By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Geary County Schools USD 475 has announced that Ware Elementary Kindergarten-First Grade Special Education teacher Freda Felton and Fort Riley Middle School sixth grade math teacher Samantha Garner have been named the district’s nominees for the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award Program.
Felton was named the USD 475 Elementary Teacher of the Year, while Garner claimed USD 475 Secondary Teacher of the Year honors. By being named USD 475’s Kansas Teacher of the Year Award winners, Felton and Garner both received a $1,000 check on Monday from Exchange Bank of Junction City. The duo will also be recognized at an upcoming Board of Education meeting. The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award Program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, recognizes, and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. Its mission is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.
Felton, who has taught in USD 475 for over 20 years, brings a wealth of knowledge, fun, creativity and expertise to the classroom as she not only taught third grade for a number of years at Ware from 1999 to 2008, but has also served in various roles in Special Education, including being a teacher, building coordinator and coach. She is also a part of the Ware site council, district curriculum task force and professional development council. “It is pretty incredible to receive this award and a little overwhelming because I just come to school every day to do what I love and what I am passionate about. I hope it shows my students that hard work pays off and if you follow your dreams and find what you love, you can accomplish anything,” said Felton.
Garner, who has been in the district for 10 years, is currently in her third year as a sixth-grade math teacher and tennis coach at Fort Riley Middle School. She has spent most of her tenure though as a Special Education teacher at both Fort Riley Middle and Jefferson Elementary. “I did not expect this and was very surprised when everyone walked in today. I’m very grateful and honored. I hope it shows my students that what we are doing is for a reason and the importance of school,” said Garner, who is also a part of Fort Riley Middle School’s advisory council and building leadership team.
The Kansas State Department of Education will appoint regional selection committees responsible for reviewing the nomination forms and selecting six semifinalists, three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers, for recognition at the regional level. Two regional finalists, one elementary teacher and one secondary teacher, will be chosen from among these six teachers.Regional selection committees will be comprised primarily of education administrators and teachers.