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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 19, 2026

Contact: Denise Kahler, KSDE director of communications and recognition programs, denise.kahler@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4876

Goddard English language arts educator named 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year

Brandy Lane: “Education is not only about mastering content; it’s about building belonging.”

WICHITA – Brandy Lane, a seventh-grade English language arts (ELA) educator at Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School, Goddard USD 265, was named the 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) on Saturday, Sept. 19.

“Brandy’s students thrive in her classroom because they know they matter,” said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Jake Steel. “She possesses all the traits of what makes a Kansas Teacher of the Year: a relentless passion for wanting students to learn and be the best versions of themselves.”

Steel made the announcement at a gathering of more than 350 educators, business representatives and others during the Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet at the Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive, in Wichita.

Lane was named the 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year from a field of eight finalists.

Throughout the coming year, Lane and the 2027 KTOY finalists will work and travel as a team to advocate for Kansas education and the teaching profession.

Selected from a pool of 142 nominations, the 2027 KTOY team is comprised of Lane, from Region 4, and the following regional finalists chosen from the state’s four congressional districts:

• Region 1: Scott Glass, a chemistry and engineering teacher at Garden City High School, Garden City USD 457
• Region 1: Alayna Mancillas, a preschool teacher at Hickok Elementary School, Ulysses USD 214
• Region 2: Dawn Smith, an English language arts teacher at Atchison High School, Atchison USD 409
• Region 2: Alexandra Vahsholtz, a fifth grade teacher at Village Elementary School, Emporia USD 253
• Region 3: Corinne Flynn, a fourth grade teacher at Sunflower Elementary School, Paola USD 368
• Region 3: Audrey Gilroy, an art teacher at Westridge Middle School, Shawnee Mission USD 512
• Region 4: Danielle Ricke, an early childhood teacher at Southwest Elementary School, Pratt USD 382

Lane earned a Bachelor of Education in elementary education with a middle-level ELA endorsement from Washburn University, in Topeka, and a Master of Education from Baker University, in Baldwin City.

With 20 years of experience in education, Lane “truly transcends the classroom with her everyday interactions with students,” said Evan Manning, principal of Dwight D. Eisenhower Middle School.

“Brandy is an advocate for all students in her class, but also for all students and staff members in our building,” he said. “She puts as much time, effort, and expertise into her world class lessons as she does into the support and connection for our entire culture.”

Lane’s leadership skills are being utilized in part with Goddard USD 265’s mentoring program where she helps teachers develop their instructional practice and confidence. She is also a member of the district leadership team (DLT) for accreditation and her middle school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) committee to help align academic and social-emotional initiatives.

Lane’s impact goes beyond the lessons she teaches with rigor and relevance.

"She inspired me and others to work together, to be kinder, and to believe in ourselves just as much as she believe in us,” according to Haddie Satrom, a student at Eisenhower Middle School, who said Lane is “100 percent worthy” of being the Kansas Teacher of the Year.

During the KTOY banquet, Kim Gronniger, director of corporate communications for Security Benefit Corp., presented Lane with a $4,000 cash award.

In addition, Lane will receive the Kansas Teacher of the Year Lifelong Learning Scholarship to attend participating universities, free of charge, for as long as she continues teaching in Kansas. She will also receive The Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship which provides funds for travel and other necessary expenses incurred by the Kansas Teacher of the Year.

Lane will have the use of a rental car from Enterprise Rent-a-Car for KTOY-related travel. Jostens Inc. also provided her with a Leader in Education ring.

This past spring, each of the eight members of the 2027 KTOY team received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit and a red marble apple from the Master Teacher in Manhattan. In addition, each will receive Capturing Kids’ Hearts training from The Flippen Group.

The National Teacher of the Year program, presented by Voya Financial, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The Kansas program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Lane is now a candidate for the 2027 National Teacher of the Year announced in the spring of 2027.