Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell will have his name enshrined on Kansas City’s Monument to Freedom, Justice, and Courage later this month in honor of the work he did during his six years as Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS).

Dr. Bedell, who led KCPS from 2016 until coming to Anne Arundel County in 2022, led an educational renaissance that saw the district regain its full accreditation in 2022 for the first time in more than 20 years. As Superintendent, Dr. Bedell placed a strong emphasis on educational equity across the district and worked with the Board of Education to develop a formal equity policy designed to provide more support for traditionally underserved students.

“I wanted to nominate Dr. Bedell for rescuing Kansas City Public Schools from a 22-year plight of non-accreditation,” said Kevin Woolfolk, who serves on the commission that oversees the monument. “It took great courage and determination to do what he did, and the positive effects are still felt today because of his great work.”

Dr. Bedell also expanded opportunities, especially access to advanced courses, for students and developed relationships with community partners and philanthropic organizations to support students at all levels. His six-year tenure was the longest by a KCPS Superintendent in more than 50 years.

“I am certainly humbled by this honor and while I am extremely proud of the work that was accomplished in Kansas City under my leadership, I did not do that work alone,” Dr. Bedell said. “What we accomplished took the hard work of everyone in our district, so this is an honor that belongs to all who were a part of that work.”

The monument honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities in their ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life in the urban community of Jackson County, Missouri. The first honorees were enshrined on the monument in 2018.  

Dr. Bedell’s name will be one of 48 enshrined on the wall during a June 20, 2026, ceremony. It will be his first trip back to Kansas City since leaving as Superintendent in 2022.  

Among those being enshrined alongside Dr. Bedell are Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Cassandra Wainright, a prominent longtime community leader in the Kansas City community with whom Dr. Bedell worked on many projects.

Prior to his trip to Kansas City, Dr. Bedell will be a guest on Community Solutions, a local radio program that focuses on issues and impactful work in the greater Kansas City area. The show will air at noon Central Time on Saturday, June 13, and can be heard on radio station KPRT’s website, www.kprt.com.