Humbled, honored and validated were just a few of the words expressed by the five educators who have been selected for or recently honored with a quartet of prestigious awards in recent months during interviews with KVOE News Wednesday evening.
At the onset of the USD 253 Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening, the district took time to recognize Walnut Elementary School 4th grade teacher Alyssa McCue, Walnut Music Teacher Meredith Knapp, Emporia High School Choral Director Sarah Bays, Village Elementary School 5th grade teacher Alex Vahscholtz and Emporia High School Math Teacher Kathleen Gilliland after each were recently recognized for their outstanding work in their respective classrooms. McCue, a first-year educator, was named a recipient of the Horizon Award, which recognizes first-year educators who exemplify outstanding characteristics in the classroom.
McCue says the recognition is validating for an individual like her who has loved education since childhood.
Both Bays and Vahsholtz were selected last year as the district’s 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees for secondary and elementary education. To Bays, education is “a reflection of anybody who has hope we can create a better future,” and she is proud to be considered among some of the very best in the profession.
Vahsholtz, who comes from a family of educators, welled up with pride in reflecting on the honor, saying this is an honor that belongs to her entire family, who helped shape the educator she is today.
Gilliland was honored as Kansas Master Teacher and was announced by Emporia State University shortly before the meeting. She says the most exciting part of the honor is the connections that will come with it.
Knapp was recognized Wednesday for being named the North Central Kansas Music Educators Association (NCKMEA) District Outstanding Music Teacher, an award she received this past Saturday. Knapp says music education combined two of her greatest passions throughout her life.
The recent recognition is not the end of the road for many of these educators, as Bays and Vahsholtz are currently awaiting word on whether they will be named among the regional finalists for Kansas Teacher of the Year, an announcement coming in April. Also, Knapp is awaiting word on whether she will be selected as the Music Teacher of the Year at the state level.
