08/21/2026
There is always a special kind of energy in the air as summer winds down and a new school year begins. This week, DeWitt Public Schools staff gathered to capture that exact feeling at our annual 2026-27 Welcome Back Breakfast.
The morning kicked off with delicious food, laughter, and warm reunions, all made possible by our phenomenal Food Service team who worked tirelessly to serve up a fantastic meal to start the day right.
Community partnerships are the backbone of our district's success, and this year's breakfast was generously sponsored by Kingsley Insurance Group - Meemic Insurance. Their support, however, went far beyond sponsorship, presenting several incredible financial grants to our dedicated educators, helping them start the year fully resourced:
Liz Crouch (nominated by Liz Woodhams) was awarded a $1,000 Back-to-School Grant.
Lisa Toth was awarded a $300 Back-to-School Grant for her classroom.
Christy Thelen was awarded a $300 Grant specifically to support our PALS program.
To top off the morning of giving, five lucky staff members—Cindy Brushaber, Carrie Reeve, Alisha Sturgis, Sierra Cervantes, and Tracy Wineland—each walked away with $25 gift cards!
Beyond the celebrations, the morning was about looking forward to the work ahead. We had the great pleasure of introducing the newest members of our staff and cheering on current staff who are stepping into exciting new roles this year.
The crowd also heard from Jessica Rollins of the DeWitt Public Schools Foundation. She shared an inspiring reminder of how the foundation directly impacts our district by providing essential classroom grants and funding student scholarships.
Finally, Superintendent Kevin Robydek took to the podium to speak on our district's long-term vision, outlining the upcoming 2026 Bond Proposal.
It was a morning full of gratitude, great food, and Panther Pride.
We are so ready to make this school year our best one yet.
We will see you on Monday for the first day of school!
