Teacher Megan MacKay’s focus each day is on creating a safe space for her students, connecting with them, and empowering them to be honest in discussions.

Through her Reality 101 classes, MacKay developed long-lasting relationships with freshmen, as she urged them to discuss tough topics openly and honestly. 

“She truly wants to be a part of each one of her student’s growth. I go to her the most because she is genuine; I feel like I can tell her anything,” said senior Kaitlyn Reid. 

Kansas legislation HB 2567, which went into effect in the fall of 2022, states that teachers may not ask students to write down anything pertaining to beliefs, gender, sexuality, or religion. 

Not being able to write stuff down can cause issues in the classroom though. 

“It’s more of a challenge to get them(students) to reflect upon themselves honestly. There’s just something about writing something down compared to saying it out loud,” said MacKay. 

In a survey of staff members, 80% responded that the legislation is limiting the ability to connect to students and 11.4% said it could potentially restrict it. 

“These results are not surprising to me. The staff at DHS care for their students, and this shows they will do what it takes to help their students through whatever they may need,” teacher Caitlin Hendrix said.