Victoria Palomino

Tristan Allen

New English II teacher and freshman dance team sponsor Victoria Palomino went to high school here and has found her way back.

Before teaching here, Palomino taught at Mill Valley High School in Shawnee for one year, and this is her second year teaching, straight out of college.

“I grew up in Olathe, even went to OS. I feel very familiar with Olathe,” Palomino said about coming back to teach. “The town kind of built me I suppose.”

Palomino decided to teach because she loves showing people how to do something and to see someone struggling have a light bulb moment.

She describes herself as compassionate because that is “part of teaching,” positive because she always tries to have a positive outlook on life, and flexible.

Some strengths she has include being flexible and organized, but she also admitted that being organized is also a fault as she organizes “so far ahead that it is unnecessary.”

In her free time, Palomino likes to run because it allows her to decompress and reflect.

Ali Plankers

Josepha Kamseu

Loving.

That’s the best term to describe how the new FACS teacher and varsity Golden Girls coach Ali Plankers feels about her students. She loves to work with kids and young adults.

Plankers grew up in Olathe and had a great growing up experience. She also graduated from Olathe South and was part of the Golden Girls, did a couple of musicals, and was also on the newspaper staff. Her classes included AP  English and was in AP History.

She said, “I always wanted to be a teacher.”  Her mom Laurie Plankers is a freshman language arts teacher and her brother John Plankers is a Spanish teacher. Plankers said, “I am turning into my mother, in a respectful way.” Something she has learned from teaching is that every stundent brings a different plate to the table. Plankers said, “ I learn as much from my kids as I teach.”

This is Plankers’ first year here as a FACS teacher. Previously she taught at Mission Trail Middle School for four years.

Plankers sees herself as hardworking because she has always tried her best, fun because she loves to have a good time, and outgoing because she likes to try new things. She also loves shopping because she loves clothes, cooking because she loves to eat, and traveling because it is how she relaxes.

Randy Traylor

Drew Houfek

Teachers can impact lives in many ways by inspiring, motivating, and cultivating their students’ futures.

One student who grew up to become a teacher and who strives to follow in the footsteps of one of his former teachers in this way is Randy Traylor, new industrial tech teacher.

“I have no idea why I decided to teach, but I do remember having a high school teacher who was amazing and captivated us in his history class. I think I’ve always based my style off his,” Traylor said.

Traylor grew up in Dodge City, Kan., before graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism. However, he decided to become a teacher, which he has been doing since college.

He has since gathered lots of experience by working 10 years in Winfield, Kan., and another 12 in Andover, Kan.

Traylor also said he has learned lots in teaching, especially in what the best approaches are to get students to understand different concepts.

“From teaching, I’ve learned that I’m concerned about what the students are actually learning. If they are not understanding, then I need to figure out why,” he said.

When describing himself, Traylor considers himself a goofy, caring dad. He enjoys spending time with his family and charring meat on the grill.

“Wrap bacon in a turkey leg, and I am good,” he said.

Vicki Tucker

Emma Collins

New staff members have been seen through out the school. In the English department, Vicki Tucker not only teaches freshmen English but also public speech.

She enjoys gaining a connection with her students and helping them as much as possible in order to success in her class.

Tucker was born in Texas and partially lived in California. She enjoyed and still enjoys meeting new people and living in new places.

She wasn’t originally going to be a teacher. She decided after one of her previous teachers chose her to teach her English class for a day. Tucker realized after that she wanted to become a teacher.

After college, she taught at Shawnee Mission East for nine years, Colleyville Heritage for eight years and in Lawrence for two years.

“I’ve learned that I have to be alert and need to have close observation in order to teach,” Tucker said.

Along with High School, Tucker also taught at universities, 8^th grade and has even taught music for a period of time.

For her career, Tucker think of herself as caring, funny, and cheerful person and teacher.

Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her grandkids and participating in her church choir. Along with watching Netflix whenever she can.