District Leadership had the opportunity to visit two educators today with some exciting news! Lauren Igo, Low Incidence Special Education Teacher at Swaney Elementary, and Jacob Coonce, a 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher at Derby Middle School, have been selected as Derby Public Schools’ 2027 Horizon Award representatives. In addition to the exciting news, they received a gift bag with extra school supplies and gift certificates from Derby Plaza Theaters, in recognition of their commitment to teaching excellence.

Sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, the Horizon Award program recognizes outstanding elementary and secondary educators who excelled during their first year of teaching and are now in their second year. Statewide winners will be announced later this school year. This program shines a spotlight on the promise, passion and potential of Kansas’s newest educators, celebrating those who are shaping the future of education with excellence from the very start.
 

Adding to the celebration, both Lauren and Jacob are Derby High School alumni who are now making a difference for the next generation of Derby students. Congratulations to these outstanding educators on this well-deserved recognition!