Earhart teacher and Hyde principal receive national recognition
Andi Barry, a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Earhart Environmental Magnet Elementary School, has been named the Region IV Magnet Teacher of the Year and Jamie Cole, principal of Hyde Leadership and International Explorations Magnet Elementary School has been named Region IV Magnet Principal of the Year by Magnet Schools of America.
Barry has worked at Earhart for 26 years and is a member of the school’s leadership team. She also serves as a coach and internship instructor in Wichita State University’s Teacher Apprentice Program, which helps paraeducators become classroom teachers.
Matt Malget, principal of Earhart says that Barry is an exceptional teacher who is invested in making learning engaging and fun, and who does intentional planning to not only meet required standards but to embed the school’s environmental theme into lessons.
“Mrs. Barry’s class is highly sought after by students and parents because of the connections she builds,” said Malget. “The relationships she builds extend way beyond our school walls even after students have left our building. Her class is the one that your family hopes you get to experience at least once during your educational career as she makes learning fun while bringing the curriculum to life.”
Barry says she feels blessed to be teaching at Earhart.
“To get recognized is special to me,” said Barry. “I feel this award shows off the work we do here with the magnet theme and what the district does with our magnet schools.”
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Jamie Cole has been principal of Hyde since 2017 and previously served as assistant principal of Minneha Core Knowledge Magnet Elementary from 2014-2017. She was an English Language Arts teacher at Mead Middle School for 10 years prior to that.
Under her leadership, this year Hyde was named a School of Excellence by Magnet School of America and last year the school was named a School of Distinction by Magnet Schools of America Distinction. Cole serves on the district’s Peer Consultant United Teachers of Wichita Governing Board, serves on the district’s magnet advising committee and previously served on United Schools of Administrators Principal Leadership Council.
Cole was nominated by Jesse Milne, instructional lead for WPS Magnet School Programs, who said she successfully transformed Hyde into a robust magnet school that focuses on the Leader In Me leadership theme.
“Ms. Cole was selected by MSA for the same reason her school was awarded the Merit Award of Excellence; students, staff, families, and visitors live and breathe Hyde’s magnet theme throughout the building,” said Milne. “The laser-like dedication and refinement of a magnet theme can only happen with inspiring and purposeful leadership. It can be difficult for our dual-themed programs to operate with equal fidelity to both themes, but Ms. Cole has navigated that task masterfully and when you are in the halls and classrooms of Hyde, there is no question that Leadership and International Explorations are their magnet focus.”
Cole said winning has been a humbling experience.
“It takes an entire school to make this happen,” Cole said. “This award validates all the work that everyone has poured into this school. It means the world to all of us that we’re doing the right things right and we’re creating the leaders of tomorrow.”
Phyllis Cottner, WPS Magnet Curriculum and Instruction Coach, said that these awards reflect the dedication both educators bring to their schools’ magnet theme.
“Both Jamie Cole and Andi Barry exemplify the passion, focus and commitment we hope to see in all our magnet schools,” said Phyllis Cottner, WPS Magnet Curriculum and Instruction Coach. “I am incredibly proud to see them both recognized for the transformative work they have done.”
