Congratulations to Sabrina Andrews at Mize Elementary School, and Andrew Elliott at Mill Creek Middle School for being named as the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year district nominees for Kansas Region III. This award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.

Both Andrews and Elliott were honored along with 25 other Kansas Educators who were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction at a special Region III Awards banquet on March 26.

USD 232 continues to be a strong participant in the state’s teacher recognition program. The district is honored to have two Kansas Teachers of the Year, along with 15 state finalists and 13 semifinalists represented in the program since the year 2000 – more than any other school district in region three.

The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award 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.

Sabrina Andrews is a fifth grade teacher at Mize Elementary. She joined USD 232 as a new teacher in 2002 and just celebrated 20-years in education this past August. Sabrina earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Education, both from the University of Kansas.

Andrew Elliott has been a sixth grade Pathways teacher at Mill Creek Middle School since 2018. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearny and a Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Kansas. Before his position at MCMS, he taught at Starside Elementary from 2007-2017 as a 5th grade teacher and as a math specialist. Andrew’s first teaching position was for the KCMO School District, teaching third and fourth grade for three years.

Left photo caption: Security Benefit Asst. Vice President Mark Carr; KTOY Elementary Nominee Sabrina Andrews; Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson
Right photo caption: Security Benefit Asst. Vice President Mark Carr; KTOY Secondary Nominee Andrew Elliott; Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson