Meet School Administration

Gretchen Pontious started her postsecondary educational journey at Kansas State University and graduated from there in 2009 with a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education. Her teaching career began at Arkansas City Middle School in Arkansas City, Kansas. She was an 8th grade Math Teacher there for three years. From there, she accepted a Center Director position at Mathnasium but after a year, missed public education and wanted to return to the classroom. She taught Math at Rose Hill High School for two years before teaching at Derby High School. In her five years at Derby High School, she was a Math Teacher and Department Chair. In 2016, she earned her Masters of Arts in Educational Theory and Practice from Arkansas State University. While at Derby High School, she fell in love with leading and went back to school for a Building Leadership Endorsement in 2020 from Fort Hays State University. She served as the Principal at Park Hill Elementary, in Derby, for three years before moving back to Derby High School where she is starting her second year as Principal. 

In 2015, she and her husband moved their family to Derby. They knew this was where they wanted to raise their family and have their kids go to school. Her husband is a teacher and coach within the district and their three children attend Derby Public Schools. 

I am thrilled to be starting my second year at Derby High School. I look forward to another wonderful year supporting our students, staff, and community. Green is magic! 

Shawn Bennett and his wife live here in Derby with their four kids. He is starting his second year as an Assistant Principal at Derby High School. Prior to working in Derby, he was an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Mulvane Middle School for three years and taught Health/PE/Weights at Winfield Middle School while also serving as the Head Baseball Coach at Winfield High School for four years. He also taught for three years at South High School and coached High School Baseball at Cheney High School and The Independent School for a combined nine years.

Some of his specific administrative duties at Derby High School include the following areas: 9th-grade principal, staff evaluations, athletic/activity supervision, student laptops, summer school, orientation, Pre-ACT coordinator and the staff newsletter.

This year, Justin McCubbin will be beginning his 12th year in education and second as an Administrator. His previous experience has all been as a Social Studies teacher at Winfield High School. He has a fair amount of leadership experience from duties as Department Head and through his 16 years in the Army Reserves (14 of which have been in leadership positions). My Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees are from Oklahoma State University and the University of Kansas, respectively. As a family, his wife and daughter all enjoy spending time outdoors together. He also loves classic cars, running and the NBA.

Some of his specific administrative duties at Derby High School include the following areas: 10th-grade principal, staff evaluations, athletic/activity supervision, safety and security, PDC process, in-school suspension, PIT/GEI and homebound. 

Michael Moseley attended Emporia State University and taught Business Education for Valley Center High School for 12 years before moving to administration at Derby High School. He is starting his second year as an Assistant Principal at Derby High School. During his time teaching, he taught many business classes, including college credit courses and coached both DECA and Scholars Bowl. The most rewarding aspect of his time teaching has been seeing students come into their own as they discover their passion for business and extend their learning beyond the classroom. He has also gained valuable experience and broadened his perspective through serving on various committees that include the Student Improvement Team, CTE Advisory Committee and the IPS Committee. During his time serving as the CTE PLC Lead and mentoring several new teachers, he has had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated and passionate educators around.

He has a wonderful wife, Elizabeth, who keeps him grounded and never lets him stay still for more than a few minutes and three awesome kids, Jayden, Henry, and Grace who bring him the greatest joy and also the highest levels of frustration, sometimes. As a family, they love to spend their time outdoors: hiking, camping and going for random walks. He is looking forward to another year of working with the great staff, students and the community of Derby!

Some of his specific administrative duties at Derby High School include the following areas: 11th-grade principal, staff evaluations, athletic/activity supervision, master schedule, Skyward, State Assessment supervisor, parent-teacher conferences, Pantherpawlooza, college and career readiness, CTE coordinator, concurrent/dual credit and ACT testing supervisor.

Cheryl Parks just completed her 16th year in education, 15 of them in Texas, but was born and raised in Southern California and earned her BA in science from California State University, San Bernardino. She lived in Texas for about 22 years before moving to Kansas. She received her M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction, and then her Principal Certification at Lamar University. She has held many leadership positions at other districts in Texas and is starting her second year in administration at Derby High School. She has enjoyed exploring Kansas and integrating into the Derby community with her husband. Her two daughters and grandchildren live in Oklahoma and her son and his wife moved to Kansas. I am excited for another year of work with the students, staff, families and the community.

Some of her specific administrative duties at Derby High School include the following areas: senior principal, event supervision, curriculum oversight, ELL, Special Education, virtual student programming and graduation.  

I can’t wait to get to know our new seniors and help them make it to their ringing of the bell.

Russell Baldwin grew up in an Army family, living all over the world, but call Lansing, KS his hometown. His wife, Janny, teaches Fourth Grade in the Derby District and they have two school-aged children, Emma and AJ. He has a B.S. from Kansas State in Secondary Education and two Master's degrees--Educational Administration from Ft. Hays State and Sports Administration from the University of Kansas. He taught Social Studies in Bonner Springs, KS and Platte City, MO before moving into administration. He was the Middle School Principal in Phillipsburg, KS before taking his current job as District Athletic/Activities Director. When he is not at work, he enjoy spending time outside and with family or watching sporting events. He and his family love living and working in Derby.