Blue Valley Schools
Meet the Board of Education
Blue Valley Board of Education members live within their individual geographic member districts and are elected by a voting plan whereby six members live in geographic member districts and one runs at large. In a primary election, only residents from the geographic member district vote for the candidates. In all general elections, all residents vote for all candidates. This method reinforces the district's belief that all members represent all children in Blue Valley. Board members are elected to four-year terms. All seven serve the entire district without pay.
![Professional headshot of Jan Kessinger]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758033373/bluevalleyk12org/gcu5ub7hlqymzpxr3mma/Kessinger_Jan_10.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758033373/bluevalleyk12org/gcu5ub7hlqymzpxr3mma/Kessinger_Jan_10.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758033373/bluevalleyk12org/gcu5ub7hlqymzpxr3mma/Kessinger_Jan_10.jpg","width":640}])
Jan Kessinger serves as president of the Board of Education. He was appointed in 2022 to fill a vacancy and elected in 2023. He has lived in Blue Valley since 1984 when he moved here from California and chose Blue Valley because of the schools. He and his wife, Jeanne, have three daughters who graduated from Blue Valley North. Additionally, two grandchildren graduated from Blue Valley Northwest and a daughter teaches in the district.
![Professional headshot of Clay Norkey]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759517878/bluevalleyk12org/mvew5pdfi64dldhdzlwl/Norkey_Clay_60.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759517878/bluevalleyk12org/mvew5pdfi64dldhdzlwl/Norkey_Clay_60.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1759517878/bluevalleyk12org/mvew5pdfi64dldhdzlwl/Norkey_Clay_60.jpg","width":640}])
Elected in 2023, Clay Norkey currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Education. He is passionate about creating a learning environment where all students are both challenged and supported in reaching their own individual potentials. Starting with a foundation of rigorous academics, he believes in preparing our young people to be strong empathetic leaders, informed contributing citizens, and innovative critical thinkers.
![The image shows a middle-aged man wearing a navy blue suit and a red tie, standing in front of a dark background. He has a friendly, confident expression on his face and is wearing glasses.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1767906431/bluevalleyk12org/bh59vyceillfcwzqgmzf/DrDavid_Benson.jpg","width":2200}])
The Blue Valley community elected Dr. David Benson to the Board of Education in November 2025. A former Blue Valley superintendent from 1993 to 2004, Dr. Benson brings more than 40 years of experience in public education. A native of Chanute, Kansas, Dr. Benson attended Pittsburg State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in education and later received his Master of Science in secondary school administration. He earned a postgraduate degree in school administration from Wichita State University and his doctorate in educational administration and foundations from Kansas State University.
![Professional headshot of Dr. Sonya Evans]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758033405/bluevalleyk12org/umljwvptymkrutrcscep/Evans_Sonya_4.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758033405/bluevalleyk12org/umljwvptymkrutrcscep/Evans_Sonya_4.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758033405/bluevalleyk12org/umljwvptymkrutrcscep/Evans_Sonya_4.jpg","width":640}])
Dr. Sonya Evans began her service on the Board of Education on July 17, 2023, to fill a vacancy. Dr. Evans holds an EdD degree from Saint Louis University, EdS from Saint Louis University, MBA from Rockhurst University, and a BS in Organizational Management and Leadership. Dr. Evans is a longtime Blue Valley resident with an extensive history of support and involvement in the district.
![Professional headshot of Gina Knapp]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758033393/bluevalleyk12org/xmegpvs4zobrhw2urqgl/Knapp_Gina_11.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758033393/bluevalleyk12org/xmegpvs4zobrhw2urqgl/Knapp_Gina_11.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1758033393/bluevalleyk12org/xmegpvs4zobrhw2urqgl/Knapp_Gina_11.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1758033393/bluevalleyk12org/xmegpvs4zobrhw2urqgl/Knapp_Gina_11.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758033393/bluevalleyk12org/xmegpvs4zobrhw2urqgl/Knapp_Gina_11.jpg","width":1280}])
Gina Knapp was elected by the Blue Valley community to the Board of Education in 2021. She grew up in the public schools of Johnson County, where she has lived most of her life. Gina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Kansas and a Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship and Finance from UMKC.
![Professional headshot of Jodie Dietz]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1758033383/bluevalleyk12org/vn6tf0oten8kbpgbcfa1/Dietz_Jodie_28.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1758033383/bluevalleyk12org/vn6tf0oten8kbpgbcfa1/Dietz_Jodie_28.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1758033383/bluevalleyk12org/vn6tf0oten8kbpgbcfa1/Dietz_Jodie_28.jpg","width":640}])
Jodie Dietz began serving on the Blue Valley Board of Education in January 2020. She is a 30+ year Johnson County resident with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Management. Jodie is a former probation officer here in Johnson County, currently works at Johnson County Community College, and has been active in the community and school district in a variety of capacities for over 25 years.
![Professional headshot of Patrick Hurley]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1747089812/bluevalleyk12org/ccncjoo2tcdqxr03pvot/Hurley_Patrick.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1747089812/bluevalleyk12org/ccncjoo2tcdqxr03pvot/Hurley_Patrick.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1747089812/bluevalleyk12org/ccncjoo2tcdqxr03pvot/Hurley_Patrick.jpg","width":640}])
Patrick has served on the Blue Valley Board of Education since 2015. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Rockhurst University and a juris doctor degree from Washburn University. He currently works as a licensed attorney.
