HOUSE RESOLUTION No. 6033
A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending the members of the
2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year team.
WHEREAS, The Kansas State Department of Education sponsors
the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, which identifies, recognizes
and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and
secondary classrooms of the state; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the program is to build and utilize a
network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of
schools, student performance and the teaching profession; and
WHEREAS, Two teachers – one elementary and one secondary – in
each of the state's four United States congressional districts were
selected as finalists for recognition as Kansas Teacher of the Year, with
the recipient being chosen from among the eight finalists; and
WHEREAS, The Kansas Teacher of the Year is awarded with the
Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship,
which enables the person selected to devote significant time during the
second semester to activities supporting the mission of the program.
The 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year and finalists were honored at an
awards banquet on September 23, 2023. All members received a cash
award as well as mementos of the event; and
WHEREAS, The Kansas Teacher of the Year is nominated to
represent Kansas in the National Teacher of the Year program, a project
of the Council of Chief State School Officers, presented by Voya
Financial; and
WHEREAS, The 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year is Taylor
Bussinger, Olathe USD 233; and the regional finalists are: Cherryl
Delacruz, Topeka USD 501; Gretchen Elliott, Smoky Valley USD 400;
Joanna Farmer, Wichita USD 259; Melissa Haney, Goddard USD 265;
Erin Pittenger, Rock Creek USD 323; Michelle Tapko, Shawnee
Mission USD 512; Fonda Telthorst, Piper Kansas City USD 203: Now,
therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
Kansas: That we congratulate and commend the members of the 2024
Kansas Teacher of the Year team.
I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the HOUSE, and
was adopted by that body
Speaker of the House.
Chief Clerk of the House.