WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita Public Schools on Thursday surprised the recipients of the district’s annual Distinguished Classroom Teacher Awards.
Each year, fellow teachers, school administrators, USD 259 staff and parents nominate teachers and support staff who they feel help improve the quality of education. A committee comprised of school administrators, district administrators, fellow teachers, support staff and a representative from the United Teachers of Wichita select the final recipients.
This year’s winners are:
- New Teacher (elementary): Sydney Nelson, vocal music teacher at Cessna Elementary School
- New Teacher (secondary): Hannah Copeland, strings teacher at Curtis Middle School
- Teacher of the Year (primary): Stephany Mendez Castaneda, hearing-impaired teacher at Caldwell Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year (intermediate): Gianna Wilson, third grade teacher at Enterprise Elementary School
- Teacher of the Year (middle school) Rachel Wysong, math teacher at Wilbur Middle School.
- Teacher of the Year (high school) Aaron Haselwood, construction teacher at East High School
- Support (elementary): Braden Mayes, psychologist at Isely Traditional Magnet K8 School
- Support (secondary): Danea Cramer, counselor at Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center
“It feels really validating to me because I feel like music is one of those places that students feel safe and seen and valued,” Copeland told KSN. “Maybe it’s the reason that they come to school at all. It stresses the importance that music has in kids’ hearts, in my heart and its place in this building and in this district.”…