For Jacquelyne Leffler, USD 251 is more than the place she went to school. It is part of the story of who she became—and now, it is the community she has chosen to raise her family in.

Jacquelyne attended Americus and Northern Heights High School, graduating in 2008. Today, she and her husband, Landon Stallbaumer, are raising their children, Jaeger (2) and Landry (2 months), in the same community that helped shape her.

One of the things Jacquelyne valued most about growing up in USD 251 was that community truly meant community. She remembers looking into the stands at sporting events and seeing two or even three generations of families supporting their students. People knew one another, cared about one another, and were invested in seeing each other succeed.

“We were surrounded by people who knew us, cared about us, and were invested in seeing us succeed. That is one of the greatest gifts this community gave me, and it is something I want my own children to experience.”

After college, Jacquelyne came home to start job hunting. What was supposed to be a short-term stay became almost 15 years.

“I came home because it was familiar, but I stayed because I realized this is where I belong.”

Now she wants her children to experience that same sense of belonging.

“I want them to go where our hearts are. And our hearts are here in 251.”

For Jacquelyne, supporting USD 251 is about more than a bond. It is about deciding what kind of school and community we want our children to inherit.

“This community invested in me. Now it’s our turn to invest in the next generation.”

She wants Jaeger and Landry to grow up knowing their classmates’ families, surrounded by teachers and community members who know them and believe in them, and building the same relationships that have carried her throughout her life.

That is the kind of community Jacquelyne wants to pass on to her children—and the kind of community she believes is worth investing in.