Congratulations to Kirsten Hickey, Kindergarten Teacher at Oak Street Elementary School, one of the two 2026 Kansas Horizon Award District Nominees for Goddard Public
Schools. This award recognizes outstanding first-year teachers who have made a significant impact on their students' lives and school communities. Teachers in their second year of teaching, like Hickey, are fantastic examples of educational excellence.
“I believe one of the most important teaching strategies is instilling a growth mindset in my students. My first priority is to create a classroom environment that feels peaceful, safe and supportive - a space where every child feels valued and is encouraged to grow,” shared Hickey. “If you have a positive mindset, you will become more resilient. There is not a lot that a teacher can control, but we always have the power to control how we respond.”
Hickey was nominated with the full support of the Oak Street school community, including Principal Ashley Miller, who shared her endorsement of Hickey for this award. “What truly distinguishes Mrs. Hickey is her remarkable ability to foster profound emotional and academic growth simultaneously in her young students,” shared Miller. “She is an expert in differentiating instruction, ensuring that students who are ready for advanced academics are challenged while those needing extra support receive targeted, engaging intervention,” Miller continued. “Even during her first year of teaching, she consistently shared her best practices with her department and other staff within the building, demonstrating a dedication to uplifting the entire school's quality of instruction.”
The positive impact that Hickey creates in her classroom extends well past the walls of Oak Street, directly to our
. Cherokee Gale, an Oak Street parent, shared about her experience having Hickey as her daughter’s teacher. “As a parent, you can hope and pray for others to treat your children as good as you can. We could not have asked for a better educator to show our daughter the love and support she can get between the walls of her classroom,” shared Gale. “(Hickey) created an environment that students wanted to learn. The culture within the classroom was clearly built on a passion for making sure all students feel safe and comfortable to grow into who they will be. She is the teacher you want to impact your child's mind as well as their heart.”
Congratulations to Kirsten Hickey, and thank you for fostering high standards and a caring environment, and representing our
with distinction, a positive spirit, and dedication!