TOPEKA – Nine beginning educators from our area were named 2012 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award recipients recently. The Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Awards are sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Association. This program recognizes exemplary first-year educators.
The Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award program 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 2012 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Dr. Diane DeBacker, Kansas Commissioner of Education.
“It is a pleasure to offer my congratulations to the recipients of the Kansas Horizon Award,” DeBacker said. “Hearing about the passion, commitment and dedication demonstrated by these early-career educators is truly inspiring. I am excited about the future for Kansas education knowing we continue to bring individuals of this caliber to the teaching profession.”
The 2012 Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award recipients will be recognized at a special luncheon during the Kansas Exemplary Educator Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Feb. 24, 2012. This year’s recipients from our area include:
Sarah Peterson, Buhler High School, Buhler USD 313
Emily Greer, Lincoln Elementary School, McPherson USD 418
Sarah Gerhardt, Canton-Galva Elementary School, Canton-Galva USD 419
Cassie Banka, Goddard Middle School, Goddard USD 265
Kelly Cocking, Clark Davidson School, Goddard USD 265
Eunice Periz, Washington Elementary School, Wichita USD 259
Garrett Scott, Derby Middle School, Derby USD 260
Blake Smith, Maize South High School, Maize USD 266
Traci Wood, Prairie Creek Elementary School, Andover USD 385
As recipients of the Kansas Cable Telecommunications Horizon Award, these educators are invited to join the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN), a network of educators from around the state who have been formally recognized for exemplary performance. Members of KEEN have an opportunity to network with other outstanding educators and participate in a number of professional development programs throughout the year.