Blake Fingalsen is the 2020 Horizon Award Winner for Region Three in the state of Kansas presented by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). Fingalsen is a kindergarten teacher at Rhein Benninghoven Elementary School. <See video here.> The KSDE recognizes one elementary and one secondary teacher in each of the four state regions.
Fingalsen received a phone call from Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, announcing her recognition.
“The Shawnee Mission School District speaks very highly of you and your wonderful and refreshing work with your students,” Watson shared. “It is my honor to welcome you to this noteworthy group of honorees for 2020 where you will be an esteemed member now and throughout your teaching career.”
“What makes Blake stand out are the relationships she builds with her kindergartners,” Dr. Brittany Gonser, Rhien Benninghoven principal said. “They are so excited to come to school every day to see Ms. Fingalsen.”
The Kansas Horizon Award program identifies and recognizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state. The mission of the program is to recognize exemplary first-year teachers who perform in a way that distinguishes them as outstanding. Fingalsen will be honored at a state education conference in February.