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Two area teachers named Region 3 finalists for Kansas Teacher of the Year

Amanda Ketterling, a library media specialist at Bonner Springs Elementary School, Bonner Springs Unified School District 204, and Natalie Johnson-Berry, an English teacher at Shawnee Mission North High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Sunday, March 28. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

In prior years, the Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist ceremony has taken place in person. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event took place virtually this year.

As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Ketterling and Johnson-Berry each will receive 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, Sept 25, in Wichita.

Ketterling and Johnson-Berry were among six Teacher of the Year semifinalists from Region 3, which covers the third U.S. congressional district.

Other semifinalists were Melissa Donaldson, a 3-5 early childhood, special education teacher at Stanley Elementary School, Blue Valley USD 229; Melissa Hembrey, a first-grade teacher at Riverview Elementary School, De Soto USD 232; Jessica Skoglund, an English teacher at Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe USD 233; and Jennifer Thomas, a science teacher at Turner High School, Turner-Kansas City USD 202.

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

This year, 138 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 (KSDE), 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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Posted: Mar 28, 2021,
Comments: 0,
Author: Ann Bush
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