Melisa Hancock, 6th grade teacher at Bluemont Elementary School, is one of ten winners of the "What’s Working Well with School Reform in Kansas" competition. The Teacher Development Coalition at the University of Kansas sponsors this competition. The goal is to reward innovative school reforms that have improved student achievement within individual classes, schools, or school districts.

Hancock’s entry was entitled, "Creating Professional Learning Communities." Her reform involved restructuring professional development so that teachers, office staff, paraprofessionals, administrators and custodians are involved in studying student data together, brainstorming ideas and strategies focused on the goal of improving student achievement in mathematics, science and reading.

Hancock received $500 for her efforts. Other winning applications were from Derby, El Dorado, Independence, Wichita, Paola, Lyons, Olathe, Topeka and Quinter.