Excellence in Education Awards

The Excellence in Education Awards were founded in 2019 with the goal of highlighting and recognize the incredible educators that serve public school students in Kansas City. These awards have recognized educators in four individual categories: Star Leader, Star Administrator, Star Support, and Star Teacher, as well as recognizing teams within schools with the Star Team award. Each individual award winner receives $10,000. Starting in 2022, the Kansas City Royals Foundation co-funded the event, matching SchoolSmartKC’s award and doubling the number of awards given each year. Starting in 2024, SchoolSmartKC introduced a special award for Pre-K educators, highlighting the significant impact that early education makes to lifelong success.

The alumni of Excellence in Education represent the best of the best in Kansas City. Each year, SchoolSmartKC partner’s with fellow organizations including the Kansas City Public Schools and Missouri Public Charter Schools Association to tell their incredible stories.

Excellence in Education Award Winners

2024 Winners
Star Administrator ($10,000)

Erin Opara (Charter)
Chelsea Millar (KCPS)

Star Leader ($10,000)

Tricia DeGraff (Charter)
Jessie Kirksey (KCPS)

Star Support ($10,000)

Yolanda Irvin (Charter)
Victoria Jenkins (Charter)
Lorena Patiño (Charter)
Christine Allenbrand (KCPS)
Amy Carlson (KCPS)
Danita Saffold (KCPS)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

Marie Catherine Marchand (Charter)
Hillary Kosnac (Charter)
Megan Henderson (Charter)
Hannah Ickes (Charter)
Ellen Jorgenson (Charter)
Belinda Blake (KCPS)
Mary Jo Fender (KCPS)
Katelyn Aulgur (KCPS)
Kim Ramsey (KCPS)
Jessica Williams (KCPS)

Star Pre-K Educator ($10,000)

Danielle Britt (Charter)

Star Team ($5,000)

Garfield Elementary School PLC Team (KCPS)
Carver Dual Language School PLC Team (KCPS)
Frontier Schools – 3rd Grade Team (Charter)
Guadalupe High School – Academies Team (Charter)

2023 Winners
Star Administrator ($10,000)

Levette Amerison (Charter)
Seth Oldham (KCPS)

Star Leader ($10,000)

Heather Royce (Charter)
Takeisha Brown (KCPS)

Star Support ($10,000)

Blake Smith (Charter)
Tierra Jackson (Charter)
Steven O’Sullivan (Charter)
Carina Button (KCPS)
Jami Evans Arreola (KCPS)
Katherine Zeeck (KCPS)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

Wendy Bonilla (Charter)
Kelly O’Brien (Charter)
Armand Tsafack (Charter)
Tenaya Rhinehardt (Charter)
Melissa Stephens (Charter)
Belinda Blake (KCPS)
Mary Jo Fender (KCPS)
Katelyn Aulgur (KCPS)
Kim Ramsey (KCPS)
Jessica Williams (KCPS)

Star Team ($5,000)

Gladstone Elementary PLC Team (KCPS)
Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts PLC Team (KCPS)
Brookside Charter Kindergarten Team (Charter)
KCIA Student Success Team (Charter)

2022 Winners
Star Administrator ($10,000)

Ryan Brennan (Charter)
Lauren Amicone (KCPS)

Star Leader ($10,000)

Tara Haskins (Charter)
Dana Carter (KCPS)

Star Support ($10,000)

Janice Thomas (Charter)
Brad Sweeten (Charter)
Jerry Sypert (Charter)
Valerie Zigeler (KCPS)
Gertrude “Trudy” Price (KCPS)
Yvonne Russell (KCPS)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

Sean Klippil (Charter)
Kathryn Brown (Charter)
Kellee Ransom (Charter)
Nancy Jones (Charter)
Shamara Moore (Charter)
Andrew Corrao (KCPS)
Cathey Dodd (KCPS)
Jennifer Tobaben (KCPS)
Laura Culp (KCPS)
Mason Meyer(KCPS)

Star Team ($5,000)

Trailwoods Elementary Team (KCPS)
Northeast Middle School Team (KCPS)
Gordon Parks Elementary Care Team (Charter)
Family and Community Engagement Team (Charter)

2021 Winners
Star Administrator/Assistant Principal ($10,000)

Bryan VanOsdale (KCPS)
Bennie Jackson (Charter)

Star Leader ($10,000)

Harrison Neal (KCPS)
Nicole Goodman (Charter)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

David Price (KCPS)
Katherine Zeeck (KCPS)
Monique Young Jones (KCPS)
Katherine Hendricks (Charter)
Megan Jefferson (Charter)

Star Team ($5,000)

Garcia Elementary (KCPS)
Lincoln Middle (KCPS)
University Academy (Charter)

2020 Winners
Star Leader ($10,000)

Tony Kline (Charter)

Star Support ($10,000)

Bethany Brown (Charter)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

Vonnchet Clark (Charter)
Angela Roshiem (Charter)

2019 Winners
Star Administrator/Assistant Principal ($10,000)

Benjamin Richardson (KCPS)
Arthur Seabury (Charter)

Star Leader ($10,000)

Karol Howard (KCPS)
Roger Offield (Charter)

Star Teacher ($10,000)

Philip Howard (KCPS)
Sarah Eblen (KCPS)
Sandra Dixon (KCPS)
Keyonia Cobbins (Charter)
Muriel Desbleds-Wilson (Charter)

Star Team ($5,000)

Rogers Elementary Team (KCPS)
Trailwoods Elementary (KCPS)
Genesis Charter School (Charter)
Academie LaFayette Charter)

Excellence in Education Award Video Highlights

Watch Archive Videos

Delve into past Excellence in Education events celebrating Kansas City’s Public Education System.

2023 Excellence in Education Award Event

2022 Excellence in Education Award Event

2021 Excellence in Education Award Event

Announcements

Celebrating Educators in a COVID-era Through the Excellence in Education Awards

Celebrating Educators in a COVID-era Through the Excellence in Education Awards