Reno County Educators to Gather for Professional Development Day
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — More than 1,100 teachers, instructors and administrators from across Reno County will gather at Hutchinson Community College Jan. 5, 2026, for a collaborative professional development event called "All Hands on Deck."
USD 309 Nickerson-South Hutchinson announced the countywide initiative, which aims to unite educators from multiple school districts for workshops, keynote presentations and networking opportunities.
"Reno County schools are rallying AGAIN as a TEAM of educators for a shared professional learning day," district officials posted on social media.
The event will connect approximately 1,100 area educators with vendors from both inside and outside the education sector. Organizers plan to include vendor showcases and presentation opportunities for attendees.
"It's a great opportunity for some serious exposure to a LARGE audience," organizers said.
Several local businesses and organizations have already committed as vendors, including Heartland Credit Union, Credit Union of America, Peoples Bank and Trust, First National Bank, Generations Estate Planning and Elder Law, Open Door Health Services, Kansas State University, Hutchinson Clinic, Rooted Hope, Ad Astra Radio, and Rise Up Reno Prevention Network.
The collaborative approach represents a team effort among Reno County school districts to maximize professional development resources and create networking opportunities across district boundaries.
Interested vendors can participate in the showcase and presentation opportunities. Contact information includes Paul Erickson at perickson@usd313.org, Amy Jones at ajones@usd309ks.org, or Shelia Berridge at shelia.berridge@usd309ks.org.
USD 309 Nickerson-South Hutchinson is located at 4501 W. 4th Ave. in Hutchinson and can be reached at (620) 663-7141. Additional information is available at usd309ks.org.
The All Hands on Deck event continues a tradition of regional collaboration among Reno County educational institutions to enhance professional development opportunities for local educators.