Celebrating A Legacy of Education and Care

As the school year draws to a close, we find ourselves at a truly momentous chapter in the life of Cornerstones of Care. This marks the end of an era for the Gillis School as we prepare to open the Cornerstones of Care Education Campus when school resumes this fall.

As part of our Sanctuary commitments, we believe in growth and change—even when it’s hard to move on from a place as iconic as the Gillis Campus. The new Education Campus, located at the former Archbishop O’Hara High School in south Kansas City, will be home to our new K–12 Learning Academy, as well as several other education and skill-building programs. We are excited for what lies ahead.

But first, we want to celebrate the Gillis Campus and all that it has meant to our region for so many years. For those who may be unfamiliar, the Gillis Home is a cherished part of Kansas City’s history.

When we say, “Cornerstones of Care has roots dating back more than 150 years,” the Gillis Home is one of those proud reference points. In 1870, the wives of prominent businessmen created the Women’s Christian Association (WCA) to support Kansas City’s children and families in need. Then, in 1926, through the sale of other WCA property, the group purchased the land at 81st Street and Wornall Road—the current site of the Gillis Campus and the Armour Oaks home. In 1997, Gillis became part of Cornerstones of Care to better serve children and families across the region.

As we sunset the campus, we are also celebrating three extraordinary educators who are retiring after dedicated careers of service. Teacher Susie Hadel, Administrative Manager Carol Towns, and Gillis School Principal Pam Sanders are each closing out remarkable careers—and we are so grateful for everything they have given to our students and our mission.

Pam Sanders first came to the Gillis Campus in 1983. Among her many fond memories is the beloved Halloween tradition she helped create—decorating the Administration Building as a haunted house, which once included placing a coffin from storage on the first floor. (She wisely chose not to ask why there was a coffin in storage!) That spirited Halloween event grew into a cherished family celebration that continued for years, until COVID brought it to an end.

Pam was also a pioneer in our organization’s transformation, serving on the first group to attend a workshop with the Sanctuary Institute to learn how to implement the Sanctuary Model at Cornerstones of Care—launching us on the path to becoming the trauma-informed organization we are proud to be today.

As we grow and change, it is important to honor the places we have been and the extraordinary foundations on which we continue to build. Thank you, Gillis Campus. Thank you, Pam, Susie, and Carol. Your legacies will live on in every student you helped shape.