Two well-deserving educators from Great Bend USD 428 have been named the 2024 USD 428 Teachers of the Year. Honorees, Sergio Ramirez, an art teacher at Great Bend High
School, and Casey Hatzenbuehler, a 3rd-grade teacher at Riely 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.
“Mr. Ramirez and Ms. Hatzenbuehler stood out among the outstanding teachers considered for this award,” said Thexton. “They are outstanding educators and inspire the students and staff they work alongside. Beyond the classroom, they are leaders in their departments, buildings, and our school community.”
Sergio Ramirez, 2024 USD 428 Secondary Teacher of the Year
Sergio Ramirez is an accomplished Art Teacher at Great Bend High School, with a passion for nurturing the creative talents of his students in introductory art and two-dimensional courses. Ramirez earned a Bachelor of Arts in art education and a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from Fort Hays State University, equipping him with the skills and knowledge needed to inspire the next generation of artists.
Ramirez also earned an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement, enabling him to effectively engage with students from various language backgrounds and create an inclusive learning environment.
“I have always believed connection to be paramount in helping students learn,” said Ramirez. “I once heard, ‘Students do not care how much you know until they know how much you care,’ and I think that is very true.”
Beyond the classroom, Ramirez has served on the GBHS Building Leadership Team for six years and as a Mentor in the district’s New Teacher Mentor Program. In the community, Ramirez is a member of the National Art Education Association, a member of Barton Arts Movement, and seeks out opportunities to support and showcase aspiring artists by lending time to Great Bend’s Art & Wine Walk and Shafer Art Gallery’s advisory committee to name a few.
“He creates a classroom environment that is inviting and makes students want to be there,” said Madison Otter, a former student who is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at Fort Hays State University with an emphasis on graphic design and art education. “Even after high school, he continues to celebrate my achievements and offer support, reinforcing the notion that his commitment to his students extends far beyond the confines of the classroom.”
Casey Hatzenbuehler, 2024 USD 428 Elementary Teacher of the Year
Casey Hatzenbuehler is a 3rd grade teacher at Riley Elementary School where she has taught for the past 11 years.
She did not originally plan to pursue teaching, but after some soul searching and recalling how her high school Spanish teacher described her as ‘lighting up’ while teaching a Spanish lesson to 4th-graders, she decided working with children and making an impact was her calling.
Hatzenbuehler earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Missouri State, an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Endorsement, and then a Master of Science in ESOL Curriculum from Newman University. Recently, Hatzenbuehler began a two-year Lexia’s Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) course to further strengthen her knowledge of reading instruction.
“My favorite part of teaching is helping kids to see that they can do hard things,” said Hatzenbuehler. “I like being part of their learning journey and challenging them. We look for progress and improvement, rather than perfection. We make mistakes and we grow from them.”
Hatzenbuehler has taught in USD 428 for 11 years. Beyond her daily classroom duties, she is active in Riley’s Capturing Kid’s Hearts program, teaches summer school, and promotes other opportunities to build relationships with parents, students, and the community. Haztenbuehler also invests her time in professional development, Barton County Young Professionals, Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer, and Bee Kind events.
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 on our website, tinyurl.com/USD428recognition.
