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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 29, 2025
TOPEKA — Liz Anstine, the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY), was presented on Tuesday, Jan. 28, with keys to a car for traveling more than 15,000 miles across the state as Kansas educators’ ambassador for the next six months.
“Teaching is a noble profession. People need to know that. We’re trying to cover as much ground in Kansas as we possibly can,” Anstine said after getting the keys to a red 2024 Nissan Sentra. “It’s an honor. Thank you to Enterprise for taking care of teachers like this because it’s important.”
The presentation of the car keys from the local Enterprise Rent-a-Car team took place on the south steps of the Kansas Statehouse. Other dignitaries who were part of the event included Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson and the rest of the 2025 KTOY team.
“Liz being able to go to other school districts and shape the hearts and minds of those young students, it really means a lot to us,” said Desirae Dillinger, Enterprise Rent-a-Car area manager. “It’s super important for us to not just look out for ‘the now’ but also for the future.”
In addition to Dillinger, the following Enterprise Rent-a-Car representatives presented Anstine with the Nissan Sentra:
The presentation of the car to the Kansas Teacher of the Year is made possible through a grant from the Enterprise Holdings Foundation.
Anstine is a business teacher at Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth USD 453, and earned the state’s top educator honor in September 2024. As part of her travel in the coming months, she will represent Kansas teachers at conferences, conventions and in discussions with the state’s policymakers. She also will offer professional development workshops for educators.
The Teacher of the Year program has state and national competitions. The national program, presented by Voya Financial, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Kansas program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).
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The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.gov or by 785-296-3201.