For Immediate Release:
Kathy Toelkes, Director of Communications, 785-296-4876
January 19, 2011
2011 Horizon Award Program Recognizes 32 Kansas Educators
TOPEKA - Thirty-two beginning educators from around the state were named 2011 Kansas Horizon Award recipients recently. The Kansas Horizon Awards are sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education and recognize exemplary first-year educators.
The Horizon Award program, currently in its ninth year, allows all school districts in the state an opportunity to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible for a Horizon 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 Horizon Award 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 2011 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by
Dr. Diane DeBacker, Kansas Commissioner of Education. DeBacker remarked, “I want to extend by congratulations and my gratitude to the recipients of the Kansas Horizon Awards program. These new educators have eagerly embraced a challenging profession and proven themselves to be more than up to the task. Through their commitment and hard work they are making a difference in classrooms across our state and I look forward to meeting them and working with them to ensure all Kansas children reach their full potential.”
The 2011 Kansas Horizon Award recipients will be recognized at a special luncheon during the Kansas Exemplary Educator Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on February 25, 2011. This year’s recipients are:
Region 1:
Gennifer Booth, Morris Hill Elementary School, Geary County USD 475
Caley Cole-Robinson, Phillipsburg Middle School, Phillipsburg USD 325
Andrea Dolezal, Hoisington Middle School, Hoisington USD 431
Chelsea Forster, Salina High School South, Salina USD 305
Elissa Hadley, Emporia High School, Emporia USD 253;
Stacia Kaylor, Fort Riley Middle School, Geary County USD 475
Mariah McDowell, Grace E. Stewart Elementary School, Salina USD 305
Janeal Schmidt, Abilene High School, Abilene USD 435
Region 2:
Bethany Baldwin, Berryton Elementary School, Shawnee Heights USD 450
Haley Bugni, Lakeside Elementary School, Pittsburg USD 250
Josey Eastes, Tonganoxie Middle School, Tonganoxie USD 464
Sarah Marolf, Shawnee Heights Middle School, Shawnee Heights USD 450
Kayla Oblinger, Washburn Rural Middle School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437
Beranda Jo Oetting, Auburn Elementary School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437
Trent Page, Central Heights High School, Central Heights USD 288
Suzanne Reedy, Louisburg Middle School, Louisburg USD 416
Region 3:
Eric Ammerman, Mill Valley High School, De Soto USD 232
Jennifer Clarkson, Central Jr. High School, Lawrence USD 497
Chris Crawford, Center for Advanced Professional Studies, Blue Valley USD 229
Mila Little, Pioneer Ridge Middle School, Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
Brianna Lohrey, Hazel Grove Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500
Laura Robeson, Ray Marsh Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512
Kristin Salanski, Timber Creek Elementary School, Blue Valley USD 229
Kathryn Wells, Sunflower Elementary School, Gardner-Edgerton USD 231
Region 4:
Heidi Albin, Complete High School Maize, Maize USD 266
Christie Boote, Belle Plaine Elementary School, Belle Plaine USD 357
Theresa Blunt, Truesdell Middle School, Wichita USD 259
Travis Combs, Newton Alternative High School, Newton USD 373
Andrea Ewert, Maize Central Elementary School, Maize USD 266;
Lacy Kitzmann, Halstead Middle School, Halstead USD 440
Emily Noe, Wineteer Elementary School, Derby USD 260
Jordon Regehr, El Dorado High School, El Dorado USD 490
As recipients of the Kansas 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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