Check this page for news and announcements about our school and its programs.
August 2024 - Midland has been blessed with an amazing enrollment for this coming 2024-2025 school year, especially in the K-8 classrooms. God is good!
In order to retain the best teacher/student ratios, we will now place requests for prospective enrollments in our K-8 classrooms on a waiting list for future openings. Families that also enroll a high school student will be given precedence.
July 2025 - Midland has seven new staff this school year; here are brief overviews on the new folks in town!
Lori Kropf (Office Manager)
Lori is no stranger to Midland - she is an alumna of MAA and is excited to return and serve the school community that helped shape her journey. She brings a strong background in both healthcare and Christian education, with experience as a Clinical Educator and Assistant Director at a Christian preschool.
Outside of school, Lori volunteers her time with local animal shelters and serves on the board of a cat rescue, caring for injured and ill animals.
Callie Johnson - (1st Grade)
Like Lori, Callie is also no stranger to Midland Academy. She spent five years at Midland, and she has "the best memories" of her time as a student. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia State University in 2024 and spent the past year teaching first grade in an area public school system.
As she transitions into private education, she’s most excited to share her love for Jesus with her students and help them foster their own love for Him.
Sherri Francis - (3rd & 4th Grade)
Sherri joins our team with more than 15 years of elementary level teaching experience through her career in both the Kansas City Public Schools and most recently with 5 years at Mile High Academy in Colorado. Not only is she known for her classroom management and quality of teaching, she also loves to get to know her students and their families on a personal level.
“I believe God created everyone with different talents and abilities. As an educator, I must cater to those differences. Each student must have an inspiring educational environment where they can be nurtured spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. I am honored to join an outstanding team of teaching professionals at Midland Adventist Academy.”
Sherri and her husband Ian are parents to three children. Their two daughters will join the MAA student body as a fourth grader and sixth grader. Their son attends an out of state boarding academy and will graduate in 2026.
Ella Archibeque - (2nd Grade)
Ella is excited to join Midland this next year as our 2nd grade teacher. After graduation from Southern Adventist University, this will be her 11th year of teaching. She has taught a span of everything from kindergarten to 12th grade, and started her teaching career in India. Since then, she has taught in Norway, Thailand, and several states across the U.S. Kansas has a special place in her heart because of the summers she spent working at Broken Arrow Ranch.
She was raised in Michigan, and currently spends her summers traveling the world with her husband Mikey, a Midland alum. She loves reading, taking weekend trips, swimming, and exploring. In her classroom, you can expect fun projects, opportunities for leadership, and a good dose of laughter. She is looking forward to this new school year - "We are going to have a blast!"
Angie Wilkins - (Business Manager)
Angie grew up and has always lived in the Midwest. She graduated from Union College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management. She moved back to Overland Park in 2019 with her husband and kids. She has three children attending Midland: a 1st grader, a 5th grader, and a 7th grader. She is not a new face around Midland as she has served as Home & School leader for the last few years and filled in as a substitute teacher when needed.
Angie brings her expertise, passion, and creativity to this new position.
Mike Waworuntu - (HS Bible and Chaplain)
Mike will be taking on the 9-12 Bible teacher/chaplain position this year, and his energy and passion are obvious.
He recently graduated from Union Adventist University with a bachelor’s degree in theology. Mike has had experience in various areas of ministry, but has chosen to pursue his dream of becoming a chaplain.
He met his wife Gabriela (see below!) at Union College in 2017 and they were married in 2021. They will be bringing their 9-month-old daughter Elliana and two pups to become a part of the MAA community!
Gabriela Waworuntu - (7th & 8th Grade)
Gabriela has seven years of teaching experience, teaching history at both the middle and high school levels. She also has coaching experience at the middle school level and is excited to use her skills in a new environment.
"We’re excited to bring our little family of five to Midland! It’s a privilege and honor to enter into a loving environment that cares for these students in such a deep way. We can’t wait to be alongside you all in further support for such an amazing community!”
May 2024 - Cody Skinner, a member of the #classof2025, has been named the recipient of this year's Caring Heart award.
As described in a recent edition of the KS/NE Outlook, "Codie embodies the very essence of compassion, thoughtfulness, and selflessness.
Kindness is not merely a trait for Cody; it's a way of life. His genuine warmth and respect towards everyone he encounters create a ripple of positivity throughout the school community. Whether it's offering a helping hand, lending an empathetic ear, or simply sharing a smile, Cody's acts of kindness leave a lasting mark on those around him.
Beyond his innate kindness, Cody's dedication and hard work are evident in all aspects of his life. He doesn't just participate; he fully invests himself in his school and church activities, making meaningful contributions every step of the way."
May 2024 - Since moving to Kansas City in 2019, Coach Liepke has played Goalie for a local team called the Zeppelins. They play in the Upper D league at the KCIC Ice Arena off of Johnson Drive, most often late games on Monday nights.
Three seasons ago, fellow hockey player and Midland parent Bill Heinrich also joined the team. During that first season, the Zeppelins ended up winning the Championship and hoisting the league trophy.
The next season the Zeppelins were the #1 seed going into the playoffs, but with their semi-final game scheduled for Friday night, Coach Liepke and Bill honored the Sabbath hours, and did not play. As a result, their team lost to a much lower ranked team.
The Zepps ended the current season with a record of 16-8, with Bill earning honors as the league's top scorer. The team headed into the playoffs as the #2 seed and after winning two tough playoff games, advanced to the Championship game against the #1 seed.
The Zeppelins scored two goals early, with Bill putting in both shots. At the end of two periods, the score had narrowed to 2-1, but the Zepps got the goal back in the third for a 3-1 lead. The opposition pulled their goalie near the end and managed a final goal, but still lost 3-2 to Coach Liepke, Bill Heinrich, and the Zeppelin squad.
Congrats, Coach and team!
The weather is changing and it’s a good time to remind everyone that students and teachers will continue to be outdoors as much as possible, through the winter months, for fresh air and exercise and promoting a healthy learning environment.
Please make sure that your student is appropriately clothed for the weather, including coat, hat, gloves, etc. For elementary students, it is a great plan to always have gloves, hat and scarf in the backpack throughout the winter.
There will be no outdoor recess when:
If a student is not dressed for the weather, at the discretion of the administration and the teacher, the student will remain in the office during recess.
