The Kansas State Department of Education submitted the Kansas Consolidated State Plan to the federal government on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017, to meet the requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Kansas State Board of Education members learned during their September meeting.

The first round of visits to the seven school districts taking part in the Kansans Can School Redesign Project was a success, and districts are excited about the upcoming year, redesign specialists Jay Scott and Tammy Mitchell said.

Jennifer L. Donovan, an elementary music teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee (De Soto Unified School District 232), and Angela “Angie” R. Powers, a high school English teacher at Olathe Northwest High School (Olathe USD 233), were named Region 3 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 10, in Overland Park. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Bradley “Brad” W. Weaver, an elementary music teacher at Atchison Elementary School (Atchison Unified School District 409), and Jamie D. Manhart, a junior high and high school journalism teacher at Silver Lake Jr.-Sr. High School (Silver Lake USD 372), were named Region 2 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 10, in Topeka. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.