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Communications and Recognition Programs / Kansas Teacher of the Year
Kansas Teacher of the Year Veteran Team
Taylor Bussinger 8th grade, Social Studies
Olathe USD 233 Prairie Trail Middle School 21600 W. 107th St. Olathe, KS 66061
Phone: (913) 780-7280 Email: tbussingerprt@olatheschools.org
Biography
For more information about the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, please contact:
Tamla Miller (785) 296-4950 tmiller@ksde.org
Communications and Recognition Programs Team Director
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
Cherryl Delacruz Grades 10-12 Mathematics
Topeka USD 501 Highland Park High School 2424 S.E. California Ave. Topeka, Kansas 66605
Phone: (785) 274-6000 Email: cdelacruz@tps501.org
Gretchen Elliott Grades 9-10, Art
Smoky Valley USD 400 Smoky Valley High School 1 Viking Blvd. Lindsborg, Kansas 67456
Phone: (785) 227-2909 Email: gelliott@smokyvalley.org
Joanna Farmer Grades 9-12, Agriculture
Wichita USD 259 Southeast High School 2641 E. 127th St. E. Wichita, Kansas 67207
Phone: (316) 973-2700 Email: jfarmer@usd259.net
Melissa Haney Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Goddard USD 265 Explorer Elementary School 16746 W. Explorer Goddard, Kansas 67052
Phone: (316) 794-4181 Email: mhaney@goddardusd.com
Erin Pittenger Kindergarten - 4th Grade Art
Rock Creek USD 323 St. George Elementary School 200 Blackjack Road St. George, KS 66535
Phone: (785) 494-2482 Email: pittenge@usd323.org
Michelle Tapko 6th Grade, English Language Arts, Social Studies
Shawnee Mission USD 512 Roesland Elementary School 4900 Parish Dr. Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66205
Phone: (913) 993-4700 Email: michelletapko@smsd.org
Fonda Telthorst Kindergarten - 2nd Grade, Music
Piper-Kansas City USD 203 Piper Prairie Elementary School 3131 N. 122nd Kansas City, Kansas 66109
Phone: (913) 721-1243 Email: ftelthorst@piperschools.us
2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team | 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalists
Biographies:
CHERRYL DELACRUZ | GRETCHEN ELLIOTT | JOANNA FARMER | MELISSA HANEY | ERIN PITTENGER | MICHELLE TAPKO | FONDA TELTHORST TAYLOR BUSSINGER, Kansas Teacher of the Year