Chestnut honored with WSU School of Education Mentor Teacher Award

Stacy Chestnut, a distinguished graduate of WSU’s secondary English Education Program and recipient of the 2023 Wichita Public Schools Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award, was recently honored with the WSU School of Education Mentor Teacher Award. This award recognizes her exceptional mentoring of teacher candidates and interns, outstanding instructional practices, leadership in the teaching profession, and her role in sustaining and enhancing the profession by recruiting and mentoring new teachers. Chestnut's dedication extends beyond the classroom; she serves as director of the Regional Poetry Out Loud competition, is a member of WSU’s English Education Program Advisory Council, and represents mentor teachers on WSU’s 2024 teacher preparation program CAEP accreditation team. She has also played key roles in KATE since 2006, including serving as Co-Chair of the KATE Conference for the past eight years. Chestnut's impact on English education in Kansas is profound--evident in her leadership of a meaningful, impactful conference that welcomes and values all attendees. Her passion and wisdom are truly commendable. Congratulations!
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"Stacy Chestnut was honored on Monday with WSU’s School of Education Mentor Teacher Award, which recognizes distinguished mentoring of teacher candidates and interns; outstanding modeling of pedagogical content knowledge; exemplary instructional co-planning and co-teaching that demonstrate application of research-based best practice; exceptional feedback provided to teacher candidates to support their continued growth and development; participation in professional activities; and leadership in the teaching profession.

Stacy is a graduate of WSU’s secondary English Education Program and winner of the 2023 Wichita Public Schools Distinguished Classroom Teacher Award. She currently serves as English Department Chair at Wichita East High School. Stacy has served as a mentor teacher for WSU’s English Education Program for the past 11 years in a row. She is truly energized by all that she can teach future teachers—and all that she learns from them. She also enthusiastically recruits and mentors new mentor teachers into the practice, sustaining and enhancing the profession through her efforts.

Stacy’s leadership extends beyond the classroom and school. She serves as director of the Regional Poetry Out Loud competition, as a member of WSU’s English Education Program Advisory Council, and as a representative of mentor teachers on WSU’s 2024 teacher preparation program CAEP accreditation team. Additionally, Stacy has held a variety of leadership positions in the Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE) since 2006, including Co-Chair of the KATE Conference for the past eight years. In that role, Stacy has made an extraordinary impact on English education in Kansas, including WSU students who attend every year. Stacy’s passion and wisdom are evident as she creates a meaningful, memorable conference that features impactful keynote addresses from nationally recognized authors and scholars, a plethora of peer-reviewed breakout sessions that inform and energize attendees, and engaging learning activities and social events that make all attendees feel welcomed and valued in that professional space. It is vital that future English teachers find a “home” in KATE, and Stacy is integral to that goal. Congratulations, Stacy!"
- Wichita State University English Education