For Immediate Release:
Jan. 14 , 2013
Kathy Toelkes, Director of Communications, 785-296-4876
2013 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award Program Recognizes 32 Kansas Educators
TOPEKA - Thirty-two beginning educators from around the state were named 2013 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award recipients recently. The Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Awards are sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association. The program recognizes exemplary first-year educators.
The Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award program allows all school districts in the state an opportunity to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible for the award, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding. The program is a regional competition with four regions corresponding to the state’s U.S. Congressional districts. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region.
Recipients of the 2013 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Dr. Diane DeBacker, Kansas commissioner of education. DeBacker remarked, “I want to extend my congratulations to the recipients of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award. These new educators have taken on the challenge of helping all of our students learn to their fullest potential, and I am heartened by the quality of individuals we bring to our classrooms each year. I commend each of the award recipients for their commitment to making a difference in the lives of their students.”
The 2013 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award recipients will be recognized at a special luncheon during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Feb. 22, 2013. This year’s recipients are:
Region 1:
Kebra Claiborne, Americus Elementary School, North Lyon County USD 251
Sara Goldsby, Heusner Elementary School, Salina USD 305
Katherine Hughes, McPherson Middle School, McPherson USD 418
Jennifer Love, Roosevelt Elementary School, McPherson USD 418
Zana Manche, Goessel High School, Goessel USD 411
Jesse Peters, Susan B. Anthony Middle School, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
Brandi Rayl, Faris Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308
Valerie Thomison, Prairie Heights Middle School, Morris County USD 417
Region 2:
Ashley Clark, Sunflower Elementary School, Paola USD 368
Tanay Forsberg, Rochester Elementary School, Seaman USD 345
James Gilpin, Erie High School, Erie-Galesburg USD 101
Phillip Kuchar, Prairie View Middle School, Prairie View USD 362
Sandra Martinie, McCune Attendance Center, Cherokee USD 247
Scott Peavey, Tonganoxie High School, Tonganoxie USD 464
Madison Shipley, Washburn Rural High School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437
Whitney Waters, Pauline Central Primary School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437
Region 3:
Lindsey Demke, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512
Dr. Christopher Jenson, Blue Valley Southwest High School, Blue Valley USD 229
Alyssa Meyer, Mill Valley High School, De Soto USD 232
Jennifer Mitchell, Wyandotte High School, Kansas City USD 500
Kayla Rausin, Gardner Elementary School, Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
Andrea Reinhard, Indian Valley Elementary School, Blue Valley USD 229
Jason Utlaut, Bonner Springs Elementary School, Bonner Springs USD 204
Kody Willnauer, Regency Place Elementary School, Olathe USD 233
Region 4:
Jennifer Cole, Clark Davidson Elementary School, Goddard USD 265
Nichole Jensen, Andale Elementary/Middle School, Renwick USD 267
Hope Kessinger, Andover Central High School, Andover USD 385
Erin Lewis, El Paso Elementary School, Derby USD 260
Sarah McDaniel, Wichita High School South, Wichita USD 259
Jason Ramey, Pray-Woodman Elementary School, Maize USD 266
Brianna Reyes, Valley Center Middle School, Valley Center USD 262
Betsy Robb, Maize South Middle School, Maize USD 266
As recipients of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award, these educators are invited to join the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN), a network of educators from around the state who have been formally recognized for exemplary performance. Members of KEEN have an opportunity to network with other outstanding educators and participate in a number of professional development programs throughout the year.
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