Garden City, KS – USD 457 is pleased to announce that Julisa Flores has been selected as the new principal of Alta Brown Elementary School. Mrs. Flores brings 13 years of dedicated service to the district in a variety of impactful roles.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Flores has served as a looping teacher in kindergarten and first grade, an interventionist for K-6 students, an instructional coach for five years, and most recently, an elementary administrator intern for two years. Her extensive classroom experience has equipped her with the skills to support both teachers and students in achieving excellence in the classroom at Alta Brown Elementary School.
Mrs. Flores earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Kansas State University, where she was a part of the BESITOS scholarship program, a bilingual education initiative. She later completed her graduate degree in building leadership at Newman University, where she was honored as an outstanding graduate. As a bilingual educator with an ESL endorsement, she is passionate about fostering a culture of learning, growth, and student success in our district’s diverse students.
"I love supporting educators and helping them grow professionally so that we can partner together to maximize student learning!" said Mrs. Flores. "A top priority is to proactively support teachers in fostering a positive and structured learning environment by equipping them with strategies and resources needed."
Outgoing principal Julie Koerperich, who has worked closely with Mrs. Flores during her administrative internship, expressed her confidence in this transition.
"Leaving this school in Julisa’s hands gives me complete confidence. She leads with kindness, high expectations, and a relentless focus on students. Our teachers and students will thrive under her leadership," said Koerperich. "Julisa has been an incredible asset to our school as an administrative intern, and I have no doubt that she will continue to lead with the same dedication, passion, and heart. She truly understands what it takes to support teachers and students, and I am excited to see her take our school to new heights."
USD 457 Deputy Superintendent Josh Guymon also praised Mrs. Flores' leadership and dedication to education.
"I am excited to see Julisa step into this role. She has the heart of a servant leader, the mindset of a problem-solver, and the skills of a true educator. She will be an incredible asset to her school and our district," Guymon said.
Beyond her professional role, Mrs. Flores and her husband are proud small business owners and the parents of three wonderful children. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, connecting with friends over coffee, and mentoring other women through her church.
USD 457 looks forward to the positive impact Mrs. Flores will have in her new leadership role and is excited to see her continued dedication to student and teacher success.