Teacher of the Year
The purpose of the KCPS Teacher of the Year program is to recognize our extraordinary classroom teachers' contributions in every school. Teacher quality and effectiveness are the most important school-based factors impacting student learning. Our teachers create learning environments where children flourish and grow. Through Teacher of the Year, KCPS honors, promotes and celebrates excellence in the teaching profession, helping our teachers earn regional, state, and national recognition. Thank you to the KCPS Education Foundation, which sponsors this program!
And thank you for helping us recognize our incredible teachers!
**Reminder: Teacher of the Year candidates must be full-time certified instructors.
LOCATION |
NAME |
AC Prep Lower |
Edith Reese |
Banneker Elementary |
Kimberly Colbert |
Border Star Montessori |
Jennifer Schafer |
Carver Dual Language |
Ruth Rodriguez Santiago |
Central High School |
Shakira Cross |
Central Middle School |
Vincent Gunnels |
East High School |
Andrew Killen |
Faxon Elementary |
Elton Parker |
Foreign Language Academy |
Timothy Nash |
Garfield Elementary |
Noelle Campo (Kirkman) |
Gladstone Elementary |
Shawna Crilly |
Global Academy |
Stephanie Gonzalez |
Hartman Elementary |
Renee Sumner |
Hale Cook Elementary |
Denise Bonthius |
Holliday Montessori |
Jessica Byrd |
James Elementary |
Amanda Odell |
J.A. Rogers Elementary |
Amy Teeple |
KC Virtual Academy |
Tessah Wood |
King Elementary |
Constance Powell |
Lincoln College Prep. Academy |
Joshua Whitaker |
Lincoln Middle School |
Astrid Reyes (Michelle) |
Manual Career Technical Center |
Keith Engle |
Melcher Elementary |
Bethany Kelly |
Northeast High School |
Imani Riley-Jones |
Northeast Middle School |
Janet Forth |
Pitcher Elementary |
Ciana Riggins |
Paseo Academy |
Hannah Klutho |
Primitivo Garcia Elementary |
Abigail Edwards |
Richardson Early Learning |
Lenora Watson |
Success at Anderson |
Tonia Pratt |
Success at Knotts |
Tracy Pruitt |
Southeast High School |
Karyl Michel |
Trailwoods Elementary |
Brenda Kent |
Wendell Phillips Elementary |
Joyce Neal |
Wheatley Elementary |
Elizabeth Erwood |
Whittier Elementary |
Letisha Edwards |
Woodland Early Learning |
Krysten Haas |
The 2025 Kansas City Public Schools Teacher of the Year Recognition Program honors the educators who structure their classrooms to increase performance and provide exceptional experiences, no matter what.
Sponsored by the Kansas City Public Schools Education Foundation, this program recognizes the contributions of extraordinary classroom teachers in every school. Teacher quality and effectiveness are among the most important school-based factors impacting student learning. Teachers create the learning environment where children flourish and grow. The mission of the KCPS Teacher of the Year Recognition Program is to honor, promote and celebrate excellence among our school faculty and help them be recognized at the regional, state and national level.
Each school-level recipient will then be in the running for the district-level recognition. They will be honored in April 2025, during the 2025 KCPS Teacher of the Year Celebration, when the district winner and two runners-up will be announced.