Members of the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year team have been celebrating #LoveTeachingWeek, Feb. 14-21, in videos posted on the Kansas State Department of Education’s social media channels.

This special week, started by teachers in 2015, is a national grassroots campaign to celebrate teaching, leading and learning in a way that unites and invigorates educators.

The team members, along with Liz Anstine, 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year, share their stories about why they chose the profession and how their students inspire them every day.

• Region 4 finalist Olivia Winegeart, a second-grade teacher at Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, Derby USD 260, was featured on the first day, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, and described something that made her smile and remember how much she loves teaching. Click here to hear more from Winegeart: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Olivia Winegeart 
• On “Sentimental Saturday,” Feb. 15, Region 3 finalist Amber Pagan, a Pre-K teacher at Nieman Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, recalled what inspired her to go into the teaching profession. Click here to hear more from Pagan: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Amber Pagan
• On “Sharing Sunday,” Feb. 16, Region 1 finalist Maegen Stucky shares something about her fifth-grade Roosevelt Elementary classroom in McPherson USD 418 that makes it unique and reminds her why she loves teaching. Click here to hear more from Stucky: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Maegen Stucky
• Liz Anstine, the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year, shared what motivates her every day as a business teacher at Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth USD 453, on “Motivation Monday,” Feb. 17. Click here to hear more from Anstine: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Liz Anstine - YouTube 
• “Tremendous Tuesday,” on Feb. 18, gave Region 3 finalist Ryan Mellick, an industrial arts teacher at Bonner Springs High School, Bonner Springs USD 204, the opportunity to describe when a student has mastered something, it reminds him why he loves teaching. Click here to hear more from Mellick: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Ryan Mellick 
• Region 3 finalist Erik Stone, band and vocal music teacher at Gordon Parks Academy, Wichita USD 259, recalled one of the best memories he has about teaching on “Wonderful Wednesday,” on Feb. 19. Click here to hear more from Stone: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Erik Stone 
• Whitney Aves, a Region 1 finalist and family and consumer science teacher at Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson USD 308, thanks a colleague of hers who has encouraged and helped her to celebrate “Thankful Thursday,” on Feb. 20. Click here to hear more from Aves: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Whitney Aves 
• To finish the week, Ben Eckelberry, a Region 2 finalist Ben Eckelberry talks about how he brings fun into his first-grade classroom at Tecumseh North Elementary School, in Shawnee Heights USD 450, for “Funday Friday,” Feb. 21. Click here to hear more from Eckelberry: #LoveTeaching Week 2025: Ben Eckelberry 

Click here for a playlist of the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year team members’ #LoveTeachingWeek videos as well as KSDE’s Facebook page.