photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

Members of Lawrence High School's Unity Steppers dance team perform during the Lawrence school district's back-to-school kickoff event on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, at the Lied Center.

The Lawrence school district on Tuesday hosted a kind of academic pep rally — touting its aspiration to be the best in the nation — to kick off the 2023-24 school year, which gets underway Thursday with the first full day of K-12 classes.

The kickoff at the Lied Center was tied to the launch of the district’s Character Strong curriculum. As the Journal-World has reported, Character Strong emphasizes the need for community-building in classrooms, predominantly through the nurturing of positive relationships.

photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

Lawrence Superintendent Anthony Lewis delivers a motivational speech during the district’s back-to-school kickoff event on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, at the Lied Center.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis told the packed audience that the immediate focus should be on cultivating relationships with students. He noted that students who form positive relationships with teachers tend to exhibit less stress, attend class regularly and engage more in the learning environment.

“Students almost always work harder for teachers they like,” Lewis said. “Simply put, relationships matter.”

Lewis touted academic strides that he has seen throughout the district’s demographic spectrum.

“We’re headed in the right direction,” he said. “But we must do our part by being the very best school system in the state and in the nation.”

photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

Lawrence school district employees pack the Lied Center auditorium for the district’s back-to-school kickoff event on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

Lewis displayed information about Schwegler Elementary’s academic strides over a five-year period in language arts and math as a model for what schools can accomplish.

“Don’t tell me it can’t be done,” Lewis said. “It’s being done right here in Lawrence Public Schools.”

Staff attending the event were also reminded of the recently ratified wage increases for district personnel for the new school year. Tatyana Younger, a paraeducator and the vice president for the PAL-CWA union, which represents classified staff, proclaimed that district workers had emerged victorious.

“You organized yourself into the powerful union that we are today, and together we won,” Younger said to a loud ovation. “When we fight, we win.”

PAL-CWA represents paraeducators, custodians, office, cafeteria and other employees who aren’t licensed teachers. The district this summer approved $2.58 million to increase pay for these workers.

The district also approved $3.74 million to increase pay for teachers and other certified staff.

Tuesday’s event also featured displays of student pride, including performances by the Lawrence High School marching band and Unity Steppers dance team.

The festivities concluded with the announcement of the district’s Horizon Award recipients. According to the district’s website, the award “recognizes exemplary new teachers in their second year of teaching” by nominating them for the Kansas State Department of Education’s Horizon Award program. Woodlawn Elementary teacher Michelle Barnes and Billy Mills Middle School math teacher Katie Biggers won those honors, which included a $500 check from Truity Credit Union.

photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

Billy Mills Middle School math teacher Katie Biggers, right, wins a Horizon Award during the Lawrence school district’s back-to-school kickoff event Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, at the Lied Center. Biggers received a $500 check from Truity Credit Union. Superintendent Anthony Lewis is at left, and Audra Fussell, Truity business development officer, is at center.

photo by: Matt Resnick/Journal-World

Woodlawn Elementary School teacher Michelle Barnes takes center stage Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, at the Lied Center, as Lawrence Superintendent Anthony Lewis presents her with a Horizon Award.