SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1705
A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending the members of the
2023 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 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 2023 Kansas
Teacher of the Year and the finalists were honored at an awards banquet on September 24, 2022.
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 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year is Brian Skinner, Newton USD 373; and
the regional finalists are: Jessica Gazzano, Spring Hill USD 230; Erica Huggard, Emporia USD
253; Mallory Keefe, Cheney USD 268; Pamela Munoz, Topeka USD 501; Kendal Norberg,
Louisburg USD 416; Jaimie Swindler, Ottawa USD 290; Carly Torres, Hutchinson USD 308:
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we congratulate and commend the
members of the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year team; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate shall send eight enrolled copies of this resolution to
Senator Baumgardner.
Senate Resolution No. 1705 was sponsored by Senator Molly Baumgardner.
I hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE, and was adopted by that body
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President of the Senate.
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Secretary of the Senate.