Taylor Bussinger earned state’s top honor in September

Taylor Bussinger has a new set of wheels as he gets ready to hit the road to fulfill his duties as the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year.

Bussinger, an eighth-grade teacher at Prairie Trail Middle School, Olathe Unified School District 233, earned the state’s top honor in 2023. The prestigious award affords Bussinger the opportunity to travel throughout the state during his term.

Through an Enterprise Holdings Foundation grant, Bussinger will have use of the vehicle for a six-month period to assist with traveling across the state. The local operating team of Enterprise Rent-a-Car presented the keys to the vehicle to Bussinger during the ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in front of the south steps at the Kansas State Capitol. Enterprise was represented by Austin M. Haywood, area manager; Jonathan R. McCoy, group rental manager; Kendall F. Konicek, business sales director; and Brian Crockwell, area manager.

“One of our founding values is that we give back to the community one neighborhood at a time,” Haywood said. “So, getting to deliver this vehicle to the teacher of the year brings joy to their face. And I know they enjoy getting out to explore the state of Kansas over the course of the next six months to deliver their message to fellow colleagues, students and prospective teachers. Congrats to all the candidates. I know this will be put to good use.”

During the first half of his term as the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year, Bussinger is expected to log more than 15,000 miles traveling across the state, working with future educators and presenting at conferences. He also will offer professional development workshops for educators.

The Teacher of the Year program has state and national competitions. The national program, presented by Voya Financial, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Kansas program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).