2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year from Region 2

Elizabeth Anstine's path to education is notable, having spent nearly two decades in senior corporate marketing roles, concurrently volunteering with Junior Achievement in Kansas City's inner-city schools. Following her corporate career, she dedicated herself to extensively volunteering in the Olathe School District where her children attended, assisting in Blue Ribbon applications, initiating a 'Battle of the Books' district-wide competition, establishing mentoring programs, providing booster club leadership, and participating in various site councils.

For more than a decade Anstine substitute taught across several districts to whom she credits many teachers for inspiring her commitment to lifelong learning and earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in business education from Fort Hays State University, and a Master's Degree of curriculum and instruction, from the University of Kansas.

Anstine teaches a variety of business marketing, entrepreneurship, and finance courses at Leavenworth High School, in Leavenworth, Kansas, and is best known for her leadership and mentorship roles. Anstine serves as DECA advisor, where she cultivates an inclusive program that consistently produces internationally ranked students, sponsors Interact where her aim is to foster global understanding, and plays a pivotal role on the ReDesign and Building Leadership Teams, where she collaboratively develops strategies geared towards enhancing student achievement.

Anstine's accomplishments include securing substantial grant funding for her business programs and school-wide initiatives, establishing two additional school-based enterprises, and her ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds. Her commitment to enhancing public education stems from her experiences and a profound desire to positively impact her students' lives.

KTOY25, Secondary Finalist for Region 1

Whitney Aves is a dedicated Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Hutchinson High School in Kansas, where she has been impacting students’ lives for nine years. With a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Kansas State University, she specializes in teaching critical life skills across four career pathways. 

Whitney’s approach to education focuses on building meaningful relationships with her students, ensuring that each individual feels valued in her trauma-informed classroom. She tailors her teaching methods to accommodate diverse learning styles, fostering critical thinking and engagement. In her culinary arts courses, students gain hands-on experience and have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized certifications in the restaurant management and hospitality fields.

Beyond the classroom, Whitney serves as a chapter advisor for the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), guiding students as they develop leadership skills and compete at district, state, and national levels. She also connects her students to the community through field trips, guest speakers, and practical observation opportunities.

Through her commitment to student growth, Whitney provides a positive and supportive learning environment that helps her students succeed both academically and personally. She is a true advocate for career readiness and lifelong learning, preparing her students to excel in their future roles as professionals, family members, and community leaders.

KTOY25, Elementary Finalist for Region 2

Benjamin Eckelberry is a first grade teacher at Tecumseh North Elementary in Tecumseh, Kansas. Eckelberry has received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, as well as an Early Childhood Endorsement from Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska. Above all else, Eckelberry values his connections with his students as an educator, and strives to cultivate a classroom where students feel safe, loved, and capable of tackling any challenges in their way. To achieve this, the first goal Eckelberry has at the start of every school year is finding ways to genuinely love every student, regardless of their background, behaviors, or struggles. Creating a playful, fun, and engaging classroom is paramount to the classroom culture Eckelberry cultivates. This is paired with rigorous content and high expectations for each student. Every student that enters Eckelberry’s classroom will know that their effort and personal growth are the most important metrics he values.

Professionally, Eckelberry aspires to be a quiet, but strong voice in his building, embodying a lifelong learner who values growth and feedback. Eckelberry has been involved in many key positions in his current building over his 8 years working there, including and Building Leadership Team member, RTI Committee member, and the current Co-Chair of their building’s AVID site team.

KTOY25, Secondary Finalist for Region 3

Ryan Mellick, an industrial arts teacher at Bonner Springs High School in Bonner Springs, Kansas has been with the school district for the last 10 years. Mellick has been teaching ever since he graduated from Central Missouri State University in 2007 with his Bachelors of Science in Technology Education. Since then Mellick has gone on to earn his masters degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Masters in Science in Education Technology. 

Mr. Mellick has taught a variety of industrial art classes; those classes are: space and aeronautics, architecture, automotive, theater technology, carpentry I and II,and woodworking I and II. His favorite classes of those to teach are carpentry I and II and woodworking I and II. Woodworking is one of the many hobbies Mr. Mellick has and he truly takes a lot of joy teaching young students the skills needed to build furniture. His carpentry class students build a tiny house every other year and in the off year the students build a tiny playhouse complete with electrical and plumbing to donate to a local charity. 

Helping out others is one of Mr. Mellick’s strong suits, although he would never say it is. He is one to offer help and be extremely happy with no recognition. He is always happy and is willing to do what it takes to get the job done and done right the first time. When not at work Mr. Mellick is at home spending time with his wife and three children.

KTOY, Elementary Finalist for Region 3

Amber Pagan is in her 19th year of teaching and her 6th year teaching Prekindergarten at Nieman Elementary in Shawnee, KS in the Shawnee Mission School District. Ms. Pagan has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Emporia State University and a Master of Education from Northern Arizona University. She also holds endorsements in Early Childhood Education, English for Speakers of Other Languages, and Reading. She is passionate about early childhood education and works to ensure that caregivers have the tools they need to help their children. Ms. Pagan relishes the time she is given to connect and collaborate with caregivers. She is a lifelong learner who keeps up-to-date on new teaching methodologies. She also explores innovative ways to engage her students through professional development and education conferences.

Ms. Pagan loves advocacy and works to promote public school education throughout her community. She enjoys problem solving with stakeholders in her district to find solutions to public education issues facing our educational system. She also enjoys advocating for quality education at the national level by attending conferences with other educators.

Ms. Pagan collaborates with colleagues in other districts to plan and implement quality professional development for current and future educators. She has worked as part of the EdCamp Johnson County team which hosts a yearly event that allows educators from across the state to attend and present about educational topics they are passionate about. She also works on her school's community engagement team to plan family engagement events during the year. 

KTOY, Secondary Finalist for Region 4

Erik Stone is a Band Director and Vocal Music Teacher at Gordon Parks Academy. He is an experienced clinician working with students from the beginning years of instruction to professional level ensembles. Since graduating from Wichita State University with both his bachelors and masters degrees, he has had tremendous success working with students at all ages in disciplines related to wind band, music production, jazz band, elementary music, the AVID elective, and most recently a digital media and marketing class. 

In July of 2017 he was recognized by the Kansas Bandmasters Association as the year’s recipient of the Outstanding Young Bandmaster Award. Erik Stone was later named the Distinguished Teacher of 2023 by Wichita Public Schools for his innovative ways to connect with students while building authentic relationships and experiences with his students. All of this in addition to his current Kansas Teacher of the Year standing. 

After completing his masters degree, he found his home with Wichita Public Schools at Gordon Parks Academy. While teaching at GPA, the instrumental music program has grown immensely! With only 7 students enrolled in instrumental music just a few years ago, nearly 90 students are now enrolled in some type of instrumental music; his infectious energy being a main culprit of this shift in enrollment. 

Erik Stone is also a published author with The Instrumentalist Magazine, and serves as the Social Media and Marketing Manager for Kansas Music Educators Association and the Kansas Bandmasters Association. When he is not working on all things education, he can be found singing his favorite musicals while hanging out with his partner Eddie or his miniature dachshund, Maleficent. 

KTOY, Elementary Finalist for Region 1

Maegen Stucky is an empathetic and wholehearted elementary school educator, bringing eighteen years of expertise to the classrooms of Kansas schools. Stucky earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Kansas State University in 2007 as well as a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Emporia University in 2022. 

She currently teaches 5th grade at Roosevelt Elementary School in McPherson, Kansas and has taught 3rd-5th grades throughout her teaching career. Stucky has taught in a variety of classroom configurations including 4th/ 5th multi-age, looping, and straight

grade level classrooms. 

Stucky's unwavering passion shines through as she consistently crafts a warm, captivating, dynamic, and motivating classroom atmosphere that embraces every student. With her deep dedication and wealth of teaching experience, Stucky delivers a year filled with meaningful and enriching educational experiences across all subjects to each and every one of her students. 

Stucky's innovative teaching methods have earned her acclaim for igniting her students' passion and driving them to explore and comprehend the world in profound ways. By introducing her unique "GRIT rap," instilling growth mindset lessons, and authentically cultivating relationships with each student, Stucky creates an environment where a sense of family prevails. In this nurturing atmosphere, students find a sense of belonging, knowing they are genuinely cherished. They embrace learning challenges with newfound courage, and their sense of self-worth as individuals and learners flourish with pride.

KTOY, Elementary Finalist for Region 4

Olivia Winegeart is a second grade teacher who is deeply committed to public education as a means to dismantle systemic barriers and bring equitable opportunity to all students. She builds community through restorative relationships and is deeply passionate about evidence-based teaching practices.

Winegeart is a ten year teacher veteran. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education at Oklahoma Christian University and began her career as a first grade teacher in her hometown of Edmond. Life later brought her to rural western Kansas where she served as a special education teacher for the High Plains Educational Cooperative. She eventually returned to teach first grade at Cooper Elementary in Wichita, Kansas (Derby Public Schools, USD260) and continues there today as a second grade teacher. Winegeart proudly serves on her school’s Building Leadership Team, her district social studies and writing committee, and her school culture committee.

She currently leads her Professional Learning Community and enjoys guiding her colleagues through their Teacher Clarity and Success Criteria initiative. Winegeart has served as a mentor teacher for student teachers and currently mentors new educators to the field.