Congratulations to Phil Moorhouse, Special Education Teacher at Goddard High School, and one of two district nominees representing USD 265 - Goddard Public Schools for Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY). This award honors exemplary educators, at the elementary and secondary levels, who go above and beyond in their classrooms and school communities to cultivate and foster a caring and connected learning environment for students. The mission of this Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) 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.
Moorhouse’s military service, especially the bravery that earned him the Purple Heart from his time in the service, prepared him in many ways for being the best educator he could be. Phil brings people together through his positive attitude and works hard to ensure the success of students and everyone around him. Our #265Family is better because we have teachers like Mr. Moorhouse!
He was nominated, in part, by GHS Assistant Principal, Susan Perkins, who had this to share, “Mr. Moorhouse possesses a calm, confident, and approachable presence that fosters a positive and productive environment. He is a role model to students and peers of effective time management, organization, and an ability to collaborate with colleagues, staff, and students across diverse learning and working environments. He is able to focus on each of the over 100 students with special plans of instruction and design a schedule that ensures all teachers and para-educators involved are using their strengths to support all students in the building.”
She continued, “In addition to strong organizational capabilities, Mr. Moorhouse is an articulate communicator, capable of conveying ideas clearly and effectively in both spoken and written formats. Mr. Moorhouse also exhibits a genuine desire to learn and grow, consistently seeking opportunities to enhance skills and contribute meaningfully to our building and district. I have no doubt that he will continue to excel in future academic or professional endeavors and make substantial contributions to Goddard High School and impact students to become confident in their skills and future goals.”
Darcie Lowry, Science Teacher at Goddard High School, also enthusiastically endorsed Moorhouse for this prestigious award, sharing, “Mr. Moorhouse’s truck is always seen first and last in the parking lot, and he brings a calm and easily approachable spirit to the classroom. Many of our students feel especially comfortable asking him for help. He teaches several special education courses for students unable to integrate in the regular education classroom. I know that he takes great pride and responsibility in creating a curriculum that will help these students be successful beyond the classroom.”
Thank you, Mr. Moorhouse, for all that you have done and will continue to do to educate our #265Family for lifelong success!