Two well-deserving educators from Great Bend USD 428 have been named the 2023 USD 428 Teachers of the Year. Honorees, Dawn Szot, special education teacher at Great Bend High School, and Molly Brown, third grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School, will now advance to the Kansas Teacher of the Year competition.
“The Kansas Teacher of the Year program allows us to celebrate our outstanding teachers as well as elevate their work for recognition among colleagues and peers across the state,” said Khris Thexton, USD 428 Superintendent.
“Mrs. Szot and Mrs. Brown stood out among the outstanding teachers considered for this award,” said Thexton. “It’s their time to shine and I congratulate them on the work they do every day. Beyond the classroom, they are leaders in their departments, buildings, and in our school community.”
Molly Brown, 2023 USD 428 Elementary Teacher of the Year
Molly Brown’s career path to education started with a few uncommon twists. She first earned a degree in dance from The University of Kansas and planned to become a professional dancer, with hopes of touring the country with musical artists. While pursuing her dream, she discovered her true passion while teaching dance classes to youth in Los Angeles, Calif. Brown returned to Great Bend and began classes for her teaching certificate at Newman University while working as an English Language Teaching Assistant at Park Elementary School. After obtaining her degree in 2008, Brown taught in Hoisington for one year, followed by Hutchinson for 10 years. Brown returned “home” to Great Bend with her husband and son in 2019 and joined the Eisenhower Elementary team.
“Being an educator is the toughest job, however, it is also the most rewarding,” said Brown. “I tell my students every year, I am here to not only educate you but also help you to become kind and compassionate human beings. If they can learn to be kind, caring, and love one another, I feel I have done my job. Giving them the best education they deserve is a bonus!”
Brown is proud to share her insight and experience with new and aspiring teachers through the USD 428 Mentor Program and recently hosted a student teacher in her classroom for a semester. Brown serves on the Eisenhower Elementary Site Council, is secretary for the Parent-Teacher Organization, and is vice-president for Great Bend’s National Education Association. She also enjoys coaching her son’s baseball team, volunteering at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, and other civic projects and campaigns.
“Mrs. Brown came to Eisenhower as one of the most experienced teachers in the building,” said JoAnn Blevins, principal. “With most of the teaching staff in their first few years of teaching, Eisenhower needed a terrific leader and we found one in Mrs. Brown. Not only is she excellent with her students in her classroom, but she supports her colleagues. She collaborates, shares ideas, and advocates for her colleagues. Her colleagues learn as much from Mrs. Brown as her students do. That’s a great combination!”
Dawn Szot, 2023 USD 428 Secondary Teacher of the Year
In 2006, Szot received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education, followed by a Master of Science-Adaptive Special Education in 2008 from Fort Hays State University. She was inspired by her brother, and by a previous job assisting adults with disabilities, to go back to school and pursue a career in special education.
“I follow a simple philosophy, to do what is right for each individual student while providing a positive, constructive, and warm learning environment,” said Szot. “I consider one of my greatest accomplishments to be building relationships based on trust and communication so parents know their child is safe in my classroom.”
Szot has taught in USD for 15 years. She is a member of the GBHS Building Leadership Team, Special Education Department co-chair, director of Summer School, manager of the Panther Pantry, and serves as a mentor and ambassador in the District’s mentoring program for new teachers. She is also active in the community, volunteering for the Barton County Historical Museum, CDDO (Community Developmental Disability Organization), and in her local Parish. Szot is also an adjunct professor for Fort Hays State University in the Special Education Graduate Program.
“It’s a privilege to have Dawn in our building,” said Tim Friess, principal at GBHS. “She is outstanding in everything that she does, and she does a tremendous amount of ‘everything.’ Her ability to put her students’ needs, paras’ needs, department’s needs, colleagues’ needs, and parents’ needs ahead of her own is a quality that most people cannot understand or emulate. Dawn is an amazing educator and an even more amazing person!”
If you would like more information about the Kansas Teacher of the Year recognition program, contact Andrea Bauer at 620-793-1500, or email andrea.bauer@usd428.net. A list of past recipients can be found at, tinyurl.com/USD428recognition.
