Brandon Simmelink will be interviewing for the position of Superintendent of Schools with the Board of Education on Tuesday May 5, 2026. Simmelink is the second of four candidates that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley Board of Education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Brandon Simmelink currently serves as a Principal in USD 373 Newton. He is in his 4th year in that position. Previously, Simmelink served as a McPherson Middle School Principal for 6 years.
The HMS Battle of the Books has grown each year, This year we had 124 students participate, reading 456 books in a 2 and a half month period.
Board to Interview First Superintendent Candidate
Todd Wiedemann will be interviewing for the position of superintendent with the board of education on Monday May 4, 2026. Wiedemann is the first of four candidates that USD 440 Halstead/Bentley board of education will be interviewing. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups and an online community survey utilized during the search process.
Todd Wiedemann currently serves as the Director of the Kansas MTSS and Alignment Project through the Southeast Kansas Education Center. He is in his 17th year in that position. Previously, Wiedemann served in a Secondary School Leadership role for 13 years.
We loved welcoming teams from Maize and Ottawa to see how we integrate Apple technology with learning across our district!
Both districts are beginning their Apple Education journey, and we were excited to share how technology supports teaching, learning, creativity, and collaboration in our classrooms.
A huge thank you to Chelsea Sperry, Liz Kepple, Misty Faudel, Joell Matlack, Sarah Bussen, Aurora Farmer, Holly Harrington, Eileen Vlamis, and Keely Orr for opening their classrooms and allowing our visitors to see Apple technology in action firsthand!
A shoutout to our student leaders Taryn Barry, Onnyka Nedich, Adelynn Hahn, and Lydia Doshier for sharing how they learn and create with Apple technology.
We’re proud to showcase the amazing work happening in our schools with Apple technology and support others on their journey!
#440Proud #440iTeam #AppleEducation
🎒✨ Halstead/Bentley Families: Ready to start your child’s preschool journey? ✨🎒
Preschool screening still has open slots on May 1 and May 8!
If you have a 3‑ or 4‑year‑old and are interested in preschool, please click the link below to share your information. Once submitted, a member of our team will reach out to answer any questions and help schedule a screening time.
👉 Please submit your information even if these dates do not work and you are interested in learning more about our preschool program.
🔗 Complete the form here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCEO1E1jUMeInF7mbFUfoqvLV2aK0kvcexUimgozvqL8FaSQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor
We can’t wait to connect with our future Dragon families! ❤️🐉
#HalsteadBentley #PreschoolScreening #EarlyChildhood #FutureDragons #PreschoolReady
Reminder:
📣 Community Input Requested: Superintendent Search 📣
As the USD 440 Board of Education begins the process of selecting the next Superintendent of Schools for Halstead/Bentley, we are seeking community input on the professional and personal qualities you value most in our next superintendent.
You are invited to share your voice by attending an in‑person focus group or by completing a short online survey.
👥 Join a Focus Group
We will host in‑person focus group sessions on Monday, April 20. Please attend the time and location that works best for you:
🕣 8:30 a.m. – District Office
🕤 9:30 a.m. – District Office
🕝 2:30 p.m. – Bentley Primary School
📝 Share Your Voice via Survey
If you are unable to attend a focus group, please take a few minutes to complete our online survey.
⏱️ The survey takes approximately 5 minutes.
👉 Click here to participate:
https://tejoin.com/scroll/193356299
Thank you for your time and for helping us shape the future of our school district.
USD 440 Board of Education
🎉 Congrats to last week's BINGO winners!
More game changer skills staff have learned that are game changers in the classroom:
🎥 Screen recording on iPad
🔗 Using hashtags to create links across apps
👩💻 QR code generator for quick access for students
So many simple tools making a big impact in the classroom for teachers and students!
#440Proud #AppleEducation #440iTeam
Join us at Halstead Middle School for our plant sale!
🗓 May 2 | 9am–2pm
Plants • Decorations • Handmade Items 🌱
All earnings go to funding the green house.
We hope to see you there!
🚀 Learning & Innovation in Action! 🚀
Our Apple BINGO tech challenge is in full swing, and staff across the district are shouting BINGO!
What makes this even better? This is voluntary learning, where staff work at their own pace to build skills that truly make a difference in their day-to-day workflow.
We’re seeing some real game changers in action:
✨ Split screen for multitasking
👀 Quick View for faster file access
📲 Shortcuts to create QR codes
🗂️ Group Tab organizer for staying organized
📄 Merging PDFs
Small skills are leading to big wins for more efficient workflows, better organization, and more time focused on students!
We love seeing our staff jump in, learn, and embrace the opportunity for continuous improvement @ 440!
#440Proud #AppleEducation #440iTeam
Lavonda Shafto, para at BPS, is on a roll with THREE BINGOS and just TWO squares away from a BLACKOUT!
Her favorite find? Using tags to organize notes quickly and keep everything sorted—simple, but powerful!
We love seeing staff discover tools that make their day easier. BLACKOUT watch is ON… 👀
#440proud #AppleLearning #440iTeam
Shoutout to Erika Witten at BPS for earning THREE BINGOS on this month’s Apple BINGO board! 👏
Learning split screen on her iPad is a game changer for her. We love how learning simple tools can make a big impact in the classroom! 🙌
Who’s next to call BINGO? 👀
#440AppleBINGO #440Proud
A big shoutout to Chelsea Sperry, one of our amazing 1st grade teachers, who just earned her favorite candy and Sonic drink with THREE BINGOS on this month's Apple BINGO board! 👏
Chelsea’s classroom is a perfect example of what happens when creativity, curiosity, and Apple technology come together to support student learning.
Who will be the next to call BINGO? 👀
#440AppleBINGO #440Proud #440CanCreate
We’re celebrating with delicious, nutritious morning meals for all Halstead and Bentley students. Start your day strong, stay focused, and fuel up with us in the cafeteria each morning!
☀️💙 #NSBW #USD440
Mrs. Carr & Mrs. Hiebert were treated to fruit cups from the FFA Officers as part of National FFA Week activities.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WK1KaNszt64XxSorlqrI2iLEkZD8ZnSP/view?usp=share_link
