Seven Emporia State alums were recipients of the 2016 Kansas Horizon Award, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced on Jan. 5 and 6.
Thirty-two first-year educators from around the state received this distinction and will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Feb. 19 in Topeka.
The Kansas Horizon Award program, which is sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state an opportunity to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region.
To be eligible for the award, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding. The program is a regional competition with four regions corresponding to the state’s U.S. Congressional districts. Below are each of this year’s recipients (ESU alums in bold):
2016 Kansas Horizon Award Recipients
Region 1
- Karisa Cowan, Hoisington Middle School, USD 431 Hoisington
- Manuel Espinoza, Walnut Elementary School, USD 253 Emporia
- Aspen Frey, Lincoln Elementary School, USD 418 McPherson
- Amalea Peters, Clay Center Middle School, USD 379 Clay Center
- Alissa Miller, Emporia Middle School, USD 253 Emporia
- Andrew Potts, Kenneth Henderson Middle School, USD 457 Garden City
- Allie Ronnebaum, Fort Riley Middle School, USD 475 Geary County
- Chelsea Willems, Ware Elementary School, USD 475 Geary County
Region 2
- Barbara Atkins, Robinson Middle School, USD 501 Topeka
- Jordan Boyd, Lawrence Free State High School, USD 497 Lawrence
- Frances Caudill, Schwegler Elementary School, USD 497 Lawrence
- Kara Douglas, Glenwood Ridge Elementary School, USD 458 Basehor-Linwood
- Madison Hunter, Galesburg Middle School, USD 101 Erie-Galesburg
- Sarah Johnson, Baldwin Junior High School, USD 348 Baldwin
- Lara McDonald, Washburn Rural Middle School, USD 437 Auburn-Washburn
- Samantha McHenry, Shawnee Heights Elementary School, USD 450 Shawnee Heights
Region 3
- Lauren Brown, Heatherstone Elementary School, USD 233 Olathe
- Jocelyn Cummings, Mission Trail Middle School, USD 233 Olathe
- Stefanie Hagemann, Prairie Star Elementary School, USD 229 Blue Valley
- Andrew Hulse, Blue Valley High School, USD 229 Blue Valley
- Brett Mach, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School, USD 512 Shawnee Mission
- Hannah Ozier, Wolf Creek Elementary School, USD 230 Spring Hill
- Katie Sutton, Oak Park-Carpenter Elementary School, USD 512 Shawnee Mission
- Taylore Weitner, Mill Creek Middle School, USD 232 De Soto
Region 4
- Daniel Heath, Derby North Middle School, USD 260 Derby
- Molly Kretzer, Andale High School, USD 267 Renwick
- Tiffany Lippoldt, Skelly Elementary School, USD 490 El Dorado
- Kelly McMains, Prairie Creek Elementary School, USD 385 Andover
- Andrea Pope, Griffith Elementary School, USD 259 Wichita
- Kaitlyn Salazar, Hamilton Middle School, USD 259 Wichita
- Jenny Waugh, Circle Oil Hill Elementary School, USD 375 Circle
- Eric Weinbrenner, Complete High School Maize, USD 266 Maize
About the Kansas State Department of Education
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is a dynamic, dedicated service agency that provides leadership, resources, support and accountability to the state’s K-12 education system. KSDE administers the state’s governance of education, standards and assessments, special education services, child nutrition and wellness, title programs and services, career and technical education, and financial aid. It is the goal of the agency to provide all Kansas children with equal access to a quality, high-level education that promotes student achievement and prepares all students for global success.