Justin Coup serves as a KASB Leadership Field Specialist. An experienced educational leader, he is dedicated to supporting school boards and district leaders through strategic planning, organizational excellence and community engagement. With more than 25 years of experience in education, including more than a decade as superintendent of Solomon USD 393, Justin brings a practical understanding of district leadership and governance to his work with Kansas schools.

Justin began his career in public education at Goessel High School (USD 411), where he taught business, served as athletic director and coached from 1998 to 2011. He later served as principal, athletic director and head coach at Baileyville B&B Junior-Senior High School (USD 115) from 2011 to 2014, helping guide the school through consolidation while creating targeted academic support programs for students.

As superintendent of Solomon USD 393, Justin led several significant initiatives, including a successful $11 million bond project, the development of grant-funded early childhood programs and the implementation of long-term strategic plans focused on technology integration, staff development and student success.

Justin has been actively involved in educational leadership and advocacy across Kansas, serving on the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) Advisory Council, the Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI) Steering Committee and as chair of the Kansas Education Insurance Trust (KEIT) Group. He holds leadership certifications and advanced degrees from Fort Hays State University, Baker University, Wichita State University, Bethany College and Kansas Wesleyan University.

Justin and his wife, Kelly, have four children: Spencer, Breken, Kierstyn and Quincy. He values strong family and community connections and understands the important role public schools play in supporting both.

Lee Hanson serves as a KASB Leadership Field Specialist. She holds degrees and endorsements in general and special education, as well as building- and district-level leadership. Throughout her more than 30-year career in education, Lee has worked alongside families, educators, administrators and school boards to help ensure students with disabilities receive effective services and meaningful opportunities for success.

Lee's extensive leadership experience, combined with her perspective as the parent of a child with a disability, has given her a unique understanding of special education from both school and family viewpoints. This experience has shaped her commitment to building strong partnerships, strengthening educational systems, managing resources responsibly and helping schools and families work together to support positive outcomes for students.

Lee is passionate about helping families, school teams, administrators and school boards navigate strategic planning and systems implementation. She is especially committed to helping educational leaders understand how thoughtful planning, effective structures and collaborative decision-making can strengthen services and expand opportunities for all students.

As a field specialist with KASB, Lee works with school boards and administrative teams on long-range planning, goal setting, strategic planning, systems implementation, board training and other services designed to strengthen leadership and support effective school systems.

Lee and her husband, John, have been married for 37 years and have three children. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, who range in age from 5 months to 10 years. When she is not with family, Lee and John can often be found at the lake, enjoying time on their boat or relaxing around a campfire.

Tony Helfrich serves as a KASB Leadership Field Consultant, bringing more than 31 years of experience in public education. Throughout his career, he has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, athletic director, principal and superintendent. His professional experience spans both rural and urban communities, giving him a broad perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing Kansas schools.

Raised on a farm near Wright, Kansas, Tony graduated from Dodge City High School and the University of Kansas. After working in the private sector, he earned his teaching certificate from Pittsburg State University and began his education career at Bonner Springs High School, where he taught history, government and psychology for seven years. Following completion of a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Kansas, he served as a U.S. Navy fellow at the Pentagon from 2001 to 2003.

Tony later returned to Kansas to teach and coach in Eureka before earning his building leadership license from Emporia State University. He then served as assistant principal and athletic director at Eureka Junior-Senior High School. In 2011, he became principal of Pratt Middle School and later served as superintendent of Pratt USD 382 from 2019 to 2026.

During his tenure in Pratt, Tony helped lead a successful bond project and championed efforts that resulted in statewide and national recognition for the district. In 2025, a KASB study identified Pratt USD 382 as a high-performing district, while U.S. News & World Report ranked Pratt High School among the top-performing high schools in Kansas.

Known for his commitment to building relationships with students, Tony created Gratitude Walks and performed with a student rock band that parodied classic songs to announce snow days and celebrate student achievements. Throughout his career, he has focused on building strong leadership teams, fostering effective board-superintendent partnerships and creating school cultures that strengthen student connections and support student success.

Chris Cooper holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and brings over 30 years of diverse experience as a teacher, building administrator, and district leader. Recognized for his expertise in school-improvement processes and data-informed decision-making, Chris has served as a multi-state Co-Teaching Trainer and a College and Career Competencies Framework Trainer, partnering with more than 25 schools this past year alone. He is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences. Through both onsite and virtual formats, Chris provides high-impact professional learning, coaching, and implementation support. Today, he partners with school districts to navigate the future through specialized studies in human resource allocation, enrollment projections, facility needs, and long-term budget planning.

Susan Severin is an educational leader, school safety consultant and mental health advocate based in Emporia, Kansas. She serves as Director of Safety Services for KASB, leading statewide initiatives that support safe, supportive learning environments for Kansas students and educators.

A school psychologist with more than 21 years of experience, Susan spent most of her career serving Emporia Public Schools and surrounding districts. In recognition of her contributions to students, schools and the profession, she was named Kansas School Psychologist of the Year in 2023. She has also worked with educators across the state as a specialized learning services consultant for Greenbush Education Service Center and has supervised Emporia State University school psychology graduate students as an internship supervisor.

As a certified trainer in Behavioral Threat Assessment and NASP PREPaRE crisis models, Susan helps educators and multidisciplinary teams prevent, prepare for and respond to school crises. Her work emphasizes practical strategies that strengthen both school safety and student well-being.

Beyond her work with school districts, Susan represents Lyon County on the board of directors for CrossWinds Counseling & Wellness, helping advance community mental health and substance use resources across eastern Kansas.

Susan enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, being outdoors, attending sporting events and enjoying life in the Flint Hills with family and friends.