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Denise Kahler, director, Communications and Recognition Programs - (785) 296-4876
For immediate release
April 6, 2025
OVERLAND PARK — Rachel Marlow, K-5 music teacher at Central Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, and Lauren Sage, biology and environmental science teacher at F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City USD 500, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 6.
TOPEKA — Troy St. Clair, Pre-K-5 physical education teacher at Scott Dual Language Magnet School, Topeka USD 501, and Julie Smith, business and digital media teacher at Santa Fe Trail High School, Santa Fe Trail USD 434, were named Region 2 finalists for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 6.
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.”
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.
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