Kelly Bielefeld joined Wichita Public Schools in 2020 as the Executive Director of College and Career Readiness.  He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Secondary Education, from Wichita State University with a master's in building leadership, and has a District Level Endorsement from Fort Hays State University.  He has 20 years of experience in education and 15 years in administration.  His areas of responsibility include:

• Carl Perkins Grant Manager
• New Pathway Development
• Support College and Career Coordinators
• KACCTE Board Member
• Regional Educational Laboratory (Central Region) - Board Member
• Learning Forward Kansas Board Member
• Wichita Area Manufacturers Board Member, Junior Achievement Board Member, Greater Wichita Partnership Strategic Advisory Team Member

Carey Keller began teaching 25 years ago and has experience teaching at rural and mid-sized schools as well as technical colleges and universities as a mathematics and engineering adjunct teacher. Her background includes mathematics, physics and Project Lead the Way Engineering teaching. She has also coached cross country for the past 21 years and track and field for 11 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Southwestern College in Mathematical Theory and Physics, graduate degree from Wichita State University in Curriculum and Instruction and received a certification from Emporia State University in Information, Technology, & Scientific Literacy. Carey has worked with SkillsUSA for the past 13 years as a District Lead advisor, Local Engineering and Robotics advisor, State Officer Leadership trainer, a National Community Service team leader, State Board of Directors Member and is a SkillsUSA Career Essential Certified Teacher. Her journey through education has brought her to Wichita Public Schools to be the Work-Based Learning Coordinator. She will work closely with:

• Career & Technical Education Pathway educators and students
• Business and Industry partners
• Local Workforce coalitions
• Chamber of Commerce
• Other stakeholders

Work-Based Learning will give WPS students the opportunity to learn in an authentic work environment and prepare them to enter the workforce in high-demand industries. 

Cathy Mong has been with Wichita Public Schools since 2001.  After earning her bachelors and master’s from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, she worked in banking, mortgage lending, and the fashion industry before starting her teaching career in Fort Worth Public Schools.  Her current areas of responsibility include:

• Family, Community & Consumer Services Pathway & FCCLA
• Early Childhood Development Pathway
• Fashion, Apparel, Interior Design Pathway
• Restaurant & Event Management Pathway
• Teaching/Training Pathway & Educators Rising
• Health Pathway & HOSA
• Child Development Center Liaison  
• Board member:  Educators Rising, Greater Wichita YMCA Childcare and Camp, KCCTO, WSUTech Interior Design

Laura Barker has been working to help make Wichita Public School students future ready since 2012.  After spending several years at the post-secondary level, she returned to Emporia State University to get her masters degree in school counseling.  This change allowed her to work with a younger population, helping students create their own unique road maps for success. Her areas of responsibility include:

• College & Career Readiness
• Academic & Career Advising
• Individual Plans of Study
• Secondary School Counseling Liaison
• CTE Concurrent Credit

PJ Reilly began his teaching career in the Wichita Public Schools in 1984. He taught in the Industrial Arts Department at Southeast High School for 12 Years. In 1996 he traveled to Circle USD 375 as the district’s Career and Technical Education Coordinator and CTE Teacher. He served in that capacity for 15 years. He earned his Masters Degree in School Leadership from Baker University in 2009. In 2011 he accepted district and building-level administration positions in Valley Center USD 262 as Executive Director of College and Career Readiness and Principal of Adult and Virtual Learning Centers. PJ returned to our district in the Office of College and Career Readiness/CTE in 2016. He currently serves staff in both high and middle schools as a Pathway Coordinator. The pathways and programs PJ supports include:

• Agriculture: Animal Science, Plant Systems, Power and Structural Systems & FFA
• Aviation Maintenance and Production
• Construction and Design & SkillsUSA
• Engineering & TSA
• Manufacturing Maintenance and Production
• Transportation:  Auto Service & Repair and Auto Collision and Refinishing
• Middle School CTE: Engineering, Computer Coding, & Video Production 
• Future Ready Center:  Plane Build, Composites and Sheet Metal
• Vex Robotics: Vex Competition high and middle schools

Marla Hayden, MBA, GCDF, started her work journey in St. Louis as an insurance field underwriter for Mutual of New York followed by a taxpayer assistant with the IRS. Her biggest challenge came next as an entrepreneur owning and operating Buck’s Barbeque restaurants in Wichita for 20 years. Then her interests changed. In 1998, she became a teacher and joined the staff at Northwest High School as a business and networking teacher.  In 2010 Marla joined the Office of College and Career Readiness. Her current areas of responsibility include:

• Business Pathways: Business Finance, Business Management & Entrepreneurship, Marketing, BPA & DECA
• Digital Media, KSTL, & JEA/NSPA
• Emergency & Fire Management Services & Skills USA
• Information Pathways: Information Support and Services, Network Systems, Programming & Software Development, and  Web & Digital Communications 
• Pre-Law and Law Enforcement 
• Member of AFCEA-Board-(Charter member), CSTA-(Charter member),  AMS, and MEA

Administrative Assistant

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