(KAIR)--An Atchison educator is named as a finalist for the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award.

Bradley “Brad” Weaver learned that he was in the running as a Region 2 finalist during an award ceremony held Sunday in Topeka.

Weaver is an elementary music teacher at the Atchison Elementary School.

He joins Jamie Manhart, a junior high and high school journalism teacher at Silver Lake, as a finalist from the United States Second Congressional District.

They were selected from a group of six semi-finalists from Region 2.

Due to their selection, both Weaver and Manhart received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit, the major corporate partner for the Kansas Teacher of the Year Program.

They now become eligible to be named as “Kansas Teacher of the Year,” with that honor to be announced in Wichita November 18.

Other semifinalists were Lisa A. Melton, a fifth-grade teacher at Sunflower Elementary School in Lawrence (Lawrence USD 497); Heather N. Newkirk, a sixth-grade teacher at North Lawn Elementary School in Neodesha (Neodesha USD 461); Justin E. Bode, a high school biology teacher at Leavenworth High School (Leavenworth USD 453); and Dasan M. McDonald, an eighth-grade mathematics teacher at Washburn Rural Middle School in Topeka (Auburn-Washburn USD 437).

Each of the semifinalists received a red marble apple with a wooden base, compliments of The Master Teacher in Manhattan. This year, 111 educators across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction. 

Nominations are made in each of four regions in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education, sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region. 

Each panel selects six semifinalists — three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists.  

The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.

The Kansas Teacher of the Year team, comprised of the Teacher of the Year and state finalists, serve as ambassadors for education in Kansas, making public appearances across the state promoting education and the teaching profession.

The individual selected as the Kansas Teacher of the Year is eligible for national distinction as National Teacher of the Year.