Kansas Boys State
The American Legion Department of Kansas Boys State Committee has appointed Kyle Wheatley to serve as the executive director of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas.
Wheatley’s term began on July 1. He takes over for Tom Wierman who served in the role for the past four years.
Wheatley, a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., was a Kansas Boys State delegate in 2003 from Wichita Northwest High School before graduating the following year. He has served KBS in a number of volunteer positions since 2004, including various counselor roles before ascending to serve in advisor roles in 2013. Most recently, Wheatley served as an associate director and bank advisor.
As executive director for the American Legion Boys State of Kansas, and in conjunction with the Kansas Boys State Committee, Wheatley is responsible for the direction and oversight of all objectives for the program. Along with implementation of strategic planning and visioning, Wheatley is accountable for the long-term health and longevity of the ALBSK and its resources.
In the coming weeks, Wheatley will announce the Kansas Boys State 2024-25 leadership team. A grandson of U.S. Army and U.S. Navy veterans, Wheatley graduated from Friends University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in music education. He then chose to study with his inspiration to be a teacher, his high school choir director, at the University of Alabama, graduating with a Masters of Arts degree in education, curriculum and instruction in 2012.
Wheatley taught middle school and high school choir for 11 years in Fayetteville, Ga., Fort Worth, Texas, and Granbury, Texas, before stepping away from teaching in 2023 to be with his now fiancée, Christin, on the road while she was a travel nurse. He repurposed his life into a career working as a consultant for Guidehouse, a growing consultancy based in Arlington, Va., working with federal clients on projects with emphasis in data analytics and data science. The couple is planning to be married in October near Colorado Springs.
The objective of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community, state and nation. Kansas Boys State provides a relevant, interactive, problemsolving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility.
Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.
The Kansas Boys State program, which includes students who have just completed their junior year of high school (will be seniors in the fall) and sophomore year of high school (will be juniors in the fall), is scheduled to hold its 2025 session Sunday, June 1, through Saturday, June 7, at Kansas State University in Manhattan. It will be the program’s 33rd consecutive session at KSU and 87th overall.