Congrats to Elizabeth Wall, first grade teacher at Irving for this recent recognition! Wall, center is pictured with Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, and Kim Gronninger, Director of Marketing, Security Benefits.

Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees visited USD465 on Wednesday. Kerrie Bryant, from Lowell Elementary, is a Region IV Semi-finalist (pictured on the right). The other pictured nominees were from Andover, Augusta, Buhler, and Salina. They spent the day in Winfield visiting our schools as we showcased the unique programs and opportunities our school district offers.

Kris Trimmer believes that “good teachers are motivators who must be well versed in their subject matter which requires going beyond what is in the textbook”. When asked about her educational goals and teaching philosophy, she quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson who once said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” She believes enthusiasm is contagious and it will cause students to “become involved in and ultimately responsible for their own education.”