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The Kansas Horizon Award program identifies and recognizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.
The mission of the program is to recognize exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.
Novice teachers who have met all requirements on any license type with the exceptions of emergency substitute and emergency standard substitute licenses, which do not qualify, are eligible to be nominated. Teachers who are completing an alternative route and teaching under a pre-standard license (still in the process of completing the professional education or preservice program) are also eligible to be nominated.
The Kansas Horizon Award Program is a regional competition. The regions correspond to the state’s four U.S. congressional districts. The Kansas State Department of Education will appoint regional selection committees responsible for reviewing the nomination forms and selecting four elementary classroom teachers and four secondary classroom teachers per region for a total of 32 teachers.
Region 1
Larrah Bills, Heusner Elementary School, Salina USD 305.
Hannah Lehr, Buhler High School, Buhler USD 313.
Shelby Mann, Norton Community High School, Norton Community Schools USD 211.
Sam Pahls, Prairie Hills Middle School, Buhler USD 313.
Nicholas Preheim, Hutchinson STEM Magnet School at Allen, Hutchinson USD 308.
Elizabeth Ratzlaff, Moundridge Middle/High School, Moundridge USD 423.
Paige Stewart, Hutchinson Middle School, Hutchinson USD 308.
Sarah Wedel, Park Elementary School, Lyons USD 405.
Region 2
Spencer Feldkamp, Ottawa High School, Ottawa USD 290.
Lindsay Francis, Lincoln Elementary School, Fredonia USD 484.
Allyson Gilmore, Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence USD 497.
Sarah Kennedy, West Indianola Elementary School, Seaman USD 345.
Haydee Martinez Bretado, Scott Dual Language Magnet, Topeka USD 501.
Ruochen Shen, Eudora High School, Eudora USD 491.
Tricia Wyckoff, Southeast Elementary School, Southeast USD 247.
Dr. David Yoo, Baldwin High School, Baldwin USD 348.
Region 3
Sydney Clarke, Wheatridge Middle School, Gardner Edgerton USD 231.
Molly Dugan, Spring Hill Middle School, Spring Hill USD 230.
Kassidy Evans, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Blue Valley USD 229.
Rachel Leonard, F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City USD 500.
Kelsey Mackeprang, Junction Elementary School, Turner USD 202.
Emily Mauer, Timber Creek Elementary School, Blue Valley USD 229.
Abigail Morris, Stony Point North Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500.
Susan Specht, Shawnee Mission NW High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512.
Region 4
Micaela Heinrich, Maize South High School, Maize USD 266.
Brooke Hernandez, Andover Middle School, Andover USD 385.
Victoria Hoerst, Wheatland Elementary School, Andover USD 385.
Candice Michaud, Haysville West Middle School, Haysville USD 261.
Shonna Miller, Rex Elementary School, Haysville USD 261.
Alison Nikkel, Hesston Elementary School, Hesston USD 460.
Madison Sites, Pray-Woodman Elementary School, Maize USD 266.
Rebekah Wendland, Derby High School, Derby USD 260.
Questions about this page contact:
Tamla Miller (785) 296-4950 tmiller@ksde.org
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at ogc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.