Kansas Teacher of the Year Teams
The Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) program recognizes and utilizes excellent K–12 educators as leaders in improving student performance and the teaching profession. Sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), it identifies exemplary teachers through a process involving local, regional, and state-level competition. The selected Teacher of the Year acts as an ambassador for Kansas education and becomes the state's nominee for the National Teacher of the Year award.
For more information on all finalists, see the list below in alphabetical order.
Initial Teaching License
The first license that an individual holds to begin practice as a teacher while preparing for the professional teaching license.
This application is for educators who have completed a Kansas teacher preparation program and are applying for their first teaching license.
Requirements to apply:
- Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college/university
- Completion of a state of Kansas approved teacher preparation program
- Completion of a teacher work sample verified by the Kansas college/university
- Passing scores on the content assessment for your endorsement area(s)
2027 KTOY Team
Brandy Lane
Kansas Teacher of the Year
Grade 7 English Language Arts
Goddard USD 265
Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School
16152 W Explorer St
Goddard, KS 67052
(316) 794-4150
Corinne Flynn
Regional Teacher of the Year
Grade 4 General Education
USD 368 Paola
Sunflower Elementary School
1401 E 303rd St
Paola, KS 66071
Phone: (913) 294-8040
Audrey Gilroy
Regional Teacher of the Year
Grades 7-8 Art
Overland Park, KS 66214
Phone: (913) 993-1200
Scott Glass
Regional Teacher of the Year
Grades 10-12 Chemistry and Engineering
Garden City USD 457
Garden City High School
2720 Buffalo Way BLVD n
Garden City, KS 67846
Phone: (620) 805-5400
Alayna Mancillas
Regional Teacher of the Year
Preschool
Ulysses USD 214
Hickok Elementary School
810 N Missouri
Ulysses, KS 67880
Phone: (620) 356-3919
Danielle Ricke
Regional Teacher of the Year
PreK
Pratt USD 382
Southwest Elementary School
900 W. 8th St.
Pratt, KS 67124
Phone: (620) 672-4520
Dawn Smith
Regional Teacher of the Year
Grades 11-12 English
Atchison USD 409
Atchison High School
1500 W. Riley St
Atchison, KS 66002
Phone: (913) 367-4162
Alexandra Vahsholtz
Regional Teacher of the Year
Grade 5 General Education
Emporia USD 253
Village Elementary School
2302 W 15th Ave
Emporia, KS 66801
Phone: (620) 341-2282
