Principal profiles

PRINCIPAL

Botts finishing first decade leading MHS

Now in his 10th year as principal of Maize High School, Chris Botts has learned important attributes about leadership, students, and himself. He has learned about leadership, the students, and himself.

One thing Botts has learned is to not take things personally.

“I have seen the best of people in humanity and the opposite,” Botts said. “Everything has taught me not to take things for granted and to be grateful for the job and life I have.” Botts joined Maize High in 2012 after starting his career at Complete as a math teacher and then principal of the alternative high school. He said he came to Maize to have an impact on a greater scale. MHS has close to 1200 students compared to about 60 at Complete. As principal, he said he wants to know about the students and staff. That includes their lives away from school. “You should always try to see the best in people and know that every person, whether they wear it or not, we all have a story,” he said. “It’s so important to me to know the story and try to help you to the best of my ability.” Math teacher Emily Mitchael had positive things to say about Botts. “He has high expectations but delivers them with compassion,” said Mitchael, whom Botts hired in 2016. “He is very clear and understanding, but he smiles a lot, which is good. He communicates well with teachers and students.”

Mitchael said he is an amazing dad, friend, boss and principal.

“One day I was gone and I had a sub fill in for me,” she said. “The students were behaving well, and they got all of their work done. Botts had found out and bought them doughnuts.”

Science teacher Stanley Bergkamp said Botts remembers what it’s like to be a teacher and that makes him a strong advocate.

“Botts is the best principal I have ever had,” said Bergkamp, who has taught at Maize since 1993. “He is optimistic and good. He advocates well for students and teachers. He is passionate and makes selfless decisions.”

Superintendent Chad Higgins said Botts is an inspirational leader with a huge heart for kids and teachers.

“I enjoy working with him and often seek his input because of the tremendous respect I have for his compassion and character,” Higgins said. “He is one of the most trusted and admired educators in our district and across the state.”

Senior Logan Crotchett agreed with Higgins.

“From the few times that I have had an interaction with Botts, I saw what made him a good principal and that is his leadership and compassion,” Crochet said.

Botts said he had some concerns when he got the job about a decade ago. He lacked experience at a large school, was moving from an alternative setting to a traditional school, and he was going to be managing a lot more employees and students.

He’s gone through some hard times -- the pandemic and devious licks TikTok trend are two examples -- but the positives outweigh the negatives.

He has some advice for anyone who takes a job similar to his.

“Get to know your people,” Botts said. “You can’t lead from your office. Know what your values are. Lead with your heart.”

— Leah Brown

“Get to know your people” Botts said. “You can’t lead from your office, know what your values are. Lead with your heart”. Chris Botts

PROFILES

Sailor listening, learning in 1st year at South

Maize South welcomed Becky Sailor as a new principal after their previous principal of 10-years retired.

Becky Sailor, the new principal at Maize South, got into education because of the past teachers she has had.

Sailor said it was the good — and the bad — teachers in her life who inspired her into the person she is.

“When I was growing up I felt like I had mainly good role models in school, and people that made me want to be that person for others,” Sailor said.

Sailor graduated from Heights High School before going to Newman to get her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She shuffled between business and criminal justice before finally deciding on education.

Sailor replaced Dave Hickerson, who had been MSHS principal for 10 years. It’s her first job as a principal after being an assistant in the Wichita school district.

“What I have discovered is that everyone is so nice. It’s been a great thing to come into,” she said.

She said she doesn’t have any extravagant plans for Maize South.

“I told my staff and I told parents that my commitment to them is to listen and learn first,” she said. “I don’t know what my big change would be at this point.”

Sailor said she strives to be someone for students to be able to feel comfortable with and look up to.

It is her 15th year working in education. She spent most of her career working in the Wichita district as an assistant principal, teacher, and advisor.

Although Sailor spends the majority of her time working at the school, she also finds time to do other things. She loves to go to the gym and kickbox. She also spends lots of time with her family and going to sporting events. At her previous jobs, she even found time to work in restaurants to pick up a little bit of extra cash.

“I like having the opportunity to be a good role model for students that didn’t have that in their life.”

— Sierra Tinsley

“I like having the opportunity to be a good role model for students that didn’t have that in their life.” Becky Sailor

Photos by Leah Brown