Abilene Unified School District

Cultivating Character and Career Readiness in Eisenhower’s Hometown

A Kansas school district blending presidential legacy, progressive CTE pathways, and community-rooted values to develop well-rounded leaders for the modern economy

The Abilene Unified School District (AUSD) in Abilene, Kansas, stands as a model of progressive education, blending academic excellence with strong character development. Rooted in community-driven values, the district emphasizes integrity, accountability, and perseverance, traits inspired in part by its most famous alumnus, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. From early learning initiatives to career-ready programs, AUSD prepares students for a rapidly evolving world while honoring its legacy of excellence. 

Core Values and Character Development

At the heart of AUSD’s mission lies a commitment to building not just scholars, but citizens of character. “Our five core values are integrity, accountability, cooperation, respect, and perseverance,” says Brown, noting how these principles shape students into well-rounded leaders. 

“We set up a booth at the county fair and collected character traits that most people felt were valuable among young adults,” notes Brown on using direct community input to help shape the district’s core values. “The district wanted to ensure that we were helping our kiddos be the kinds of young people as new graduates that we would all be proud of,” he adds.

To reinforce these values, AUSD invested strategically in the Boys Town Social Skills Program, allocating $250,000 in COVID relief funds to train staff and students in positive behavior reinforcement. “We spent a good amount of time working on character development,” Brown says.  “When the COVID money came out I made it very clear that we were not terribly interested in building statues, that we should use this money to do some things that might have otherwise been difficult to do that would have an impact on teaching and learning for years to come,” he adds. The program extends district-wide, with administrators certified as trainers to ensure consistency from classrooms to school buses.

Holistic support systems further strengthen this focus. Every building has dedicated counselors, while initiatives like “mindful minutes” and Boys Town’s evidence-based techniques help students navigate social and emotional challenges. We make sure that all of our students and all of our employees, bus drivers and everybody is trained on how to encourage the right kinds of behaviors among kids,” Brown emphasizes. This comprehensive approach ensures that character development isn’t just taught but lived, preparing students to lead with the same values that defined Eisenhower’s legacy.

Early Learning Initiatives

Recognizing that strong foundations begin early, AUSD has made significant investments in its youngest learners. The district has expanded its preschool program from two to four classrooms for four-year-olds in response to growing community demand. “We implemented preschool in the district during Mr. Brown’s first year, which would be six years ago” explains Assistant Superintendent Dana Sprinkle. “We know the demand is there within our community.”

A key driver of this success is the district’s Early Education Coalition, which brings together diverse stakeholders to create a seamless support system. “We implemented an early education coalition that brought together service providers across the district,” Sprinkle says. This network includes preschools, childcare centers, Parents as Teachers programs, and special education services through OCCK. The collaborative approach ensures families can access the right resources at the right time.

One of the coalition’s most impactful events is the annual Early Education Fair, which transforms school engagement into a community celebration. “We host an early education fair that brings in all those providers across the county,” Sprinkle notes. The event connects families with essential services like dental care and health screenings while making learning fun, with the most recent featuring a petting zoo with animals from local ranchers. With 20-25 providers participating annually, the fair exemplifies Abilene’s commitment to removing barriers and building connections from a child’s earliest years.

Technology and STEM Integration

AUSD takes a thoughtful approach to technology, balancing digital tools with developmental needs. While a one-to-one iPad district, administrators have made a conscious decision to limit screen time for younger students. “For those earliest learners from preschool through first grade, we are going to step away from having that screen time and having those devices in their hands during the school day,” explains Sprinkle. This shift reflects recent research about fostering better self-regulation in early learners.

For older students, technology serves as a springboard for innovation. The district’s “We Build It Better” program, a pre-engineering curriculum for middle schoolers, completed its successful first year. “Our school board is very supportive of being progressive with our thinking and helping kids prepare for the future,” notes Brown.

The district has also expanded its media production pathway, giving students real-world experience in graphic design and broadcasting. “It’s pretty impressive, some of the work that’s being done throughout our district, really, six through twelve,” Brown says, describing how students now produce content for school events. 

A recent staffing change created new opportunities, with Sprinkle noting, “we wanted to just go a slightly different direction, have opportunities for traditional art classes, but then also start building in that graphic design component into the middle school setting.” These programs don’t just teach technical skills, they cultivate the problem-solving abilities students need in an evolving digital landscape.

Career and Technical Education Programs

AUSD offers students 13 distinct CTE pathways that blend classroom learning with real-world application, recognized at graduation with special cover cords for program completers. From Future Farmers of America (FFA) to the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), these programs provide tangible career foundations. “We have kids go to the national conference every year,” notes Brown, highlighting the competitive opportunities available. “The programs themselves have their own fundraising activities, the community supports them really well, and it’s a fascinating set of experiences for our older kiddos,” he adds. 

The district’s CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) program stands out as Kansas’s only such initiative. Students develop full business plans while connecting with local mentors. “The kiddos actually work on a business plan and establish some kind of personal business,” Brown explains. “One of the driving factors for the program is to try to encourage kiddos to develop a business that they could perhaps come back to their home communities and continue.”

Board President Chris West emphasizes the professional rigor, adding, “they have to dress professionally… and learn to look eye to eye with business owners in town when they meet with them.”

A newer addition is the JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates) program. “This will be another opportunity for young people to be a little bit more focused on their future than sometimes what typical school tends to do,” notes Brown. These CTE initiatives share a common thread of transforming classroom knowledge into professional competence. As West observes, students gain exposure to diverse business models, from “an office job or a t-shirt graphic design job,” preparing them for multiple career trajectories.

Capital Improvements and Infrastructure

AUSD’s commitment to excellence extends to its physical spaces, with strategic investments transforming learning environments. The 2014 bond projects set a strong foundation, funding a new elementary school and a remarkable auditorium. “The cost of the auditorium to build surpassed the cost of building the elementary school from the ground up,” Brown notes, underscoring the community’s support for arts education.

Career-tech education received a significant boost through a $1.5 million vocational building renovation. “I remember one of the board members saying, you know, we have gone the extra mile to make the high school a really special place and have it be a facility that the kids would be proud of and we want to have that same kind of pride in our vocational education building,” notes Brown of the board’s vision. The project modernized spaces for programs like carpentry and welding without additional debt.

The stadium renovation exemplifies the district’s perseverance. “We spent $5.2 million on a facility that’s worth over $10 million now,” Brown says, despite pandemic-era challenges that quadrupled some change order costs.

Looking ahead, a comprehensive deferred maintenance plan ensures sustainability through 2042, addressing HVAC, roofing, and the stadium’s artificial turf replacement cycle. “We’ve been pretty intentional about building a deferred maintenance program,” Brown explains, demonstrating fiscal responsibility while maintaining facilities that match the district’s educational ambitions.

Vision for the Future

AUSD continues building momentum through strategic investments in its educators and instructional practices. “We really encourage a lot of collaboration with our teachers, and we’re developing teachers on the fly, really,” says Brown, noting efforts to encourage professional growth through advanced degrees in curriculum and instruction. These investments yield measurable results, with Sprinkles noting that “graduation rates that are increasing very significantly over the last five to six year time frame.”

“We need to remember why we’re here, and we really want to make sure that we’re doing a great job educating our kids, and I think we have,” reflects Brown. “We’ve been very focused on making sure that we’re kept up to speed with the latest research on teaching and learning, and also how the brain works.” 

The district maintains its forward focus through strong community ties. Ongoing partnerships with local businesses and organizations ensure programs remain responsive to workforce needs while providing students with real-world opportunities. As Sprinkle observes, “there’s still more work to do,” but the foundation for sustained excellence is firmly established.

Forging Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Tradition and Innovation

AUSD exemplifies how progressive education and timeless values can work in harmony. The district’s commitment to excellence, embodied in its mission of “holding leaders for today and tomorrow,” continues to be shaped by President Eisenhower’s legacy. As Brown reflects, “it’s really fascinating that a small community of only 6,000 can have the number of graduates that we’ve had that have been connected worldwide.” 

By blending innovative programs with enduring principles of character, AUSD prepares students to navigate a changing economy while remaining grounded in the values that built its reputation, proving that great leadership begins in the classroom.

AT A GLANCE:
Who: Abilene Unified School District
What: A Kansas district combining presidential heritage with innovative career-tech programs, early learning coalitions, and character development initiatives
Where: Abilene, Dickinson County, Kansas
Website: https://www.abileneschools.org/