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Tracie Betz, an early childhood special education preschool teacher at Quinter Elementary School, Quinter USD 293, and Tranda Strnad, art teacher at Republic County High School, Republic County USD 109, were named Region 1 finalists for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award program during a ceremony on Saturday, April 12.
Susan Rogers, first grade teacher at Derby Hills Elementary School, Derby USD 260, and Jason Peters, mathematics teacher at Hesston High School, Hesston USD 460, were named Region 4 finalists for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Saturday, April 12.
Ms. Anstine: “Deliberate reflection is a fundamental principle of my teaching philosophy.”
WICHITA – Elizabeth Anstine, a business teacher at Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth Unified School District 453, was named the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Sept. 28, during a special ceremony in Wichita.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.