The Blue Valley School District officially kicked off the school year on Wednesday.

The first day of school also marked a new beginning for the district's superintendent, Dr. Gillian Chapman.

Dr. Chapman comes to Overland Park from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where she was superintendent for a decade.

Before that, she spent 22 years as an educator in the Shawnee Mission School District.

The new superintendent started the new school year by visiting schools throughout the district and meeting students from all grade levels.

"One of them jumped in class and said, "Hi, Dr. Chapman," she said.

While she's had an extensive career in education, Dr. Chapman's interest piqued as a child.

"My grandmother never finished eighth gradeborn in 1916, she had to leave eighth grade to support her family,

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