Three educators from Wichita State University's Transition to Teaching (T2T) program have been selected by their school districts as nominees for the 2027 Kansas Horizon Award, which recognizes outstanding teachers for their work during their first year in the classroom.
Ryan Adelson, John Ramey and Jacob Coonce were each nominated by their respective school districts for their achievements as new educators.
Adelson teaches high school social studies at Bluestem Jr./Sr. High School, Ramey teaches business at Circle Middle School in Circle USD 375, and Coonce teaches seventh-grade English language arts at Derby Middle School.
The Kansas Horizon Award program, administered by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), recognizes outstanding first-year elementary and secondary teachers across the state. School districts select nominees who are then considered by regional selection committees for statewide recognition.
All three educators entered the teaching profession through Wichita State's Transition to Teaching program, which allows individuals with bachelor's degrees in qualifying content areas to begin teaching while completing graduate coursework toward Kansas teacher licensure.
Through the program, participants serve as teachers of record while receiving support from university and school-based mentors as they gain classroom experience.
The nominations recognize Adelson, Ramey and Coonce for their accomplishments as they begin their teaching careers in Kansas.