Congratulations to Susan Rogers, First Grade Teacher at Derby Hills Elementary and Denise Rankin, Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher at Derby High School on being named our district's nominees for Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) for 2026. Additionally, we are excited to share that Susan Rogers was named the Region 4 Elementary Finalist for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year award! This marks the second consecutive year a Derby educator has earned this distinction, following Olivia Winegeart’s recognition in 2025.

The Kansas Teacher of the Year award honors outstanding teaching across both elementary and secondary classrooms statewide. As a finalist, Susan will receive a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, the major corporate partner of the KTOY program. She is now in the running to be named the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year, which will be announced during a special ceremony on Saturday, September 20, in Wichita.

Susan was selected as one of six semifinalists from Region 4, which represents Kansas’s 4th U.S. congressional district. Across the state, 136 educators were nominated for this year’s award. Each of Kansas’s four regions selects six semifinalists—three from elementary and three from secondary levels—before choosing one finalist in each category.

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), which sponsors the KTOY program, created the award to build a statewide network of exemplary educators who champion excellence in teaching and student success. Finalists like Susan become ambassadors for education in Kansas, traveling the state to share their expertise and passion for teaching.

We are proud of Susan and Denise and their contributions to education in Derby. Their dedication, talent and commitment to students exemplify the very best of the teaching profession!