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Kathy Toelkes, Director of Communications for the Kansas State Department of Education, 785-296-4876

Two area teachers named finalists for Kansas Teacher of the Year-Region 4

TOPEKA—Sept. 8, 2012—Ramie Allison, an elementary physical education teacher at Nelson Elementary School in Haysville (Haysville USD 261), and Dyane Smokorowski, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Andover Middle School (Andover USD 385), were named Region 4 finalists for the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year award today.  

The announcements were made during ceremonies at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Wichita. As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Allison and Smokorowski each received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, a major partner in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. In addition, they are now eligible to be named Kansas Teacher of the Year, an award that will be announced during ceremonies in Wichita on Nov. 17.

Allison and Smokorowski were among six Teacher of the Year semi-finalists from Region 4, which covers the fourth U.S. congressional district. Other semi-finalists were Esther Calderon, a second-grade teacher at Cloud Elementary School in Wichita (Wichita USD 259); Sherry Reed, an elementary English Language Learner and Take Flight reading teacher at El Paso Elementary School in Derby (Derby USD 260); Jay Super, a high school science teacher at Maize High School (Maize USD 266); and Todd Miller, a high school science teacher at El Dorado High School (El Dorado USD 490). Each of the semi-finalists received a red marble apple with a wooden base, compliments of The Master Teacher in Manhattan. Statewide, 91 educators were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction.
Nominations are made in each of four regions in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education, sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators, and higher education representatives to select semi-finalists and finalists from each region.

Each panel selects six semi-finalists - three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semi-finalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the regional finalists.  

The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is eligible for national distinction as Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by the ING Foundation and Target, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers, in partnership with the University of Phoenix Foundation and People to People Ambassador Programs. The Kansas Teacher of the Year team, comprised of the Teacher of the Year and state finalists, travels the state advocating for education and the teaching profession.
                                                                               

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