Dear Phoenix Family, 

I am extremely excited to join USD409 this year. I am a veteran educator with over thirty years of experience, who is thankful for the opportunity to serve in the role of superintendent for our schools. Throughout my career, I have had multiple opportunities to work with students at every level, as both a teacher, instructional coach, and administrator.

My husband Bryan and I have two adult children. Will (29) lives in Olathe and is a pharmacist for CVS and our daughter Megan (25) and her husband Nate live in Lawton, Oklahoma. Bryan and I sponsor foreign exchange students and we will have a young man from Spain with us this year who will be a junior at AHS. As an Army wife, I have been fortunate to teach in several different states and duty stations. I received my undergraduate degree from Stephen F. Austin State University Axe ‘Em Jacks in my hometown of Nacogdoches, Texas. My master's and specialist's degrees from Pittsburg State University here in Kansas. 

I will be moving to Atchison by the end of July and am looking forward to getting to know the local area and attending community events. If you see me out and about in town, please take a moment to introduce yourself.   I am proud to be a Phoenix and look forward to getting to be a part of the USD 409 family.

It’s a great day to be a Phoenix! 

Laura Batson
laura.batson@usd409.net