TOPEKA — Julie Loevenstein, a fourth-grade teacher at Glenwood Ridge Elementary School (Basehor-Linwood Unified School District 458), and Lara K. McDonald, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at Washburn Rural Middle School (Auburn-Washburn USD 437), were named Region 2 finalists for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 15, in Topeka. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. 

As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Loevenstein and McDonald each received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, the major corporate partner for the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. In addition, they are each now eligible to be named Kansas Teacher of the Year, which will be announced during a ceremony Saturday, Nov. 23, in Wichita.

Loevenstein and McDonald were among six Teacher of the Year semifinalists from Region 2, which covers the second U.S. congressional district.

Other semifinalists were Karen M. DiLeonardo, a Project Lead the Way teacher at North Fairview Elementary School (Seaman USD 345); Peter Gipson, a music teacher at Sunflower Elementary School (Lawrence USD 497); Mitchell L. Tegtmeier, an eighth-grade health and physical education teacher at Eudora Middle School (Eudora USD 491); and Michael Sibley, a social studies teacher at Anderson County Junior-Senior High School (Garnett USD 365).

Each of the semifinalists received a red marble apple with a wooden base, compliments of The Master Teacher in Manhattan.

This year, 131 educators across the state 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, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.

Each panel selects six semifinalists — three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists. 

The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.

The Kansas Teacher of the Year team, comprised of the Teacher of the Year and state finalists, serves as an ambassador for education in Kansas, making public appearances across the state promoting education and the teaching profession.

The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is eligible for national distinction as National Teacher of the Year.

The National Teacher of the Year program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

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