Two teachers named Region 3 finalists for 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year

Denise Kahler, director, Communications and Recognition Programs - (785) 296-4876

For immediate release

April 6, 2025

Two teachers named Region 3 finalists

for 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year

Announcement made during Sunday ceremony in Overland Park

OVERLAND PARK - Rachel Marlow, K-5 music teacher at Central Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, and Lauren Sage, biology and environmental science teacher at F.L. Schlagle High School, Kansas City USD 500, were named Region 3 finalists for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during a ceremony on Sunday, April 6.

This award recognizes excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. The KTOY Region 3 awards banquet took place at the Overland Park Sheraton Hotel, in Overland Park.

As finalists for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction, Marlow and Sage each will receive a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, the major corporate partner for the KTOY program. In addition, they each are now eligible to be named Kansas Teacher of the Year, which will be announced during a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 20, in Wichita.

Marlow and Sage were among six KTOY semifinalists from Region 3, which covers Kansas's 3rd U.S. congressional district.

The other Region 3 KTOY semifinalists were Lisa Miles, K-5 grade special education teacher at Prairie Ridge Elementary School, De Soto USD 232; Alex Muninger, fourth grade teacher at Cottonwood Point Elementary School, Blue Valley USD 229; Lara Caldwell, English language arts teacher at Horizons High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512; and Everette McNaney, mathematics teacher at Gardner Edgerton High School, Gardner Edgerton USD 231.

Each of the semifinalists will receive a red marble apple with a wooden base, compliments of The Master Teacher in Manhattan.

This year, 136 educators across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction.

Nominations are made in each of the four regions in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), sponsor of the KTOY program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and business representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.

Each panel selects six semifinalists - three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state's eight regional finalists.

The mission of the KTOY 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.

Members of the Kansas Teacher of the Year team, comprised of the Teacher of the Year and regional finalists, serve as ambassadors for education in Kansas, making public appearances across the state to promote education and the teaching profession.

The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is eligible for selection as National Teacher of the Year.

The National Teacher of the Year program is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers in partnership with the Voya Foundation.

###