Austyn McNew, 2nd grade teacher at Bluemont Elementary School, was named one of thirty-two Kansas Horizon Award Winners. Also named was Chrystiana Miller of Geary County’s USD 475 Sheridan Elementary School.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Kansas Horizon Award. Being recognized as an exemplary first year teacher could not have been possible without the guidance of my mentors, colleagues, and administration,” states McNew. “It’s been a privilege to work for this district and serve my students and their families.”
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) today announced the recipients of the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award, which recognizes exemplary first-year educators. 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. 20, 2015 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. 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. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region.
Recipients of the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Interim-Commissioner of Education, Brad Neuenswander. Neuenswander remarked, “I want to extend my congratulations to the recipients of the Kansas Horizon Award. These new educators have taken on the challenge of helping all of our students learn to their fullest potential, and I am excited by the quality of individuals we bring to our classrooms each year. I commend each of the award recipients for their dedication to making a difference in the lives of their students.”
