Kansas has a new Teacher of the Year!

At a banquet in Wichita last evening, Karen Tritt, a Spanish teacher at Shawnee Mission West High School, was named the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year. This announcement culminated months of preparation and competition in school districts throughout Kansas. Tritt won out over ninety candidates statewide.

I heard her speak at the Region 3 awards dinner in September, at which she was named a finalist for the competition, and believe she’ll be an exceptional advocate for education in the state of Kansas.

I have to disclose a more than passing interest in this event, for my wife Heather was also in the running.

Here are Heather (holding the plaque on the left) and Karen Tritt (on the right), with members of the Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education.

Congratulations, Karen!