EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Julie Cook started her career at  KIPP:KC in 2009. As a TFA corps member she taught 5th/6th grade social studies and guided reading. She has served as a former Middle School Principal, Assistant Principal, Grade Level Chair, and Basketball Coach. As the Head of Talent, she is excited about continuing to support the growth of KIPP:KC to ensure that we have the best team possible to work with students and families! 

Kurt Bunnelle is the Head of Schools at KIPP KC. Mr. B grew up in Mundelein, Illinois and attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. He taught 8th grade science in Oakland, California for three years and joined KIPP Kansas City in 2013 as a middle school science teacher. Mr. B helped open the elementary school at KIPP KC in 2016, and was principal for 5 years. In his spare time, Mr. B likes to run, read, and hang out with his 17 month old daughter, Remi.

Scorpio joins the KIPP team after being the Defensive Line Coach at Missouri Western, where he also played college football. He has taught business and was the at-risk coordinator for the Independence School District as well as a loan coordinator with the Metropolitan Community College. Scorpio is bringing his prior expertise of head coach and defensive coordinator to the Legacy High School Football team and hopes to show Kansas City what our gators are really made of!

Mayra Bencomo became part of the Team & Family as the Front Office Coordinator in the summer of 2016, the same year the Elementary School was founded. Mayra then moved to Middle School Operations Manager and then promoted as the Regional Operations Manager. She now serves as the Managing Director of Finance & Reports. Mayra is very passionate about her work and takes pride in meeting the needs of the students, families, and staff. Mayra has 3 KIPPsters of her own which keep her busy! In her free time, she likes to spend time with family and friends.

Michael Cobbins Sr. graduated from Westport High School, Kansas City Public School District and attended Missouri Western State University where he earned a Bachelors of Science in General Physical Education and a Master's in Education Athletics/Activities Administration. His knowledge, education and experience have given him the ability to build out seven sports programs (football, basketball, track, soccer, cheer and dance, volleyball and cross country) over the past four years and formed the Kansas City Metro Conference, an expansion with the Kansas City Public Middle Schools. Coach Cobbins is the current President of the league. He has developed and mentored many students from elementary and middle school to high school and college. He strives to build lifelong learners through discipline, dedication, perseverance and commitment.

Rachel was born and raised in the Kansas City area. The pronouns she feels most comfortable with are she/hers. She is a human, mom, educator, social worker, and ally who deeply believes everyone is valuable and needed in this world.  She taught Title I Reading Intervention for 5 years before exploring Social Work and Mental Health.  She obtained her Masters in Social Work from Park University and is a licensed Masters Level Social Worker in Kansas and Missouri.  She has worked in areas of community mental health, foster care, and school social work in the KC Metro Area. She coordinates a rock star team of KIPP support staff and community partnerships to serve our students, staff, and families. She is involved with organizations and programs like; Trauma Sensitive Schools, Diversity-Equity-Inclusion, Play and Sandtray Therapy, Mental Health in Schools, and the National School Social Work Association.