My Journey as a Non-Winner for the KS Teacher of the Year - the Regional Winner Banquet

This sounds depressing. No, I didn't win. But you know what? My district nominated my to represent them, and that alone is pretty darn cool! It all started last winter when I was nominated. I had to fill out paperwork. A LOT of paperwork. I wrote, edited, deleted, wrote, edited, deleted. I don't know how many times I restarted that darn paperwork! But in doing so I did a lot of soul searching and reflecting. I looked at my students working on their art, and I wondered just what makes me a good teacher? What makes me worthy of standing in front of anyone and telling them why I deserved the title.

September was the awards ceremony. My husband, superintendent & HS principal all came to watch me not win. At first I was really bummed, but then the speaker started talking and boy did he make sense! He said "you may not think you're the best teacher in your district. Heck, you may not even think you're the best teacher in your hallway! But you were nominated. You DO deserve to be here." I let that sink in. I know I'm good for kids. I cry with them, I laugh with them. I watch them grow up & leave the nest. I love them all, even the ones who are a bit hard to love some days. And, because I'm a competitor at heart, I started replaying everything over in my mind, kind of like an athlete reflects after losing the big game. Not because I lost, but because I AM a good teacher, and a good teacher reflects on what goes right, and what went wrong.

So now that I've rambled on, I'm going to let you in on the workings of all this, cause it is pretty darn cool. Kansas sure knows how to promote it's teachers!

KS Commissioner of Education Randy Watson, Me, Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis

All the KS High School Nominees from Region 4 with our State Educational Leaders/Super Supporters!

Me receiving my certificate while I stood with KS Commissioner of Education
Myself, Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis, and (I'll have to go find out who the last man was - everything was a blur!)