Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Amber Pagan, a Pre-K teacher at Nieman Elementary School, Shawnee Mission Unified School District 512, and Ryan Mellick, an industrial technology teacher at Bonner Springs High School, Bonner Springs USD 204, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 7.

Benjamin Eckelberry, a first-grade teacher at Tecumseh North Elementary School, Shawnee Heights USD 450, and Elizabeth Anstine, a business teacher at Leavenworth Sr. High School, Leavenworth USD 453, were named Region 2 finalists for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 7.

Maegen Stucky, an elementary teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, McPherson USD 418, and Whitney Aves, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson USD 308, were named Region 1 finalists for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Saturday, April 6.

Olivia Winegeart, a second-grade teacher at Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, Derby USD 260, and Erik Stone, a band and vocal music teacher at Gordon Parks Academy, Wichita USD 259, were named Region 4 finalists for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Saturday, April 6.

Taylor Bussinger earned state’s top honor in September

Taylor Bussinger has a new set of wheels as he gets ready to hit the road to fulfill his duties as the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Buss: ‘I strive to make students feel understood and valued’

Taylor Bussinger, a social studies teacher at Prairie Trail Middle School, Olathe Unified School District 233, was named the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Sept. 23, during a special ceremony in Wichita.

Announcement made during Saturday ceremony in Salina

Erin Pittenger, an elementary teacher at St. George Elementary School, Rock Creek Unified School District 323, and Gretchen Elliott, an art teacher at Smoky Valley High School, Smoky Valley USD 400, were named Region 1 finalists for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year award program during a ceremony Saturday, April 1, in Salina.  

Announcement made during Sunday ceremony in Overland Park

OVERLAND PARK — Michelle Tapko, a sixth-grade teacher at Roesland Elementary School, Shawnee Mission Unified School District 512, and Taylor Bussinger, a social studies teacher at Prairie Trail Middle School, Olathe USD 233, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during an awards ceremony Sunday, March 26, in Overland Park.

Announcement made during Sunday ceremony in Topeka

TOPEKA — Fonda Telthorst, a music teacher at Piper Prairie Elementary School, Piper Unified School District 203, and Cherryl Delacruz, a mathematics teacher at Highland Park High School, Topeka USD 501, were named Region 2 finalists for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, March 26, in Topeka.

Announcement made during Saturday ceremony in Wichita

WICHITA — Melissa Haney, a science teacher at Explorer Elementary School, Goddard Unified School District 265, and Joanna Farmer, an agriculture teacher at Southeast High School, Wichita USD 259, were named Region 4 finalists for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during an awards ceremony Saturday, March 25, in Wichita.

Brian Skinner: ‘Education is being able to connect with each of your students on an individual level’

“Overall, education is not something that can be put in a box, and it is not just a list of strategies for someone to implement,” said Brian Skinner, an interrelated special education English teacher at Newton High School, Newton Unified School District 373. “Education is being able to connect with each of your students on an individual level, being able to build them to a place where they can see a realistic and successful future, and teaching the skills that will support adult learning and living. It’s about impacting a life for the better.”

Kendal Norberg, a fourth-grade teacher at Broadmoor Elementary School, Louisburg Unified School District 416, and Jessica Gazzano, an arts and publications teacher at Woodland Spring Middle School, Spring Hill USD 230, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Sunday, March 27.

Pamela Munoz, a kindergarten teacher at McCarter Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, and Jaimie Swindler, a special education teacher at Ottawa Senior High School, Ottawa USD 290, were named Region 2 finalists for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Sunday, March 27.

Mallory Keefe, a preschool teacher at Cheney Elementary School, Cheney Unified School District 268, and Brian Skinner, an interrelated special education and English teacher at Newton Senior High School, Newton USD 373, were named Region 4 finalists for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Saturday, March 26.

Carly Torres, a fifth-grade teacher at Wiley Elementary School, Hutchinson Unified School District 308, and Erica Huggard, a biology, anatomy and physiology teacher at Emporia High School, Emporia USD 253, were named Region 1 finalists for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Saturday, March 26.

Tabatha Rosproy gives speech, will attend gala on Thursday

Tabatha Rosproy stood on a stage in Wichita in September 2021, wiping away tears. It was time to turn the reigns of Kansas Teacher of the Year over to a new person and a new team.

Susanne Stevenson will lead team to advocate for education, teaching

Susanne Stevenson, a fourth-grade teacher at Beeson Elementary School, Dodge City Unified School District 443, was named the 2022 Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Sept. 25, during a special ceremony in Wichita.

Event will be livestreamed on YouTube

The 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year will be announced Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in a special ceremony in Wichita.

Megan O’Neill, a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, Ottawa Unified School District 290, and Helen (Lisa) Martinez, a Spanish teacher at Seaman High School, Seaman USD 345, were named Region 2 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.

Laurel Thisius, a fourth-grade teacher at Cheney Elementary School, Cheney Unified School District 268, and Kristin Salazar, a business and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Eisenhower High School, Goddard USD 265, were named Region 4 finalists for the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Saturday, March 27. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Susanne Stevenson, a fourth-grade teacher at Beeson Elementary School, Dodge City Unified School District 443, and Amber Carithers, an English language arts teacher at Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson USD 308, were named Region 1 finalists for the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a virtual ceremony Saturday, March 27. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

In order to better align the Kansas Teacher of the Year program with the national program, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recently announced some changes to the program’s timeline.

Tabatha Rosproy, the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year, is one of four finalists for the 2020 National Teacher of the Year, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) announced Thursday, Jan. 16.

Tabatha Rosproy, a preschool teacher at Winfield Early Learning Center, Winfield Unified School District 465, was named the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Nov. 23, during a special ceremony in Wichita.

OVERLAND PARK — Melissa K. Molteni, a second-grade teacher at Corinth Elementary School (Shawnee Mission Unified School District 512), and Amy R. Hillman, a sixth- and eighth-grade project-based learning teacher at Santa Fe Trail Middle School (Olathe USD 233), were named Region 3 finalists for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 15, in Overland Park. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

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. 

WICHITA — Tabatha C. Rosproy, a preschool teacher at Country View Elementary School (Winfield Unified School District 465), and Kara E. Belew, an 11^th- and 12^th-grade social studies teacher at Andover Central High School (Andover USD 385), were named Region 4 finalists for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 14, in Wichita. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

SALINA — Stefanie M. Lane, a fourth-grade mathematics and English language arts teacher at Garfield Elementary School (Clay County Unified School District 379), and Shawn Hornung, a social studies teacher at Wamego High School (Wamego USD 320), were named Region 1 finalists for the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 14, in Salina. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.