Employee Awards and Recognition
Celebrating Excellence
Maize USD 266 values its hard-working and caring professionals who make our Maize Family a fantastic place for educators to teach and our students to learn!
Annually, the district recognizes top talent selected for their excellence, passion, and professionalism and celebrates their success, leadership, and innovation. Join us in congratulating our winners!
The Celebrating Excellence in Support Staff awards celebrate Maize USD 266 support staff members for the amazing work they do for the district and its mission of connecting, learning, and leading. This award is intended for any non-teacher employee who works with Maize USD 266 students.
The Celebrating Excellence in Education awards program honors teachers in 5 categories and is nominated by their peers. Two of the award-winning teachers are selected to represent the district for the prestigious Kansas Teacher of the Year Award. Congratulations to all our awardees!
Kansas Teacher of the Year
We would like to congratulate Leslie McEntire and Stan Bergkamp for being nominated for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year award! They were recognized at an awards ceremony in Wichita for their achievements.
We would also like to congratulate Stan Bergkamp for being named a semi-finalist.
Congratulations!
Learn more about the Kansas Teacher of the Year program here.
Kansas Horizon Award
Each year, the Kansas State Department of Education annual award recognizes outstanding first-year teachers across Kansas. Only 32 educators statewide win this honor each year and are selected from among several hundred nominees and thousands of qualifying teachers.
2024: Ivy Daugherty, Maize South Middle School; Haley Miller, Maize South Elementary School
2022: Jordan Camfield, Maize South Elementary School
2021: Micaela Heinrich, Maize South High School English and Theatre teacher; Madison Sites, Pray-Woodman Elementary School third-grade teacher
2018: Hannah Martin, Maize South Middle School
2017: Alexis Schirmer, Vermillion Elementary School; Michael Russell, Complete High School
2016: Eric Weinbrenner, Complete High School Maize
Learn more about the Kansas Horizon Award here.
Other Awards and Honors
Dr. Raquel Greer, Superintendent
Dr. Greer received the National School Public Relations Association's Superintendent's to Watch award in 2024.
Matt Morford, Chief Financial Officer
Named to the Wichita Business Journal's 2024 CFO awards class
Cort Haynes, Maize South Middle School Assistant Principal
Recognized as one of the Wichita Business Journal's Young Professionals in Education in 2024.