Teachers Andrea Graham and Lee Lindsey represented Stockton in the 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year Program

At the April Stockton USD 271 Board meeting, it was announced that grade school teacher Jen Kesler and high school teacher Shane Austin were nominated to represent Stockton for the 2021 Kansas Teacher of the Year Program. As they now step into their roles as Stockton’s representatives for the coming school year, the 2020 nominees, grade school teacher Andrea Graham and high school teacher Lee Lindsey, reflected on their year and the events they attended as representatives of our school district.

Andrea Graham: “It has been an honor to represent Stockton as a 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee. I was nominated by grade school principal Stacey Green in March of 2019.

“In September 2019, Lee and I attended a Regional awards banquet where the state finalists were named. Then in November, Lee and I attended the Kansas Teacher of the Year Leadership Conference. Those two days were packed with workshops where we built skills in advocating for students, teachers and education. “We participated in colleague circles to help other teachers problem solve and collaborated to produce effective messaging. During this conference, Lee and I were placed on Regional Team E. With guidance from KSDE, we joined teachers from Goodland, Dodge City, Garden City, Ulysses, Liberal, and Hugoton. Team E (Engage, Enrich, Empower), began to plan our spring visits. A few of the tasks we were given included naming our team, planning how we would each represent our individual schools as well as appear to be a team in the way we were dressed, schedule a visit to each school, and have a common vision or goal for the year. The focus of our team was the importance of relationships with students, staff and one another.

“Our visits to the other schools have been my favorite part of the journey. We have become a close group and planned gettogethers the evening before to share a meal and catch up. When we visited a school, we made sure the visit was planned around our team’s focus of relationships, as well as highlighting each of our respective content areas and anything unique and special at our school. Along with this, we showcased local attractions, celebrations and of course, great places to eat!

“When Lee and I hosted our visit to Stockton, we loved getting to showcase our students and staff, and celebrate the many unique learning opportunities we provide students. We also visited the Parade of Trees at the Stockton Public Library and shared a goodie bag full of items donated by the Stockton Chamber of Commerce. “More than 50 people came together to make our visit special by showcasing learning, and donating items or food to our team. It was a wonderful day!

“We are now looking forward to continuing our visits next fall. Our team is hoping to get together this summer to have a baby shower for one of our members as well! Going forward, Lee and I will become members of KEEN (Kansas Exemplary Educators Network), where we will continue to build our network of colleagues and our leadership skills to serve the students and staff of USD 271.

“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Kansas Teacher of the Year awards program. It has opened my eyes to the needs in education, and helped me to be confident in standing up and advocating for those around me. I have also developed a new group of friends, who I know are there for me whenever I need them!”

Principal Stacey Green stated, “Mrs. Graham exemplifies the 21st century teacher who wins hearts and minds. She starts with relationships to assist students and adult learners, and then learning flourishes. I am a better person and leader because of my relationship with her. She challenges me daily to be better than I was the day before and I know from conversations with students, staff, parents and community stakeholders that she does the same for them. Through the Kansas Teacher of the Year Program, Andrea will continue to elevate teachers in all of Kansas and she is the ‘boots on the ground’ voice we need for the Kansas Can vision.”

Andrea Graham stated, “I call my students ‘My Kids’ because in our year together they aren’t just kids on my class list, they become a part of my heart.”

Lee Lindsey: “Being a Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee has been one of the highlights of my teaching career. The high school administrative team of high school principal Mr. Gary McCown and superintendent Mr. Greg Mann were the ones who nominated me. I hesitated accepting the local nomination just because I feel that there are others in our school equally or more qualified than I am, so I truly felt honored to be chosen.

“As Andrea and I gathered with the other ninety-some candidates I really felt out classed, but it was an amazing adventure. I went to the Awards Banquet in September and the Leadership Conference in November just like Andrea did. There I realized that I did belong with that group of wonderful educators. We were challenged to be advocates for students and our fellow teachers across the state.

“Andrea was unable to go, but in February I attended the KEEN Conference. One focus of the conference that I participated in was the need for schools to promote personal relationships with our students. This can be done through a deeper knowledge and understanding of our students, parents, teachers and communities social emotional needs.

“The most enjoyable part of this whole journey has been the development of our E3 group. We were matched up with several other teachers to create a team. We have had the opportunity to visit three of their schools and they have toured SHS in early January. We will be visiting the others when travel is back to normal. This group of teachers has surpassed just being a team; we are now lifelong friends.”

High school principal Gary McCown had the following to say about Lee Lindsey. “Mr. Lee Lindsey was nominated for Kansas Teacher of the Year because he has been such a consistent cornerstone of Stockton High School. Mr. Lindsey is patient, knowledgeable, and well respected. But it is his willingness to take the lead in change that is most notable. Instead of slowing down and fixating in a safe comfort zone, Mr. Lindsey chose to take a leadership role in working to create an environment more formidable and fitting for the success of our students.”

Lee stated, “I was honored to be chosen and will be forever grateful for the knowledge and friendships that I have gained by being a Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee.”