Philip Edelman, Instrumental Music Teacher at Robert Goddard Middle School, has been recognized as a receipient of the 2008 Horizon Award from the Kansas Department of Education.

The award recognizes exemplary first year educators.  The award is based upon Philip’s performance last year when he began working in Goddard School District.

Only 32 Kansas educators (16 elementary, 16 secondary) are recognized each year.  Philip is now a member of a very select network of educators from around the state who have been formally recognized for exemplary performance. Members of KEEN have an opportunity to network with other outstanding educators and participate in a number of professional development programs throughout the year.

The Horizon Award was announced in a personal phone call to Philip from Commissioner of Education Alexa Posny.  The call was received in Assistant Superintendent Joan Pritchard’s office yesterday.  Goddard Middle School Principal Lisa Hogarth and Assistant Principal Sean Hollas were also present for the announcement.

CONGRATULATIONS!  

Information about the Horizon Award from the State Department of Education is provided below.

2008 Horizon Award Program Recognizes 32 Kansas Educators

TOPEKA, January 15, 2008/Thirty-two beginning educators from around the state were named 2008 Kansas Horizon Award recipients. The Kansas Horizon Awards are sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education.  The award recognizes exemplary first-year educators.

The Horizon Award program, currently in its sixth year, allows all school districts in the state an opportunity to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible for a Horizon Award, teachers must have successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as outstanding. The Horizon Award program is a regional competition with four regions corresponding to the state’s U.S. Congressional districts. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region.

Recipients of the 2008 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Commissioner of Education Alexa Posny. They will be recognized at a special luncheon on February 22, 2008. This year’s recipients are:

Region 1:  Lacy Cleveland, White City High School, White City USD 481; Jessica Curl, McPherson High School, McPherson USD 418; Jennifer Davis, Marysville Jr/Sr High School, Marysville USD 364; Shane Heiman, Village Elementary School, Emporia USD 253; Chris Michel, Heusner Elementary School, Salina USD 305; Rebecca Schippers, Junction City High School, Geary County USD 475; Jacqueline Schnell, Eisenhower Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428; Jennifer Stokely, Faris Elementary School, Hutchinson USD 308

Region 2:. Chris Daniels, Washburn Rural High School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437; Matthew Herbert, Highland Park High School, Topeka USD 501; Nichole Honeywell, Atchison Middle School, Atchison USD 409; Joy McGhee, Winfield Scott Elementary School, Fort Scott USD 234; Ryan Paget, Shawnee Heights High School, Shawnee Heights USD 450; Chelsea Richmond, Burlingame Elementary School, Burlingame USD 454; Molly Strathman, Hiawatha Elementary School, Hiawatha USD 415; Kara Van Dyke, Atchison Elementary School, Atchison USD 409

Region 3:  Eileen Gorup, Blue Valley Middle School, Blue Valley USD 229; Elizabeth Milam, Piper East Elementary School, Piper-Kansas City USD 203; Erin Nichols, Edwardsville Elementary School, Bonner Springs USD 204; Katherine O’Toole, Sunflower Elementary School, Gardner-Edgerton USD 231; Sean Red Corn, Shawnee Mission West High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512; Shara Reilly, Mize Elementary School, DeSoto USD 232; Jennifer Schmidt, Gardner Edgerton High School, Gardner Edgerton USD 231; Jason Springer, Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence USD 497

Region 4:  Jill Augustyn, Cheney Middle School, Cheney USD 268; Kristen Bender, Maize Elementary School, Maize USD 266; Tamara Cassidy, Jefferson Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470; Effie Conway, Anderson Elementary School, Wichita USD 259; Kristen Crank, Augusta Middle School, Augusta USD 402; Philip Edelman, Goddard Middle School, Goddard USD 265; Rob Klem, El Dorado High School, El Dorado USD 490; Derrick Richling, Walton 21st Century Rural Life Charter, Newton USD 373

As recipients of the Kansas Horizon Award, these educators are invited to join the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN), a network of educators from around the state who have been formally recognized for exemplary performance. Members of KEEN have an opportunity to network with other outstanding educators and participate in a number of professional development programs throughout the year.
 

ROBERT GODDARD MIDDLE SCHOOL
Concert - Jazz - Pep
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