Meet Jayne Diaz, Principal of Ross Elementary. She has been the assistant principal for the last seven-plus years. Jayne began her career as an educator in 2001 at Oakdale Elementary. She joined Dodge City USD 443 in 2009 as an instructional coach, and in 2015 she was named Assistant Principal of Ross Elementary. 

Diaz received her Bachelor of Science in elementary education with a minor in family and child development in 2000, her Master of Science in curriculum and instruction with ESL endorsement in 2005, and her Master of Science in educational administration and leadership in 2011. Professionally, she has served on the Kansas Principal’s Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE), USD 443 Professional Development Council, 443 math, and steering committees.

Jayne is married to Luis, a DCHS graduate and a Dodge City Fire Department firefighter. They have two daughters. She and her family love to attend K-State Athletic events. Jayne finds joy in working in the dirt, nurturing plants and flowers. 

She fondly shared memories of her grandmother, a teacher who was the first to encourage her love of teaching. Recently, Jayne discovered her grandmother’s teaching contract and said, “things have certainly changed.”

When asked about her new role in the district, Jayne said, “I have thoroughly loved getting the privilege to work alongside many great educators and leaders in my career. The family at Ross has always made me feel at home, and I look forward to continuing all the amazing things we have to support our students. Thank you, families, for trusting us with your precious rhinos!”

diaz.jayne@usd443.org

We are happy to announce that Sarah Thomas has been selected as the new Assistant Principal of Ross Elementary, effective July 1, 2024.  Sarah brings experience and dedication to her new role, having served most recently as Behavior Coordinator for K-5 Elementary Schools.  In this capacity, she was responsible for developing and implementing behavior intervention plans, conducting staff training on behavior management strategies, and collaborating with teachers and parents to support student success.

With eleven years of experience in education as a teacher, counselor, and teacher mentor, Sarah has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering a positive learning environment. She was a member of the Building Leadership Team at Northwest Elementary and Comanche Middle School and is a trained Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Instructor.

Sarah’s academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in ESOL curriculum and instruction from Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, and an M.Ed. in school counseling from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She is projected to earn her M.Ed. in educational leadership in July 2024.

Sarah is a familiar face within Dodge City Public Schools. In her previous roles, she worked closely with many teachers and students. Her experience and dedication to educational achievement make her a valuable addition to the Ross Elementary leadership team.

Please join us in congratulating Sarah Thomas on her new position as Assistant Principal of Ross Elementary. We look forward to her continued contributions to our school community.

thomas.sarah@usd443.org