Resources - Works of Wonder Award

Wichita, Kan. – Caring and planning was all it took for Sabetha Superintendent Dennis Stones to ensure that a student with special needs in his school district receive an appropriate education.

After observing a student while in kindergarten, Stones realized that the student would require services in the future that the school district would be unable to provide. Stones began to plan for this student’s educational future and the costs that would arise from placing the student residentially.

Because of his insight and thoughtful planning, the student is now receiving services at Heartspring, a residential and day school in Wichita, Kansas.
Recently Heartspring presented Stones with the Works of Wonder Award during their annual recognition dinner July 10, for his outstanding effort to help children with special needs.

“Dennis Stones is a unique individual. I have been involved in special education for many years and have never heard of a superintendent being that proactive for an individual student. A special student at that,” said Jerry Stewart, Heartspring Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Mr. Stones has been in the Sabetha School district for the past 15 years serving as a principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent. Stones was a 2005 recipient of the Civic Star Award at the American Association of School Administrators National Conference on Education for his work to relieve hunger in Mozambique.

Mr. Dennis Stones, a native of Sabetha, is the Sabetha USD 441 Superintendent of Schools. He attended Peru State College where he graduated with a  Bachelor’s Degree in Education and then continued his education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. He has lived in Sabetha for the past fifteen years, serving as assistant superintendent for three years and SHS principal the previous four years. Prior to returning to Sabetha, Mr. Stones was a high school principal in Madison, Kansas for two years; 7-12 principal for five years in Kremlin, Oklahoma; and a teacher and coach for 10 years in Nebraska.