Through a grant from the Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, Oral Health Kansas contracts with dental hygienists and a developmental disabilities specialist to provide oral health education to disability service providers throughout the state. The Oral Health Educators provide workshops for Community Developmental Disabilities Organizations, Councils of Community members, and groups of individuals with developmental disabilities. For more information, please contact Marcia Manter, OHK Community Development Specialist, or Karl Kelsey, CDDO Program Coordinator.

karl kelsey
Currently Karl works at COF Training Service Inc., as Staff Development Manager.  In this capacity he trains all new employees for 5 days and recertifies on an annual basis 150-160 employees in Mandt, CPR and First Aid.  In addition to those duties Karl is the administrator for a group of online college course called the College of Direct Support.  Currently there is approximately 90 staff members enrolled in these classes.  Another part of his job is to schedule individuals and outside groups to present training to our staff.

From September 1973 until January 2004 Karl worked for the United States Postal Service as a rural carrier out of the post office in Paola KS.  During his Postal career Karl was chosen to train new employees at the district training office in Independence MO.  Karl was active in the Kansas Rural Letter Carriers Association and served on the state board for 7 years, the last 2 as state president. 

After graduation from Pittsburg State University in 1963 with a B.S. in Education Karl taught school until May of 1973, he also coached junior high sports.

Karl and his wife belong to a rural oriented service club called Ruritan.  He has held all the club offices, the administrative offices at the district level and has served on the national board of directors and as the national secretary for 3 years. They also currently serve on the board of directors for the Centropolis Christian Church in their community.

Karl has 8 grandchildren, which he loves to spoil when they regularly visit him.

Jackie Leakey
Jackie graduated from UMKC in 2000 with a BS in dental hygiene. She has worked the past 10 years in Topeka for a general dentist. Currently Jackie is president of the Kansas Dental Hygiene Association, and she has recently been selected by Special Olympics to become the dental director for Kansas, as well as go to the training session for the National Special Olympics meet. Jackie is involved in Special Olympics and has refereed the state Special Olympic bocce ball tournament the last 4 years. She has also helped her son put a team together. Jackie is married and has 3 children, 2 boys; Lance 18, Jacob 16 and a daughter Laramie 13.

dawn mcglasson
Dawn McGlasson RDH, BSDH, MPH is a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. Her responsibilities include teaching Community Oral Health Management and supervising dental hygiene students. Prior to teaching, Ms. McGlasson was the Deputy Dental Director for the Bureau of Oral Health at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for 7 years. Her early career years involved a focus in periodontics, pediatric dentistry, and dental public health. She received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from Northern Arizona University and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Kansas.

Ms. McGlasson is associated professionally with the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the American Dental Hygienists Association (ADHA), the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), is a Board Emeritus member and consultant for Oral Health Kansas.

Ms. McGlasson has been recognized for her impact on the field of dental hygiene and in advancing the role of the dental hygienist in public health by being selected as a recipient of the Reaching Out for Excellence in Dental Hygiene Award by the University of Missouri Kansas City Alumni Association and Sigma Phi Alpha Dental Hygiene Honor Society.

She has worked extensively to improve the oral health of Children with Special Healthcare Needs, children of all ages, and elders. Ms. McGlasson has a long history of collaborative work with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in the development and implementation of grant proposals. She has also provided presentations and participated in advisory committees/review panels at the national, regional, state, and local levels.

loretta seidl
Loretta J. Seidl currently serves as the Director of Oral Health and Special Projects for the Kansas Health Care Association. She provides overall direction and management for the Long-Term Care Oral Health Training Program throughout the state of Kansas.  Her approach to planning for the future needs of our aging population has been innovative and balanced, with a holistic view of their physical, mental, and emotional needs.  

Loretta graduated from Wichita State University with a Master of Health Science. Currently, she holds dental hygiene licenses in Kansas and Missouri, and has served as a board member for Oral Health Kansas for the past five years.

Beginning her professional career in clinical dental hygiene, she later served as Assistant Professor in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Wichita State University. During this time, she taught clinical dental hygiene and managed the onsite dental hygiene clinic.  Given her strong background in health science, Loretta has developed an affinity for the needs of seniors by working as a senior care consultant on a variety of long-term care initiatives.