West Middle School Teacher Named Finalist for Top Kansas Teacher

Seventh and eighth grade Spanish and teen leadership teacher at West Middle School Amelia S. Adams is named a finalist for the 2012 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Buhler fourth grade teacher Carla Goertzen is also a finalist.

The announcements were made during ceremonies at the Salina Country Club. As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Goertzen and Adams each received a two-thousand dollar cash award from Security Benefit, a major partner in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. In addition, they are now eligible to be named Kansas Teacher of the Year, an award that will be announced during ceremonies in Wichita Nov. 19.

Adams and Goertzen were among six Teacher of the Year semi-finalists from Region 1, which cover the first U.S. congressional district. Other semi-finalists were McDermott third grade teacher Geraldine Binns; Hugoton Spanish Teacher at HHS Chelle Leininger; Hutchinson’s Kerri Werth; and Salina’s Matt Gerry. Each of the semi-finalists received a golden apple, compliments of the Master Teacher in Manhattan. Statewide, 106 educators were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction.

The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is then eligible for nation distrinction as Teacher of the Year.