WPS Division Director of Safety and Environmental Services wins Excellence in Public Service Award

Terri Moses, WPS Division Director of Safety and Environmental Services, is the 2024 Excellence in Public Service Award for the Wichita Public Schools.

Click here to watch a video of the surprise announcement.

Now in its 36th year, the award recognizes employees from the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and Wichita Public Schools who exhibit the highest standard of service on the job and through their volunteerism. The winners each receive $2,500 from the DeVore Foundation.

Moses has worked for the district for 10 and a half years.

Wendy Johnson, WPS Division Director of Strategic Communications, nominated Moses for the award, highlighting her service in law enforcement with the Wichita Police Department where she served for 31 years, and now, the Wichita Public Schools.

“Terri embodies what it means to be a public servant,” said Johnson. “For a combined 40-plus years, Terri has invested in the Wichita community through service in law enforcement. Her bold, yet humble, demeanor, her relentless commitment to ethical actions, and her steadfast conviction that people matter most, make her the most outstanding choice possible to be the school district’s Excellence in Public Service award winner.”

Johnson specifically noted Moses’ efforts during the pandemic.

“I will be forever impressed by the work I saw her willingly take on when she was asked to lead the district’s COVID response team,” Johnson said. “Her 'Lead like a duck' mentality was absolutely vital to our district’s ability to survive and even thrive during the pandemic thanks to her leadership.”

Moses was responsible for several key initiatives to improve safety within the district including:

• Recommendation, selection and implementation of the Hall Pass visitor management system
• Implementation of a regular Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) review initiative to constantly monitor and review school campuses to assure the safest-possible environment
• Secured leadership buy-in and commitment to create active substitute clerical training to ensure consistent knowledge, and use, of safety tools and resources in WPS buildings
• Advocated for every WPS school building to have a secure entry
• Recommendation, selection and implementation to our school entry scanner purchase and installation as part of our commitment to ensuring schools are trusted as safe places

Moses’ community work includes serving on the Child Advocacy Center of Sedgwick County’s Board of Directors, engaging in initiatives to address issues related to homelessness and serving on the Liquor Tax Coalition task force. She has also been a long-time member of the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, serving both as a team member and leader. She also frequently shares presentations on wellness and well-bring, public safety and leadership with community and state-wide organizations.

“Terri is always willing to share her time to support causes and work that makes a difference for people including Junior League of Wichita, Leadership Wichita, the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center, Bethany College and other Kansas school districts,” Johnson said.

In addition to service to the community, Moses is fiercely committed to her faith community, Congregation Emanu-El, and to Wichita State University, where she earned multiple degrees, was a student athlete and served on the alumni’s national board. Moses and her family have been season ticket holders for numerous athletic teams for decades and she is a fixture at Shocker basketball and baseball games.

She will be honored, along with the Excellence in Public Service Award winners from Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita, at a reception at Botanica on May 16.