadership,
• support for excellent teaching,
• and future-readiness of her clients.

See Me After Class 453  - Podcast Episode 25

Listen to an interview by USD 453 Leavenworth with Dr. Kelly Gillespie

"For over a decade, I have watched Dr. Gillespie orchestrate strategic planning scenarios from Pre-K to Higher Ed., provide innovative solutions for school improvement, and win the hearts and minds of educators who were resistant to change. She is a dynamo!"
--Tonnie Martinez, Ph. D., National Origins Coordinator
Midwest Equity Assistance Center - Kansas State University

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See Dr. Gillespie in action at the National Title I Conference!