Geary County USD 475 and the Junction City Education Association announced on Tuesday that Westwood Elementary kindergarten teacher Stephanie Sowell and Fort Riley sixth grade language arts teacher Mary McConnell were the district’s nominees for the Kansas Master Teacher Award. Sowell was named the USD 475 Elementary Master Teacher Award nominee while McConnell claimed the Secondary Master Teacher Award nomination. By receiving this nomination, both women received a $500 check from Sunflower Bank of Junction City and will be recognized for their nomination at an upcoming Board of Education meeting.
Sowell, who is in her 12th year of teaching in USD 475 and is a Manhattan native, brings a wealth of passion, fun, creativity and expertise to the classroom as she has taught kindergarten at Westwood Elementary for six years. She began teaching in the district at Seitz Elementary and has served on several tasks force teams during her tenure.
McConnell, a Tennessee native, has been in the district and at Fort Riley Middle School for eight years. She spends her days in the classroom not only making a difference, but also challenging her sixth-grade ELA students by helping them grow daily through student-centered lessons. Prior to coming to Fort Riley, McConnell taught for two years in Tennessee before subbing at FRMS during the 2017 school year.
Emporia State University established the Kansas Master Teacher awards in 1954. The awards are presented annually to selected teachers who demonstrate the attributes of exemplary professional educators.
