Emporia State students and faculty will learn from experts when the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year team visits campus on Thursday, April 6.
The eight teachers include three ESU alumni:
- Erica Huggard, anatomy and physiology and biology teacher at Emporia High School, USD 253;
- Mallory Keefe head teacher of the 3-year-old preschool program at Cheney Elementary School, USD 268; and
- Pamela Munoz, kindergarten teacher at McCarter Elementary in Topeka Public Schools USD 501.
Brian Skinner, who teaches special education at Newton High School, Newton USD 373, is the Kansas Teacher of the Year.
The other regional teachers of the year are:
- Carly Torres, fifth-grade teacher at Wiley Elementary School, Hutchinson Unified School District 308
- Jaimie Swindler, 18-21 special education services, USD 290, Ottawa
- Kendal Norberg, fourth-grade teacher at Broadmoor Elementary School in Louisburg; Unified School District 416
- Jessica Gazzano, art teacher for Grades 6 through 8 at Woodland Spring Middle School, in Olathe
During their day at Emporia State, the team will present to students and faculty, tour the National Teachers Hall of Fame and record an episode of The Teachers College’s podcast, “How We Teach This.” The media will have an opportunity to speak to the educators at 1:50 p.m. in Visser Hall 330.
“Having the Kansas Teachers of the Year on campus is always something our students, faculty, and staff look forward to in the spring semester,” said Joan Brewer, dean of The Teachers College. “These individuals are the best of the best in our Kansas classrooms! We are quite lucky to have them come to campus and share their passion for teaching with our pre-service teachers. It is quite inspiring!”
The Kansas Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, identifies, recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. Throughout their award year, the Kansas Teacher of the Year and state finalists serve as ambassadors for education in Kansas by making public appearances across the state.