MANHATTAN — A Manhattan High School math teacher has been named a 2019 Kansas Master Teacher.
Dedra Braxmeyer, who was selected as USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden’s district nominee in November, has received that honor. She has taught at Manhattan High School since 2006. She earned a B.A. in Mathematics and B.S. in Secondary Education in Mathematics and Computer Science from Kansas State University in 1999. She earned her Master’s in Education from Peru State College in 2001.
Braxmeyer is the 30th instructor from Manhattan to be named a Kansas Master Teacher. It’s also the first time the district has had finalists named in back-to-back years since 2011 and 2012. Most recent honorees included Deanna Burton in 2018 and Barbara Clark in 2015.
Braxmeyer and six other finalists will be honored on Master Teacher Day April 3 at Emporia State University. The universtiy established the Kansas Master Teacher awards in 1954 which are presented annually to outstanding teachers across the state.
Other finalists include:
Paula Barr, Second-Grade Teacher at Quail Run Elementary School in USD 497 Lawrence
Laura Gaughan, Elementary Reading Specialist at O’Loughlin Elementary School in USD 489 Hays
Michelle Hilliard, Mathematics Teacher at Complete High School in USD 266 Maize
Lisa Jarvis, English Language Arts Teacher at Council Grove Junior-Senior High School in USD 417 Morris County
Carolynn Phalen, First-Grade Teacher at Grace E. Stewart Elementary School in USD 305 Salina
Linda Vena, Elementary Reading Specialist at Mission Trail Elementary School in USD 229 Blue Valley
