Two area teachers named finalists for Kansas Teacher of the Year
TOPEKA, September 16, 2007
Karla Denny, Director, Communications and Recognition Programs, 785-296-4876
Erin C. Capettini, a second-grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School in Paola (Paola USD 368), and Anton F. Ahrens, a high school chemistry teacher at Topeka High School (Topeka USD 501), were named Region 2 finalists for the 2008 Kansas Teacher of the Year award today.
The announcements were made during ceremonies at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Topeka. As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Capettini and Ahrens each received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, a major partner in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program.
Capettini and Ahrens are among six Teacher of the Year semi-finalists from Region 2, which covers the second U.S. congressional district. Other semi-finalists were Angela N. Abbott, a fifth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School in Baxter Springs (Baxter Springs USD 508); Christine D. Ketron, a kindergarten teacher at Rochester Elementary School in Topeka (Seaman USD 345); Michael Justin Sibley, a high school social sciences teacher at Anderson County Jr.-Sr. High School in Garnett (Garnett USD 365); and Sherri Martinie, a high school mathematics teacher at Wamego High School (Wamego USD 320). Each of the semi-finalists received a golden apple, 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, appointed regional selection panels to select semi-finalists and finalists from each region.
The selection panels are comprised of teachers, education administrators, and higher education representatives. 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 will be selected from among the regional finalists and announced during a ceremony Nov. 17 in Wichita.
The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is then eligible for national distinction as Teacher of the Year. The National Teacher of the Year program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers and sponsored by the ING Foundation.
-more-
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.
# # #