Phone: 785-330-2295

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Newman University - Bachelor of Arts (Communication) - 2004 University of Kansas - Master of Science in Education (Health, Sport, & Exercise Science - Sports Studies) - 2009 Kansas Teaching License (Early Childhood Unified Special Education) - 2014 K-12 Adaptive/High-Incidence Special Education Endorsement - 2016

Mr. Joel Grillot

I am in my 10th year at West Middle School, and eighth as an 8th Grade Resource Teacher. I work primarily with students with high-incidence and behavioral disabilities as well as students with high-functioning autism. I am also the WMS Special Education Department Chair.

Previous to this position, I was a Project Coordinator with the Transition Coalition at the University of Kansas. I have worked off and on in the Center for Research on Learning at KU since 2010 in the area of secondary transition before becoming a Warhawk. Prior to that, I spent nearly three years as a paraeducator/job coach working primarily with students experiencing low-incidence disabilities at Free State High School.

I am in my 11th year overall coaching with the Free State Volleyball Program and will be returning to my role as the varsity assistant. I also help support the girls' summer weights and conditioning program for FSHS as well. I was previously on staff with the Firebird Baseball Program and now help in the press box for most of the games. You also may have seen (or heard) me over at FSHS as I am the voice of Firebird Football on Friday nights and work at the scorer's table as well as fill in announcing Firebird and Warhawk basketball games. I can also be found announcing Free State Softball games as well. Please, stop by and say hello.

In a former life, I was a sports journalist for a small newspaper in Southeast Kansas. I covered both high school and college athletics.

I live in Lawrence with my wife, Shannon, Shih-Tzu, Bradie, and our son, Trey (Sunflower, Southwest Middle School, and Free State graduate) also lives in town. When I'm not working, I spend my time at home, running, weight training, or looking for a good baseball, football, or basketball game to watch. I have also recently discovered a love for streaming audio books. I am a Kansas Jayhawk through and through, and I am also a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan! I truly am blessed by the work I get to do and the students and people I get to surround myself with. I live in room 160 at WMS. Don't be a stranger!

Baseball Photo