Business Details
Your Trusted Guide to Kansas City School Options
We are Show Me KC Schools, a dedicated organization committed to empowering families in their educational journey across the Kansas City Metro area. Our mission centers on providing transparent, equitable access to free public education while fostering school pride and community-driven solutions. Guided by core values of transparency, belonging, trust, and systemic change, we offer comprehensive resources to help families navigate school options, including neighborhood schools, charter institutions, and private alternatives. With a team of experienced educators and navigators, we provide personalized support through school fairs, application assistance, and bilingual services to ensure every family finds the right educational fit.Our community partnerships and parent advisory boards ensure our initiatives remain aligned with local needs while promoting joy and inclusivity in education. Through virtual tours, events, and outreach programs, we demystify school selection processes and advocate for policies that benefit all learners. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we maintain strict compliance with ethical standards while delivering actionable information that builds confidence in KC's educational landscape.
Services
School Navigation
Application Assistance
Community Events
Virtual Tours
Parent Workshops
Highlights and features
- We offer comprehensive school search tools covering all KC educational options
- Our bilingual navigators provide Spanish and English support
- Community-driven approach shaped by parent advisory boards
- Experienced team includes former educators and special needs advocates
- We host free school fairs and virtual tours for hands-on exploration
Associations and certifications
- 501(c)(3)
Services
School Navigation
Our expert navigators help families explore KC's educational landscape. We provide personalized guidance for finding neighborhood schools, charter options, and private institutions that match each child's needs. Our team offers bilingual support and practical tools for comparing academic programs, extracurricular activities, and transportation options.
Application Assistance
We simplify the school application process with step-by-step support. Our staff explains deadlines, required documentation, and lottery systems while providing direct links to enrollment portals. We offer specialized guidance for special education programs and English language learner services.
Community Events
Our annual City School Fair connects families with educators from diverse institutions. We host School Saturday events for campus visits and organize workshops about educational rights and advocacy. All events feature interactive sessions with current parents and school representatives.
Virtual Tours
Interactive virtual tours allow families to explore school facilities remotely. These digital experiences include classroom demonstrations, teacher introductions, and student-led presentations about academic programs and extracurricular opportunities available across KC's educational institutions.
Parent Workshops
Our workshops develop parental advocacy skills through practical training sessions. Topics include understanding school performance metrics, navigating special education systems, and effectively communicating with educators to support student success.
People
Leslie Kohlmeyer
Executive Director
Leslie has dedicated her career to KC education equity. With three children in local schools, she brings 20+ years of community leadership experience to guide our mission-driven initiatives.
Danielle Dispenza
Director of School Navigation
Danielle combines special education expertise with practical parenting experience. Her 12 years in early childhood education and 8 years in home health care shape our family-centered navigation approach.
Citlali Valdes
Bilingual School Navigator
A KC native and Rockhurst University student, Citlali provides Spanish/English support while drawing from personal experience at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy to assist diverse families.
Molly Schemm
Director of Programs and Events
Molly brings decade-long experience supporting youth and families. Her background includes special needs camp leadership and community program development that shapes our event planning and outreach.
Tricia Johnson
Founder
As founder and former educator, Tricia established Show Me KC Schools after recognizing parental struggles with school selection. Her vision created the comprehensive navigation system we maintain today.
Questions
What school types do you help with?
We assist with all KC school options including neighborhood schools, charter institutions, faith-based programs, and independent private schools.
Do you offer bilingual services?
Yes, our bilingual navigators provide full Spanish and English support for school selection and application processes.
How can I compare different schools?
We provide tools to compare academic performance, extracurricular offerings, transportation options, and special programs across all KC school types.
Are your services free?
Yes, all our navigation services, events, and resources are completely free for Kansas City families.
How do I start the school search?
Begin by attending our City School Fair, using our online search tools, or contacting our navigators for personalized assistance.
Do you help with special education needs?
Our team includes special education experts who provide targeted guidance for finding appropriate programs and support services.
Reviews (2)
Kristin Moats
Aug 30, 2017
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If you want to learn about public school options in the KCMO area, this is the place to go. An amazing and free resource and very helpful staff.
David Rucker
Aug 10, 2017
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Show Me KC Schools is an incredible organization. They are extremely knowledgeable about Kansas City school options. Parents, school leaders, business professionals, and other community members can get high quality information at their website or in person. I have participated in multiple bus tours facilitated by Show Me KC Schools and found that to be incredibly informative regarding the issues of public education in Kansas City, but especially for seeing incredible examples of great schools available to Kansas City parents.
