The week of Nov. 18-22 is American Education Week, a time to celebrate the positive impact of public schools across the U.S. So, why is now an important time to be a teacher? That question was asked recently of several members of the new 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) team.  

Ryan Mellick, an industrial arts teacher at Bonner Springs High School, Bonner Springs USD 204, said this is a critical time to be a teacher. 

“Kids need to see people who care about them and who want to see them succeed in a world where things aren’t going everybody’s way,” he said. “As teachers, we care about what direction these kids are going.” 

Mellick said being a teacher is also about preparing his students for work after graduation.  

“It’s making sure they’re getting to class on time, and not only getting them to show up, but show up to participate in class and being a productive member of the class,” he said. “All that goes back to the career they choose and showing up to your job on time and being a productive member of society.” 

Amber Pagan, a teacher at Nieman Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, said teaching is a viable vocation. 

“It really is a fantastic career,” she said. “We need people to go into it. It builds every other career. You just have to tap into the whatever your passion is and there’s going to be some field in education where that fits. It’s not a field you’re going to go into alone. You’re going to get the training and the professional development that you need.”  

Pagan said teaching young students is just a part of what she does every day. It also includes providing nutrition, addressing social and emotional issues, and teaching social skills. 

“It’s not just the academic piece,” she said. 

"Our world is constantly evolving and changing and that can be scary for our students," added Whitney Aves, a teacher at Hutchinson High School, Hutchinson USD 308. "Teachers do the important work of helping our students navigate the world around them by not only preparing them for future careers, but also by helping children learn social skills, coping skills, and more to be successful in all areas of life." 

Erik Stone, a music teacher at Gordon Parks Academy, Wichita, USD 259, said it’s important for him to be a teacher now more than ever. 

“There are students who constantly need a support system who may or may have that at home,” he said. “We have the opportunity to positively impact the trajectory of lives that will transcend our classrooms.”  

Stone said students are constantly learning, whether inside or outside of their school, and are a product of their environments. 

“I hope that we can foster a positive community that will allow them to be the best versions of themselves,” he said. “Any support that anyone outside of a classroom can provide to help me and my fellow teachers to allow that to become a reality would be greatly appreciated.” 

Maegen Stucky, a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, McPherson USD 418, said “being a teacher is a rollercoaster” from social-emotional issues to academics. However, the importance of being a teacher at this time, she said, is simple. 

“They need us,” she said. “There’s no other profession that kids can rely on more. It impacts everything else. It’s a ripple effect. We need teachers because it’s got to start somewhere. These kids deserve it.”