Meet the New Teachers at Ulysses 

Kaede Edmondson 

Kaede Edmondson will teach High School Intro to Art, Advanced Art, Photography and Yearbook at Ulysses High School.

Edmondson was raised in Denver, Colorado, but spent a large part of her life in Elkhart, Kansas, as well as in Liberal, Rolla and Goodwell, Oklahoma. She attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

She was encouraged to make teaching a career after mentors and colleagues recognized her ability to connect with students.

"Over the years, mentors and colleagues recognized my ability to connect with students and encouraged me to step into the classroom," Edmondson said.

She brings 11 years of experience in education, having worked as a paraprofessional, library aide, substitute and classroom teacher. She has also taught English language learners internationally online, as well as art in Elkhart and Liberal.

For Edmondson, moving to Ulysses was a family decision.

"My family was looking for the perfect community to put down roots, and we fell in love with a home here in Ulysses," she said. "I am excited to transition into this new role in the school community."

Edmondson and her husband, Michael, have four children: Destynee, 16; Xerayah, 7; Kiahna, 6; and Xamari, 3. Michael works for Iger.

In her spare time, Edmondson enjoys painting, crafts, building LEGO sets, collecting, playing video games and watching documentaries. One day, she hopes to have a garden complete with ducks.

For now, she has been busy preparing for the school year. Much of her summer was spent painting a mural at the high school and remodeling her classroom.

"A wonderful project to welcome our students back this year," Edmondson said.

Kaytie Stejskal

Kaytie Stejskal has just started her teaching career at Hickok Elementary School, where she will teach first grade.

Originally from Sublette, Kansas, Stejskal attended Fort Hays State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education and a leadership certificate. She is certified to teach preschool through sixth grade.

She is not the first educator in her family.

"I come from a long line of educators, so becoming a teacher has always felt like a natural path for me," Stejskal said.

Stejskal chose the lower elementary level because it is where she feels most confident and because she enjoys working with younger students.

Although this is Stejskal's first year as a teacher, she is already familiar with Hickok Elementary. She completed her student teaching there in first grade and substitute taught across several grade levels throughout the district.

She said she is especially grateful for the support she received during her student teaching experience.

"I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to complete my student teaching at Hickok Elementary School because I was constantly surrounded by support," Stejskal said. "I look forward to continuing to have that support as I begin my career as an educator."

Stejskal moved to Ulysses after marrying her husband, Brendan, who grew up in and was living in Ulysses. The couple has been married for a little over a year. Brendan works for Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline as a reliability technician. They also have a seven-month-old mini goldendoodle named Allie.

Outside of school, Stejskal enjoys board and card games, watching game shows, listening to music, singing, baking, cleaning and organizing, as well as spending time with family and friends. During the summer, she enjoys traveling and going to the lake.

Throughout her own education, Stejskal said, teachers inspired her to do her best and showed her the impact that a caring educator can have on a student.

"I hope to have that same positive impact on students," she said.

Lauren Cossman 

Lauren Cossman is joining the Ulysses Child Learning Center staff.

Cossman grew up in Olathe, Kansas, and met her husband before the couple gradually moved farther west. They currently live in Hugoton.

She is graduating from Concordia University with a degree in kinesiology and plans to pursue a master's degree in education.

Cossman's interest in education came from discovering her own love of learning later in life.

"I found a love of learning later in life and recognize that a lot of students feel the same way I did growing up," she said.

She was drawn to Ulysses because of the district's emphasis on recognizing that students learn differently and finding ways to help them succeed.

"This school district really seems to have recognized that not everyone learns in the same way and have put a strong emphasis on finding ways to help their students succeed," Cossman said.

Although this will be her first year teaching, she has previously substitute taught and worked in early childhood settings.

Cossman and her husband, Todd, have been married for 16 years. She has a 20-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and three sons with Todd: John, 15; Walter, 13; and Ellis, who will turn 9 at the end of the month.

Todd is an assistant coach for the Hugoton High School girls basketball team. This year, John will begin high school, Walter will begin middle school and Ellis will enter third grade.

Cossman is an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and enjoys reading, listening to music and exercising. Basketball, however, takes up much of the family's time throughout the year.

She also hinted at her personality with a playful warning for anyone planning an icebreaker.

"I'm a pretty routine person and I often look like I'm super unfriendly, but I'm super nice and enjoy meeting new people," she said. "Just please don't put me in a circle and have us all go around sharing one fun fact about ourselves."

Amanda Rome

Amanda Rome is a new counselor at Kepley Middle School.

Originally from Scott City, Kansas, Rome now lives with her husband, Justin, on their family farm between Ulysses and Hugoton.

She earned a bachelor's degree in music education from Wichita State University before completing a master's degree in school counseling from Fort Hays State University.

While working at Wichita State University, Rome had the opportunity to work with students in foster care. The experience showed her how important mental health and support are for young people and ultimately led her to pursue school counseling.

Rome has 11 years of experience in education. She previously taught choir in Holcomb and Scott City, worked with youth in foster care at Wichita State University and later served as a school counselor in Garden City.

She said she is excited to join a small community that supports students not only academically, but also through athletics, music and other activities.

Her husband, Justin, is a local farmer, and the couple has a daughter, Rylie, who is almost 1 year old.

"Rylie is walking, so you might catch us chasing a wild child around!" Rome said.

Outside of school, Rome enjoys spending time with family and friends and helps with her fourth-generation family farm in Scott City during harvest season. She also enjoys cooking, baking and making sourdough.

Rome is looking forward to getting to know her students as she begins her role.

"I am excited to join USD 214 and get to know the community and students!" she said.

Ingrid Estay

Ingrid will teach senior-level English, including English 4 and Composition 1, at Ulysses High School.

Originally from the island of Cebu in the Philippines, Ingrid attended Cebu Normal University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and completed 36 graduate units toward a Master of Arts in Literature.

She brings approximately 20 years of teaching experience to Ulysses, having taught courses ranging from reading and writing to practical research, writing in the disciplines, English for specific purposes, world literature, argumentation and debate.

For Ingrid, teaching is about more than delivering a lesson.

"I truly believe teaching is the noblest profession," she said. "We get to guide, mentor, and inspire students during pivotal years, helping them find their purpose and become significant members of society."

She is particularly enthusiastic about teaching composition because she sees writing as a way for students to develop their own voices.

"Writing is where students learn to find, shape, and own their authentic voices," she said. "It's not just about grammar or mechanics; it's about critical thinking, organizing thought, and learning how to articulate ideas persuasively and clearly — a skill that empowers them in every aspect of life."

She is also passionate about literature and its ability to connect people across time.

"Literature ... acts as a mirror to human experience across eras," she said. "It's fascinating how stories written ages ago still deeply connect with the struggles, values, and triumphs we experience today."

Ingrid chose Ulysses partly because she learned the community had not previously had a cultural exchange teacher.

"I knew I wanted to be here," she said. "I'm excited to immerse myself in the community, learn about local life firsthand, and share my own Filipino culture with my students and community."

Ingrid has been a lifelong fan of The Wizard of Oz.

"Setting foot in Kansas feels almost surreal — like getting to live out a bit of Dorothy's journey!" she said.

Ingrid's husband, Joepher Estay, works as a commercial diver in Saudi Arabia, where he primarily assists American marine biologists surveying marine species in the Red Sea.

The couple has four children: Josh Oswald, 21; Athena, 19, who is studying medical technology in college; Althea, 16, an 11th grader pursuing the STEM track; and Alunsina Narah, 4.

Outside the classroom, Ingrid enjoys cooking for her family, reading practically any book she can get her hands on, and listening to Jim Rohn's talks on Spotify for daily inspiration.

She said she is deeply grateful for the welcome she has received from Ulysses and looks forward to getting to know her students and colleagues.

"It's always a great day to be a Tiger!" she said.