HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Six Hutchinson USD 308 educators were named Davis Foundation Teachers of the Year as district employees gathered Wednesday to celebrate staff achievements and prepare for the beginning of a new school year.
Each recipient received a $4,000 award from the Davis Foundation.
The elementary winners were Torie Reynolds, a third-grade teacher at Allen STEM Magnet; Breann Shoon, an ESL teacher at Graber Elementary; and Kyle Welliver, a third-grade teacher at Wiley Elementary.
Mitch Bringle, a social studies teacher at Hutchinson Middle School 7, was selected at the middle school level.
The high school recipients were Whitney Aves, a family and consumer sciences teacher at the district’s Career and Technical Education Academy, and Erin Ontjes, a virtual teacher for students in grades nine through 12.
“It is such an honor,” USD 308 Director of Communications Stacy Goss said. “We also take a moment during one of our football games to announce them to the public.”
The district also named Hannah Schletzbaum, a kindergarten teacher at Allen STEM Magnet, its certified employee of the year. Kevin Dennison, the in-school suspension supervisor at Hutchinson Middle School 7, was selected as classified employee of the year.
The awards were announced during the district’s annual convocation at the Sports Arena, which brings employees from across USD 308 together before classes begin.
“It is truly the only time throughout the year that we have all of our staff in one place,” Goss said. “We take advantage of it to do tons of celebrating of staff.”
The event also included presentations on the district’s strategic plan, improvements in state testing, student and teacher accomplishments and the proposed bond issue.
Goss said the Davis Foundation has provided more than $500,000 in awards, scholarships and gifts to district teachers and students over the years.
“The gratitude that we have for the Davis Foundation is so immense,” Goss said. “They do this for our staff each year, but also in the spring, they provide scholarships to our students. The way that the Davis Foundation supports USD 308 staff and students is really immeasurable.”
The convocation followed the district’s new teacher institute and came as employees participated in professional development, required training and classroom preparation.
USD 308 is also implementing a new math curriculum this year. Teachers attended workshops during the summer to study the curriculum and coordinate instruction across grade levels and school buildings.
“They got to work with the different grade bands throughout, not just their own buildings, but throughout the district,” Goss said. “That way, we know that it’s being taught consistently throughout the district and consistently throughout each classroom in each building.”
The district will also offer free breakfast to every student during the 2026-27 school year.
USD 308 Director of Finance Abby Stockebrand credited Nutrition Services Director Jennifer Tatro with developing a plan that addresses student needs while remaining financially sustainable.
“She crunched the numbers and said, ‘We can do this for our students, for our community,’” Stockebrand said. “She did a great job of matching up what our community and our kids need, as well as making sure that it’s sustainable across multiple years into the future.”
The district also served more than 70,000 meals over 39 days through its summer meal program, according to Goss.
Elementary and middle school open houses are scheduled for Monday, giving students an opportunity to meet teachers, receive schedules, practice locker combinations and become familiar with their buildings.
Students in grades one through nine begin classes Wednesday, Aug. 12. Students in grades 10 through 12 begin Thursday, Aug. 13, while kindergarten students start Tuesday, Aug. 18.