Staff Directory
Parents as Teachers Staff
Chief of Early Childhood Education/Sustainability
Administrative Support
Chris Judd
Chris Judd has been the secretary for Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers for the past 12 years. Prior to that, Chris was a parent educator from 2005 through 2008. She earned a Liberal Arts Degree from Johnson County Community College and continued her education through Kansas University. She lives in Shawnee with her husband (Joey) and daughter (Hannah) who is attending the University of Kansas.
(913) 993-9380
Parent Educators
Parent Educators
- Amanda Wondra-Appl
- Katie Bartlett
- Mary Chris Blickhan
- Annie Clark
- Carrie McAtee
- Lauren Rentschler
- Emily Rodriguez
- Suzanne Sawalich
- Jennifer Wonderly
Amanda Wondra-Appl
Katie Bartlett
Katie Bartlett is thrilled to be a parent educator with the Shawnee Mission School District. She loves partnering with families and making an impact in their lives. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, as well as a Master’s degree in Reading Specialist. She was a classroom teacher for 11 years before becoming a parent educator. Katie lives in Overland Park with her husband and two young children.
katherinebartlett@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Mary Chris Blickhan
Mary Chris Blickhan has been a parent educator with the Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers program for 6 years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from UMKC in Sociology and Administration of Justice, as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Mary Chris has spent the majority of her career working with children and families in various situations. She especially loves working with families through Parents as Teachers, supporting families during the fun and important early years of their children’s lives! She and her partner have a son in college and a son in high school and two huge, wild dogs!
marychrisblickhan@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Annie Clark
Annie Clark has been a parent educator in Shawnee Mission for 14 years. She graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor's degree in Family Studies/ Human Services and a Master’s degree in Family Life Education. She is married and has two children. Annie enjoys working with families and seeing the entire family system grow and learn during their time in the PAT program.
annieclark@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Carrie McAtee
Carrie McAtee has been a parent educator for 13 years. She was also a classroom teacher for 10 years. She has a master's degree in school administration. Carrie loves working with young families helping them to feel confident and be the best first teacher for their children.
carriemcatee@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Lauren Rentschler
Emily Rodriguez
Emily Rodriguez has been a parent educator with the Shawnee Mission Parents as Teachers program since 2022. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish and Latin American History from the College of Wooster (Ohio) and a Master’s Degree in Spanish from West Virginia University. Emily worked as a classroom teacher for 10 years before arriving to Parents as Teachers. She loves supporting families during this exciting time in their children’s lives! She lives with her husband, her infant son Marcus, and her bonus teenage son, Alexander, along with a dog and cat (that surprisingly get along!).
emilyrodriguez@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Suzanne Sawalich
Suzanne Sawalich is proud to be a parent educator for the Shawnee Mission School District. She is from a small town in western Kansas. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Fort Hays State University, and a Master’s in Elementary Counseling from the University of Kansas. Suzanne taught third and fifth grade for 10 years before becoming a parent educator in 2006. She loves working with families and making a positive difference in their lives.
suzannesawalich@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380
Jennifer Wonderly
Jennifer Wonderly has been a parent educator with the Shawnee Mission School District since 2007. Jennifer loves providing support, education and helping empower young families as they navigate parenting. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Life from the University of Kansas. She also received a Master's of Science in Family Therapy from Friends University. Jennifer lives in Prairie Village, is a wife to Sean and a busy mother to two sons, Alex and Sam, and a terrier named Wally.
jenniferwonderly@smsd.org
(913) 993-9380