Meet Our Staff

Mandy is a graduate of Washburn University with a degree in elementary education and a master's degree in educational administration. She joined the Prevention and Resiliency Services Team in May of 2021. As executive director, she oversees the organization's day-to-day operations, builds collaborative relationships with other community agencies, and helps guide the strategic planning for PARS's future, among numerous other tasks.

Before joining the PARS team, Mandy served as Vice President of Operations at Topeka's Boys & Girls Clubs. She also devoted 19 years of her career to the public school system, first as a teacher, then as a building principal. Joining the PARS team has allowed her to marry her love of education with her desire to impact her hometown through work in prevention.

Outside of work, Mandy enjoys attending local theater events, learning new things, and going to boot camp to keep her body and mind nourished!

mczechanski@parstopeka.org

Lynn is a graduate of Kansas State University with a degree in kinesiology. Lynn joined the Prevention Services Department at PARS in June 2012 as a Community Prevention Consultant. In this role, Lynn gives school and community presentations addressing substance abuse and prevention education.

Before joining the Prevention Services Department, Lynn spent six years with Safe Streets (another program of PARS). At Safe Streets, Lynn was the Youth Development Coordinator and Community Mobilizer.

Lynn's interest in Prevention work stems from wanting youth to succeed.

In addition, Lynn understands firsthand how using substances can negatively impact one's life, so Lynn feels it's important to educate today's youth about the dangers of using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Outside of work, Lynn enjoys coaching sports and has done this for the past 20 years.

lsmith@parstopeka.org

Haley Gil earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Kansas State University in 2005 and a master's degree in adaptive special education in 2009. She joined the PARS team in July 2022.

Haley worked as a special education teacher for 13 years in Topeka Public Schools and Shawnee Heights Unified School District. She is passionate about working with youth and empowering them with the tools and skills needed to be their best version.

In her free time, she loves to spend time with her husband, Willow, their miniature dachshund, and her extended family. In addition, she enjoys KSU sporting events, traveling, and listening to live music.

hgil@parstopeka.org