Atchison High English teacher Dawn Smith named Kansas Teacher of the Year finalist

Dawn Smith’s classroom at Atchison High School is where Atchison students build the reading, writing and speaking skills that follow them into every other class, and now that work has earned statewide attention. Smith, an English teacher in USD 409, was named a Region 2 finalist for Kansas Teacher of the Year and advanced into the group of educators competing for the 2027 state honor.

The announcement put Smith among the finalists recognized in Topeka, where Kansas education leaders highlighted teachers who help young people think critically and communicate with confidence. In a subject like English language arts, that matters well beyond one period of instruction. For Atchison High’s 434 students, those lessons shape everything from essays and presentations to the literacy skills required in science, social studies and career preparation.

Smith’s recognition also carried weight for a district that serves about 1,470 students and employs roughly 300 staff members. In a smaller school system, one teacher’s statewide finalist spot can reflect on the larger culture of the building, from classroom expectations to how well the district supports strong teaching. Atchison Public Schools says its mission is to identify and remove barriers so all students have equal opportunities for success, and Smith’s selection fits squarely within that goal.

Kansas Department of Education officials organize the Teacher of the Year program by region, with the four regions aligned to the state’s four congressional districts. Regional committees review nominations, choose three elementary and three secondary semifinalists, then narrow the field to one elementary and one secondary finalist in each region. Smith advanced from Region 2 alongside Alexandra Vahsholtz, a fifth-grade teacher at Village Elementary School in Emporia USD 253.

The finalists now move forward in the process leading to the 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year awards banquet, scheduled for September 2026 in Wichita, with a 4 p.m. reception followed by a 5 p.m. dinner and awards program. The state also encourages every district to nominate one exemplary elementary teacher and one exemplary secondary teacher, underscoring that the award is built around strong classroom instruction.

For Atchison, Smith’s honor is more than a line on a résumé. It puts a local English teacher in the statewide conversation and gives USD 409 a visible example of classroom leadership at a time when districts compete for staff, students and community confidence.