The Wichita Public Schools is proud to announce the 2023 Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award recipients in their respective categories. The recipients were surprised in their classrooms by BOE members, district leadership, members of the selection committee and family members.

Click here to watch a video of the surprise visits.  To see photos of all the recipients, click here.

The Distinguished Classroom Teacher Awards program honors outstanding teachers who affect the quality of education in the Wichita Public Schools.

Jamie Lansang,  third-grade teacher, Seltzer Elementary School – New Teacher, Elementary

Runner up: Kaycee Root, fourth-grade teacher, Price-Harris Communications Magnet

Kiara Suarez-Sosa, English teacher, East High School – New Teacher, Secondary category

Runner up: Celine Sengvilay, art teacher at Mead Middle School

Maribel Benedict, kindergarten teacher, Allen Elementary School – Primary (Grades Pre-K – 2) category

Runner up: D’Ann Davis, kindergarten teacher, Peterson Elementary School

Mario Flores, third-grade teacher, Gammon Elementary School– Intermediate (Grades 3 – 5) category

Runner up: Blake Mosier, fifth-grade teacher, Spaght Science and Communications Magnet


Erik Stone, vocal music teacher, Gordon Parks Academy – Middle School category

Runner up: Cathy Peters, mathematics teachers, Curtis Middle School

Stacy Chestnut, English teacher, East High School – High School category

Runner up: Courtney Vredevoogd, ESOL teacher, South High School


Patrick Loganbill, physical education teacher, Linwood Elementary – Support Teacher, Elementary category

Runner up: Oliva Sumner, virtual teacher, Education Imagine Academy

Kristina Matthaei, instructional coach , Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center  – Support Teacher, Secondary category

Runner up: Jessica Petrik, instructional coach, Education Imagine Academy

Each teacher received a banner celebrating their accomplishment and a gift bag filled with WPS items.

Peers, building administrators, parents and/or students have nominated each of the recipients. A committee consisting of principals, assistant principals, teachers, support staff, the assistant superintendents of elementary and secondary schools and a member of United Teachers of Wichita selects the final recipients.

To view prior years’ recipients, click here.

The Distinguished Classroom Teachers will be recognized at the April 10 BOE meeting.