Communication Arts (CA) teacher Kelsey Bakalar was announced as the Kansas Teacher of the Year nominee for Blue Valley High School in January. Every school in the Blue Valley District nominates one teacher they think is most deserving of the award. Bakalar was chosen by her colleagues for her great style of teaching.
“I was just speechless when I heard they picked me,” Bakalar said. “I had no idea my co-workers thought that.”
According to the Kansas State Department of Education website, the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. Its mission is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.
On Jan. 24, a piece of paper was handed to each teacher with every name of every teacher at BV. Faculty members then circled the name of one teacher whom they thought showed the most dedication, passion, and success toward teaching.
“There are so many people who have mentored me; you just don’t make it in this profession alone,” she said. “To be surrounded by people who have mentored me, but be nominated is… I don’t even know what word to use.”
Bakalar received an email on Jan. 27 stating her nomination. “It was a very reflective moment,” Bakalar said. “I stopped and thought, what do I do? What would I have done to lead people to vote for me?”
Many teachers praised Bakalar for this honor. “She is always student-centered, so she is always focused on what is best for the student and that’s a real key to her success as a teacher,” fellow CA teacher Teresa Schulte said. “She really is a fabulous teacher, and she is very deserving of this award.”
The news of Bakalar’s nomination spread quickly throughout the student body and many congratulated her on the honor. One of Bakalar’s students, freshman Ariana Dunlap, said she was very happy to see one of her favorite teachers receive this.
“She is a very bubbly teacher and is just really enthusiastic about everything she does,” Dunlap said. “I think the award totally suits her and she definitely deserved the award. Her class is like my happy class — a really friendly environment. I learn a lot, but at the same time I’m not bored. It’s always interesting.”
Bakalar said she works very hard to make her class the best it can be.
“Teaching is my passion,” she said. “Some people have work and they have hobbies, and this does all of that for me.”
Bakalar said she is very grateful for the award because she believes the teachers at BV helped her become a great teacher by mentoring her.
“I don’t think I am any more deserving of this award than anyone else here,” Bakalar said. “I say that genuinely. That’s probably why I was so shocked. We [teachers] are here because we want to be better, and we are surrounded by people who are going to make us better, and so when the people around you — most of whom you think are good at what they do, better than you, and are going to help you — vote for you for something like thisl, it’s a great feeling and extremely rewarding.”
According to the Kansas State Department of Education website, the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. Its mission is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.
On Jan. 24, a piece of paper was handed to each teacher with every name of every teacher at BV. Faculty members then circled the name of one teacher whom they thought showed the most dedication, passion, and success toward teaching.
“There are so many people who have mentored me; you just don’t make it in this profession alone,” she said. “To be surrounded by people who have mentored me, but be nominated is… I don’t even know what word to use.”
Bakalar received an email on Jan. 27 stating her nomination. “It was a very reflective moment,” Bakalar said. “I stopped and thought, what do I do? What would I have done to lead people to vote for me?”
Many teachers praised Bakalar for this honor. “She is always student-centered, so she is always focused on what is best for the student and that’s a real key to her success as a teacher,” fellow CA teacher Teresa Schulte said. “She really is a fabulous teacher, and she is very deserving of this award.”
The news of Bakalar’s nomination spread quickly throughout the student body and many congratulated her on the honor. One of Bakalar’s students, freshman Ariana Dunlap, said she was very happy to see one of her favorite teachers receive this.
“She is a very bubbly teacher and is just really enthusiastic about everything she does,” Dunlap said. “I think the award totally suits her and she definitely deserved the award. Her class is like my happy class — a really friendly environment. I learn a lot, but at the same time I’m not bored. It’s always interesting.”
Bakalar said she works very hard to make her class the best it can be.
“Teaching is my passion,” she said. “Some people have work and they have hobbies, and this does all of that for me.”
Bakalar said she is very grateful for the award because she believes the teachers at BV helped her become a great teacher by mentoring her.
“I don’t think I am any more deserving of this award than anyone else here,” Bakalar said. “I say that genuinely. That’s probably why I was so shocked. We [teachers] are here because we want to be better, and we are surrounded by people who are going to make us better, and so when the people around you — most of whom you think are good at what they do, better than you, and are going to help you — vote for you for something like thisl, it’s a great feeling and extremely rewarding.”
