The Kansas Teacher of the Year program recognizes outstanding elementary and secondary educators and creates a network of exemplary teachers who help strengthen schools, improve student achievement and elevate the teaching profession.

USD 373’s 2027 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees are Kirstyn Weibert, a fifth-grade science and social studies teacher at Santa Fe 5/6 Center, and Kim Tate, a seventh-grade math teacher at Chisholm Middle School.

Now in her ninth year of teaching, Weibert has taught fifth-grade math, English language arts, science and social studies, as well as sixth-grade English language arts, science and social studies. Tate is in her 23rd year of teaching—all of which she has spent teaching seventh-grade math at Chisholm Middle School.

Get to know these two outstanding Railer educators through five questions:

1. What inspires you to continue teaching, even during challenging times?

Weibert: The one thing that inspires me to continue teaching even during those challenging times is that ONE student. You know the one. That student who always comes in excited to see you and learn. They are the students that will bring up something you taught months ago just to reminisce. They will leave you little notes of appreciation or say a comment of how much they love your class. It's also that student that hates the subject you teach coming into the school year and then by the end want to go into teaching so they can be like you. That’s what inspires me to keep teaching. 

Tate: My students inspire me every day. I love connecting with them and discovering how they learn best. Technology has transformed education over the last two decades, but at the end of the day, students still need the same thing: a teacher who cares and supports them.   

2. How do you create a classroom environment that supports both academic growth and emotional well-being?

Weibert: I create a classroom environment that supports academic growth and emotional well-being by understanding that a lot of my students have very difficult things going on and the last thing they want to do is learn. But I also understand that the best place for them to be is in a classroom with someone that loves and cares about them. I always tell my students that whatever happened before you came into my classroom it stays outside and you have a fresh start in here.  I also am very predictable. We have the same routine everyday which helps them to be successful in my classroom because students thrive in routine. We also make mistakes, so if my students make a mistake it is just a great time to learn from it. I try to make sure that all my students have access to the same education and even if something is keeping them from learning I will dedicate extra to see that academic and emotional growth in them.

Tate: I build a supportive classroom through clear expectations, consistency, and treating every student with respect. Getting to know my students as individuals is very important to me. In my math class, mistakes are okay (I model that often!), and retakes are always available to students. My ultimate goal is for every student to realize they can succeed in math and that I am always here to support them.

3. Can you share a moment when you knew you had made a meaningful impact on a student’s life?

Weibert: A couple moments I knew I had a meaningful impact on a student’s life was when one of my students who barely talked at the beginning of the year volunteered for one of the hardest parts in our end of the year play. Or when a student I taught in 5th grade who is now in high school stops me at the Taste of Newton just to say hi and ask if I remember when I talked about a certain thing in class and how cool it was. 

Tate: One of the best parts of living and teaching right here in Newton is seeing former students out and about. Just recently at Dillons, a former student approached me. This adult man had changed a lot from the 12-year-old in my class, and I didn’t recognize him!  He shared about his family and business, we reminisced about his old friend group, and he told me how much he appreciated me as a teacher. It doesn’t get much better than that.

4. How do you stay current and innovative in your teaching practices?

Weibert: The way I stay current in my teaching practice is by always reflecting on what and how I teach as well as keeping track of what is going on around the world to be able to bring that into my teaching. For example, this last year while teaching Science, our Science team was able to watch Artemis II travel around the moon during our Space Unit. It was such a fun way to bring current events into what we teach. The way I stay innovative in my teaching practice is by always trying new things that would make the curriculum come alive. Last year for Social Studies I was able to write a play that put King George III on trial for the Revolutionary War. Some of my students studied the play and they were able to perform it in front of the rest of their classmates as well as our parents. It was such an amazing experience. 

Tate: Teaching 7th-grade math for over 20 years is never repetitive because every day brings new energy and unique learners. My teaching constantly evolves alongside my students. I love reading about new methods, exchanging ideas with fellow teachers, and trying new approaches in the classroom. If a new method has the potential to help my students learn, I am always ready to try it out.

5. In your view, what role do teachers play in shaping the future beyond the classroom?

Weibert: The role teachers play in shaping the future beyond the classroom is astronomical. You may only have a group of kids for a year but that year could be the year that changes the direction of their life. Thinking back to my own education, I have a teacher that stood in the gap for me and helped me feel seen and heard while also helping to shape my future. They comforted me and gave me advice in difficult times but also pushed me to become the best version of myself. That is the power of teaching the next generations.

Tate: Teachers are integral in shaping the future.  I truly believe that education can change the trajectory of your life.   As teachers, we do far more than teach academics—we inspire lifelong learning, build critical thinking skills, and help young people grow into good human beings.