By Rhys Baker

Former USD 379 Lincoln School Principal Matt Weller is returning to his roots. Clay Counts grant funding has recently afforded a Community Coordinator position, that Weller will fill 40% of the time. His duties in this position include promoting Clay Counts activities, keeping the Clay Counts website updated, and importing required data for the grant. Weller says, “It is a position that would not be possible without the grant from the coalition, but because the grant happened, the district said this was a good way to utilize these funds.”

Clay Counts is a coalition that started in 2005 as an effort to address underage substance abuse. The coalition has since expanded by concentrating on the overall wellness of youth, including groups like Youth Leaders in Kansas, the mental health of Clay County citizens, and the newly launched Farmer to Farmer initiative designed to address mental health in the agriculture community.

The other 60% of Weller’s time will be spent as a Communications Coordinator for USD 379 Clay County Schools. Weller explains, “It was created mainly for the need in the district. My job includes promoting everything going on in the district, and also communicating with stakeholders, and also finding ways to have two-way collaboration so we can work together not just us telling them things, but finding ways to work together.” Weller says that he considers all Clay County residents to be stakeholders, including taxpayers, parents and students, members of the community, and community leaders. Weller was a journalism teacher at Chapman School for 12 years, and considers both positions a return to his roots.