USD 308 Announces Horizon Award Nominees; Aves Competes for Teacher of the Year
Last week, USD 308 Hutchinson Public Schools announced the nominees for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Horizon Award Program. This year’s nominees are Sammy Crawford and Roylin Page.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Horizon Award Program recognizes exemplary first and second-year teachers in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding.
Sammy Crawford: Inspiring Active Learning at Morgan Elementary
USD 308 Hutchinson Public Schools is proud to announce that Sammy Crawford, Physical Education teacher at Morgan Elementary, was nominated to KSDE for the Horizon Award. Sammy attended Southwest Baptist University and Wichita State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education.
Sammy believes in the importance of teaching life skills alongside athletic skills, inspired by her father, who was both a coach and mentor. When asked about her inspiration to teach, she says, “My dad was my biggest inspiration to become a teacher. He was my coach in all sports growing up. He not only taught my teams what it means to be an athlete, but also taught us life skills that I still carry with me today. I hope that I can only be half the coach, and teacher he was to me. I hope to teach my students how to create opportunities to be active for a lifetime, so that they can live a life of wellness.”
In her classes, Sammy aims to create an inclusive environment where all students can thrive and take risks regardless of their abilities. Sammy’s innovative approach includes interactive family involvement, such as hosting a "Bike to School" day and a "Family Week" unit to foster collaboration between students and their families. Through these initiatives, Sammy hopes to instill lifelong wellness habits in her students, encouraging them to engage actively in their lives and communities.
She looks forward to working with students of all abilities. “Another way I envision creating inclusion in PE is by adapting skills to reach the needs of EACH student's abilities. Whether that be a regular education student or special education student.” Sammy is gearing up for an inspiring school year focused on wellness, creativity, and engagement.
Roylin Page: Inspiring 7th Graders at HMS-7 Through Science and Support
USD 308 is excited to spotlight Roylin Page, 7th-grade science teacher who is dedicated to creating a supportive learning environment for her students. A graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and a minor in Biology, Roylin is currently pursuing a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at the same institution.
Inspired by her own teachers, Roylin strives to be a source of encouragement and guidance. She says, “School was always a place where I felt supported, and my teachers had a lasting positive impact on me. I hope to be that same source of encouragement and guidance for my students, helping them discover their strengths and inspiring them to achieve their best.”
Roylin is creating a positive and inclusive science classroom. “I aim to make every student feel valued by acknowledging their individual strengths and contributions. I incorporate collaborative activities where students can work together, combining their ideas to solve problems,” she says.
Additionally, classroom lessons are linked to real-world experiences through a scenario-based curriculum, equipping students to confidently address challenges with knowledge. This problem solving is essential in seventh-grade science classrooms because it enhances critical thinking skills, encourages creativity, and helps students apply scientific concepts to real-world situations. Students are encouraged to investigate, hypothesize, and experiment, fostering a deeper understanding of the scientific method. Roylin says, “I plan to create opportunities for students to apply what they learn to real-world problems/scenarios so that when problems arise, as they do, they are equipped with the knowledge to be successful.”
Next Steps for Novice Teachers
Each fall, USD 308 submits its Horizon Award nominations to KSDE. Both nominees submit a packet to KSDE that includes essays and student learning examples demonstrating effective instructional practices. The packets also include letters of recommendation, documentation of professional development, and descriptions of innovative teaching strategies or programs implemented in the classroom.
KSDE reviews packets from nominees across the state and selects 32 first year Kansas teachers for the award, to be announced in the beginning of 2025.
Whitney Aves Competing for Kansas Teacher of the Year
Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Hutchinson Career & Technical Education Academy, Whitney Aves, is still in the running for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Aves was announced last fall as a USD 308 nominee, and advanced to finalist for Region 1 in the spring of 2024. The winner will be named during a ceremony on Saturday, September 28th in Wichita.
The Kansas Teacher of the Year program consists of local, regional and state competition. The regions correspond to the state’s four U.S. congressional districts.
The Kansas State Department of Education appoints regional selection committees responsible for reviewing the nomination forms and selecting three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers designated as semifinalists. Two regional finalists, one elementary teacher and one secondary teacher, are chosen from among these six teachers. Regional selection committees are comprised of education administrators and teachers.
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Press Contact: Stacy Goss
USD 308 Director of Communications
620-615-4058
communications@usd308.com