WICHITA – Samantha “Sam” Neill, an English language arts teacher at Buhler High School, Buhler Unified School District 313, was named the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Nov. 18, during a special ceremony in Wichita.

Jennifer L. Donovan, an elementary music teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee (De Soto Unified School District 232), and Angela “Angie” R. Powers, a high school English teacher at Olathe Northwest High School (Olathe USD 233), were named Region 3 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 10, in Overland Park. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Bradley “Brad” W. Weaver, an elementary music teacher at Atchison Elementary School (Atchison Unified School District 409), and Jamie D. Manhart, a junior high and high school journalism teacher at Silver Lake Jr.-Sr. High School (Silver Lake USD 372), were named Region 2 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 10, in Topeka. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.  

Megan E. Nagel, a sixth-grade English language arts and science teacher at Santa Fe 5/6 Center in Newton (Newton Unified School District 373), and Sarah C. VenJohn, a high school mathematics teacher at Winfield High School (Winfield USD 465), were named Region 4 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 9, in Wichita. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Gilbert “Gil” R. Still Jr., a fourth-grade teacher at Northwest Elementary School in Dodge City (Dodge City Unified School District 443), and Samantha “Sam” J. Neill, a high school English language arts teacher at Buhler High School (Buhler USD 313), were named Region 1 finalists for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony held Saturday, Sept. 9, in Salina. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Security Benefit Life Insurance has been awarded the 2017 Friend of Education award from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).

WICHITA – Jason Sickel, a vocal music instructor at Blue Valley North High School, was named the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Nov. 19, during a special ceremony in Wichita.

TOPEKA — Jonathan Ferrell, a sixth-grade science teacher at Briarwood Elementary School in Overland Park (Shawnee Mission Unified School District 512), and Jason Sickel, a high school vocal music teacher at Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park (Blue Valley USD 229), were named Region 3 finalists for the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 11, in Overland Park. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

TOPEKA — Crystal May, a fourth-grade mathematics, science and social studies teacher at Pray-Woodman Elementary School in Maize (Maize Unified School District 266), and Dr. Brent M. Wolf, a sixth-grade English language arts teacher at Derby North Middle School (Derby USD 260), were named Region 4 finalists for the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Saturday, Sept. 10, in Wichita. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

TOPEKA — Kristine “Kristi” A. Bruce, a fourth-grade teacher at Auburn Elementary School (Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437), and Maret Schrader, a ninth-grade language arts teacher at Seaman High School in Topeka (Seaman USD 345), were named Region 2 finalists for the 2017 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during a ceremony Sunday, Sept. 11, in Topeka. This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.