Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees urge investments in early childhood, literacy, career training and school supports

Members of the Kansas Teacher of the Year team and eight nominated teachers spoke to the Committee on Education on [date not specified], urging lawmakers to invest in early childhood programs, structured literacy training, social-emotional supports and career-and-technical education.

The presentations, led by Frank Harwood of the Kansas Department of Education, brought teachers from across the state to the committee to describe classroom practices and policy needs. The speakers represented schools in McPherson, Bonner Springs, Derby, Hutchinson, Tecumseh, Wichita, Shawnee Mission and Leavenworth.

The presentations offered examples of classroom practice and policy recommendations. Amber Pagan, a pre-K teacher in the Shawnee Mission School District, said early education can “break the cycle of poverty” and urged lawmakers to consider early-intervention supports and budget choices that expand access. "This is not just an investment in our child's future. This is an investment in the future of our state and our nation," Pagan said.

Benjamin Echovery, a first-grade teacher at Tecumseh North Elementary in the Shawnee Heights District, described play-based learning as a tool for social-emotional and academic growth. "We need to get serious about play because play is serious work," he said, recounting how structured play can build social awareness, self-regulation and math skills.

Olivia Weingert, a second-grade teacher at Cooper Elementary in Derby, emphasized evidence-based, structured literacy instruction and tied third-grade reading proficiency to long-term outcomes. "When I have students that come to my classroom that are not reading at grade level, that is what keeps me up at night," Weingert said, as she urged continued investment in teacher training.

Several teachers described the role of relationships and social-emotional learning. "We have to have systems in place that allow for human connection with our students so true learning can occur," said Megan Stuckey, a fifth-grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary in McPherson.

Speakers also highlighted career-and-technical education (CTE). Whitney Aves, a family and consumer sciences teacher at Hutchinson High School, said CTE teaches life skills, job-readiness and industry-recognized credentials. "Preparing students for family life and independent living is just as important as preparing them for professional success," Aves said. Ryan Millik, a project-based SHOP instructor in Bonner Springs, said vocational courses lead directly to careers and noted that former students have entered trades such as HVAC and industrial employment: "Shop class... is not an elective class, but it is a career opportunity."

Elizabeth Anstine, a business and marketing teacher at Leavenworth High School, described school-based enterprises and internships that operate as hands-on learning labs. "These experiences also prepare students to contribute to Kansas' economy as skilled, innovative professionals," Anstine said.

Lawmakers asked the team about recruitment and retention. Representative Stogdstall raised concerns about vacancies, saying there were "several hundred vacancies last year" and that shortages persist; teachers and committee members discussed mentorship programs and school leadership that can help retain new teachers. Several presenters recommended stronger mentoring, leadership stipends for department leads and state-supported training, including structured-literacy initiatives and mental-health resources that allow teachers to refer students for services.

A short exchange touched on universal free school lunches. Stuckey said reducing hunger in classrooms supports learning and classroom behavior, and that access to school meals "alleviate[s] stress on families, which alleviate[s] stress on children."

The Teacher of the Year team invited lawmakers to visit classrooms and see the programs described; Frank Harwood and the presenters answered legislators’ questions before the delegation left for the Senate floor.

This briefing was primarily informational: no bills or committee votes were recorded in the transcript excerpt provided.

On balance, presenters urged continued state support for: expanded early childhood access and early intervention; statewide implementation of structured literacy training; investments in social-emotional learning and mental-health supports; strengthened mentorship and leadership roles to retain teachers; and sustained CTE funding for career pathways and industry certifications. The teachers framed these investments as tools to improve classroom outcomes and long-term student success.