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Dandra Arter Named Kansas Teacher of the Year Semifinalist
Dandra Arter Named Kansas Teacher of the Year Semifinalist
Congratulations to Dandra Arter, the USD 232 Elementary Teacher of the Year, for being named as the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year semifinalist for Kansas Region III. This award recognizes and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state.
Andrew Proctor is the USD 232 Secondary Teacher of the Year and represented the district with Arter and 120 other Kansas Educators who were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction at a special Region III Awards banquet in Overland Park on Sunday, April 7.
USD 232 continues to be a strong participant in the state’s teacher recognition program. The district is honored to have two Kansas Teachers of the Year, along with 15 state finalists and 14 semifinalists represented in the program since the year 2000 – more than any other school district in Region III.
The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award Program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance, and the teaching profession.
Kevin Doel, Security Benefit Director of Marketing; Dandra Arter, 2025 KTOY Semifinalist, Region III; Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education; Taylor Bussinger, 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year.
Dandra Arter joined USD 232 as a teacher at Clear Creek Elementary in 2004. Dandra taught 4th grade for one year before teaching 5th grade from 2005-2010. At the start of the 2010-11 school year, she had an opportunity to switch roles and become the school’s Library Media Specialist. Dandra is involved with the De Soto Teachers’ Association and has served on DTA’s leadership team as president and current vice-president.
Kevin Doel, Security Benefit Director of Marketing; Taylor Bussinger, 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year; Andrew Proctor, USD 232 Secondary Teacher of the Year; Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education.
Andrew Proctor is a Computer Technology Teacher at De Soto High School
and Cedar Trails Exploration Center. He joined USD 232 in 2017 as a Computer Explorations and Publications teacher at Lexington Trails Middle School and at De Soto High School as the Computer Graphics instructor. Andrew transferred to teaching high school students full time in 2018 and now teaches Computer Graphics, Game Design and Web Design at both DHS and CTEC. In addition to serving as the Department Chair, Andrew has also coached boys basketball at LTMS and boys soccer at DHS.
Congratulations to these two teachers for their recognition as outstanding Kansas educators!