Concordia's Katie Nease, Jenny Acree to be Recognized During Kansas Teacher of the Year Ceremonies

Concordia 3rd Grade Teacher Katie Nease and Concordia High School English Language Arts teacher Jenny Acree will be recognized as nominated teachers for the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year program.

The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.

This year, 109 educators from across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction.  Nominations are made in each of the four congressional districts in the state.  The Kansas State Department of Education, sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.

Each panel selects six semifinalists – three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers.  From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist.  The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists.  The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year State Awards Banquet will be held on Saturday, September 24th at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.

The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year Regional Award Events will take place virtually on Saturday, March 26th and Sunday, March 27th.

Other regional nominees from North Central Kansas are Angela Ferguson, Math and English Language Arts teacher at Garfield Elementary School at USD 379 Clay County, and Brandon Pigorsch, Special Education teacher at Clay Center Community Middle School at USD 379 Clay Center.