East High Marketing Teacher wins Excellence in Public Service Award

Shanna Zimmerman, a Marketing teacher at East High School, is the 2025 Excellence in Public Service Award winner for the Wichita Public Schools.

Watch a video news story of the surprise presentation.

Now in its 37th year, the award recognizes employees from the City of Wichita, Sedgwick County and Wichita Public Schools who exhibit the highest standard of service on the job and through their volunteerism. The winners each receive $3,000 from the DeVore Foundation.

Jocelyn Powell, a former student, nominated Zimmerman for the award, highlighting her commitment to students, empowering them to pursue excellence in life and business. 

“On top of her teaching duties, Shanna is the advisor for DECA which is one of the largest and most active student organizations on campus,” said Powell. “She makes sure each student gets to feel safe in her classroom and gets real-life experience by having them run the school stores to simulate running a real-life business.”

Powell appreciates Zimmerman pushing her outside of her comfort zone as a student, encouraging her to present to top executives at Finish Line headquarters in Minnesota on how to improve their business and compete at a national level. 

“She taught me concepts that I use today as a serial entrepreneur in my local Wichita businesses,” Powell said. “Teachers should aspire to have a lifetime impact on their students and in all my years as a USD 259 student, I have never met a better teacher.”

Zimmerman, who has worked in WPS for 25 years, extends herself beyond required job duties serving as a leader and support person for marketing teachers and DECA advisors in the region. She currently serves on the marketing curriculum review committee with the Kansas Department of Education, reviewing research and standards to make recommendations for the future of marketing programs across the state. Locally she supports DECA advisors by hosting competitions and conferences that all DECA students in Wichita and surrounding areas can participate in. This not only supports her students but others in the region who may not have the opportunity or resources to otherwise compete.

Zimmerman’s community work includes leading fundraising activities and coordinating events while her sons were in the Boy Scouts, where they reached the level of Eagle Scout. She also volunteers on her sons’ sports teams, assisting at all local swim meets and helping organize countless team banquets.

She will be honored, along with the Excellence in Public Service Award winners from Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita, at a reception at Botanica on May 14.