Congratulations to Maddie Lane for Being Named a 2023 Kansas Horizon Award Recipient! (VIDEO)
Congratulations to Ms. Lane for being named the Kansas Region 2 2023 Kansas Horizon Recipient. Ms. Lane is one of Thirty-two educators from Kansas being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the 2023 Kansas Horizon Award program. Ms. Lane was surprised with the announcement by LHS Principal Dr. Penrose and Superintendent Wessel earlier this month with a call from Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson.
Ms. Lane was nominated by Dr. Penrose, colleagues, and several students. A few excerpts from her nomination letters are below:
"Madeline Lane has quickly become an asset to our building and the teaching profession in her ability to navigate through challenges with poise and professionalism beyond her years of experience. As her mentor teacher for the past two years, I've had the pleasure and privilege of witnessing the unique spark that is Maddie's effervescent teaching style and its effect on the learning environment. At the very least, her students know they are safe and valued in her presence. It may never be known how great of an impact one teacher has on a student, but it is a safe assumption to say that Maddie's positive influence will far extend her classroom walls for years to come."
"Ms. Lane has a teaching style that engages students in the subject matter and gives them the support and scaffolding they need to be successful. When I enter her classroom for an observation, the students are engaged and learning each time. The students are eager to demonstrate their knowledge and work samples."
"If you were to ask one of her students, they would say that Ms. Lane's laugh is contagious, and her quirky attitude makes learning fun. By integrating clips from popular movies and music into otherwise lackluster lessons, Maddiemakes it possible for her students to access the vast learning opportunities within classic and contemporary literature."
"Ms. Lane is so deserving of every award imaginable for a teacher. Every day I come into school knowing that there is a class where I know I will be comfortable in a learning environment. If I'm having a bad day, she'll automatically know and will adjust to other's feelings. Truly the definition of putting others before herself."
Ms. Lane and the other educators recognized will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Feb. 17 in Topeka.
The Kansas Horizon Award program, sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible for the 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 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.
"We are fortunate to have such outstanding teachers in our state's classrooms," Watson said. "I want to commend all 32 Horizon Award recipients. Because of them, we move closer to our vision of leading the world in the success of each student."
As a recipient of the Kansas Horizon Award, Ms. Lane is invited to join 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 several professional development programs throughout the year.