The Kearney School District is ready to celebrate the very best of Team Bulldogs.

The following KSD staff members have been selected to receive 2022 Teacher of the Year Awards or Support Staff of the Year Awards for their schools:

2022 Teacher of the Year Awards

● Dogwood Elementary School - Cami Aebersold (Counselor)

● Hawthorne Elementary School - Amanda Timmer (Dynamic Learning Center Teacher)

● Kearney Elementary School - Beth Pickle (Second Grade)

● Southview Elementary School - Danica Ballard (Kindergarten)

● Kearney Middle School - Brad Wollard (Math)

● Kearney Junior High School - Tanner Wendel (Special Education)

● Kearney High School - Dustin McKinney (Vocal Music)

● Kearney Early Education Center - Sara Woods (Early Childhood Special Education)

2022 Support Staff of the Year Awards

● Dogwood Elementary School - John "Rocky" Holsten (Custodian)

● Hawthorne Elementary School - Syndee Johnson (Paraprofessional)

● Kearney Elementary School - Lori Walker (Nurse)

● Southview Elementary School - Kim Watkins (Nurse)

● Kearney Middle School - Candice Walker (Nurse)

● Kearney Junior High School - Kim Evans (Administrative Assistant)

● Kearney High School - Melissa Stokes (Nurse)

● Central Office – Doug Sublett (Facilities Manager)

This year’s award recipients were selected by their co-workers and school leaders from a list of nominees submitted by students, parents/guardians and community members. The award selections were based on the nominee’s excellence in service to students, parents/guardians, co-workers and the community.

All of KSD’s school-level award recipients will be recognized during the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Banquet on Tuesday, April 26 at the KCI Expo Center.

“Our school staff members are world-class across the board, so these award recipients truly represent the best of the best,” Interim Superintendent Todd White said. “We are grateful for their extraordinary service on behalf of our students and families, and we ask the entire community to join us in celebrating these public educators.”

The 2022 school-level award recipients are now in consideration for the district-level Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year awards. KSD will announce those honorees on Friday, April 1, along with the Volunteer of the Year and Business Partner of the Year award winners.

KPGZ News - Ray Weikal of the Kearney, Missouri School District contributed to this story