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 recognize educators in five individual categories: Star Leader, Star Rising Leader, Star Support, Star Teacher, and – new for 2025 – Lifetime Achievement. Each individual award winner receives $10,000.We also recognize the contributions of exceptional school-based teams through the Star Team Grants, awarded in school to teams who provide high quality programs to students. 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. Each year we partner with the Kansas City Public Schools and Missouri Public Charter Schools Association to aid in the selection of our award winners and build communiy around this excellence in education!

Excellence in Education Award Winners

2024 Winners

Star Rising Leader ($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 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 Rising Leader ($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 Team ($5,000)

Kindergarten Team (Brookside Charter)
Student Success Team (KCIA)
Professional Learning Communities (Gladstone Elementary)
Professional Learning Communities (Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts)

2022 Winners

Star Rising Leader ($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 Team ($5,000)

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