Rachele earned a Bachelor of Science in Marketing at Kansas State University. After college, Rachele worked at Hallmark Cards Inc. for 16.5 years in various positions such as Field Sales Representative, District Retail Trainer, Training Specialist and Sales Manager. Eventually, Rachele left the corporate world to become a “professional volunteer” within her community.  She spent countless hours assisting at her children’s elementary, middle and high schools, served on many district committees and volunteered weekly at her church.  In 2013, Rachel was elected to USD 232 Board of Education and served two terms. Rachele cares about educating our children and surrounding them with the information and tools they need to have postsecondary success.  She also believes that our teachers are the foundation of our educational system.  Ensuring they are supported, rewarded and equipped with the tools to make their job easier, is one of the motivating reasons for participating on the Education Foundation Board.  Rachele currently lives in Olathe with her husband and two children.  

Nancy has been the co-owner and CFO of her family-owned business, Neighbors Construction, for the past 38 years. She has served our community as a board member for Lake Mary Center and the Community Care Committee at Kaw Prairie Church. She would like to help the foundation and tUSD 232 achieve a vast number of businesses for support and internships as well as to assist non-college seeking students to a meaningful and profitable career.

Casey, with a strong background in communications, event management and education administration, has served in multiple roles during her nine years with USD 232. She will strive to be a strong link between the school district and the foundation in her role as Executive Director. Casey’s goal for the USD 232 Education Foundation is for our community to recognize the value of what this foundation can do for our students and the impact it can have for years to come.

Susan Mohn, an alumnus of USD 232, used her two bachelor degrees and problem-solving abilities, to work for clinical research company managing data and clinical trials. Currently, she owns a small business, which uses her skills in marketing and social media, and recently accepted a position as a Professional Tutor. Susan has been active in her community serving as a Board Member for the Kansas Families United for Public Education and also helped start the USD 232 Early Childhood PTA. Susan’s main personal goal is to empower teachers and students to go beyond the current limits to expand their learning and improve their teaching skills. She also wants to see the foundation help connect the district to the broader community for the benefit of our student population.

Norman L. Messner, Senior Vice President and Commercial Division Manager at Arvest Bank - has over 25 years of commercial banking experience in the Kansas City market and manages a Greater Kansas City commercial lending group for the bank, develops new business, manages a portfolio, and is a member of the Greater Kansas City Senior Loan Committee. As an active member of the USD 232 Community, Norm has witnessed the positive impact that education foundations have had on other districts in our area and the vast support that they have received from the community.  He is interested in serving our school community in any way that he can.

Ashley has a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication at the University of Kansas. She began working at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) doing social science research. In 2017, she moved to the Masonic Cancer Alliance, the outreach network of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, where she works as the executive communications manager. Ashley served on the Riverview Elementary PTA Board and site council and also served on the site council for Mill Creek Middle School before joining the USD 232 district site council team. Ashley began her four-year term on the USD 232 De Soto School Board in January 2020; she was elected vice president in July 2021 and most recently became board president this July.  Ashley is excited to be part of the Education Foundation and to support the incredible teachers and staff of USD 232 so they can be the best educators possible to the amazing students of USD 232. She lives in western Shawnee with her husband and their two children who attend USD 232 schools.

Jamie Weese started her own law firm to help families with their estate planning and small business needs. She is very active in the community by serving on the Advisory Board of First Responders Support Team and as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run at Clear Creek Elementary. Her main objective as a founding Board Member will be to ensure the foundation has a strong footing to make a lasting impact in the USD 232 community.

Roger Templin is a Principal with the law firm of Payne & Jones, Chartered in Overland Park, where he has practiced since joining the firm after graduating from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1992. His practice today includes entrepreneurial, business, tax, securities, banking, real estate, estate planning matters, and bankruptcy and business litigation. Roger, and his wife Mitra, raised two children in De Soto, both graduates of De Soto High School, and firmly believes in the tremendous opportunities USD 232 provides to its students, staff and the community.  He is currently a member of the De Soto Planning Commission, and volunteers as a scorekeeper at Wildcat softball games.

Alvie is the USD 232 Assistant Superintendent for Administrative & Educational Services and has been with the district since 2004. Alvie is thrilled to have a small part in helping launch the education foundation in USD 232. His goal is to see our community partnering with businesses and organizations to support teachers and students through foundation grants and initiative.

Holly joined USD 232 in 2007 and is going into her 13th year of teaching at Belmont Elementary. Holly has represented teachers, through the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, in three districts she has served. Her hope is to be the liaison between the foundation and the classroom in order to better serve the mission of the foundation.

Kris Meyer is a long-time advocate of USD 232, formerly serving as principal at Starside Elementary, associate principal at De Soto High School, and a Horizon Award-winning classroom teacher. She has two daughters attending DHS. Kris co-hosted the inaugural USD 232 Education Foundation Giving Circle in 2022 and looks forward to serving in her new role as Executive Director. Click to email Kris Meyer.