KATE Member Aaron Miller Receives Horizon Award

by KATE PAGES Editors

​Valley Center High School English teacher and KATE member, Aaron Miller, was the recipient of a 2023 Horizon Award as part of the Kansas Horizon Award Program, offered through the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN). This was the first KEEN Conference held since the COVID-19 pandemic began. ​

The Horizon Award is a special recognition program for Kansas teachers who exhibit excellent teaching skills and work tirelessly to enhance the learning experience of their students. The award is given to teachers who show exceptional performance in areas such as leadership, professional development, and student growth. Miller was one of sixteen secondary teachers to receive this award for 2023.

When asked what parts of his classroom instruction helped him to stand out from the pool of applicants, Miller expressed that “I try to be a well-rounded teacher who embraces many forms of instruction. My goal for each day is to accommodate each type of learner in my classroom and ensure that I am teaching to the style they learn best. One of my strengths as a teacher is the ability to build relationships with students. I am a firm believer that students do not learn from people they do not like. Through getting to know my students, I am able to accomplish so much with them in terms of content. It is never boring in [room] C-41!”

Miller was equally impressed with the KEEN conference, which he attended on February 16 and 17, 2023. He spoke highly of the conference's sessions, which provided many great ideas to incorporate into his classroom. He found the presenters and his fellow attendees to be inspiring, and he is looking forward to attending future conferences.

Miller's CV reflects his commitment to education, with a Bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from Wichita State University, and he is currently pursuing a Master's of Education with a reading specialist emphasis from Fort Hays State University. Additionally, he serves on the Social Emotional Learning committee for USD 262, where he helps teachers in the district incorporate SEL practices into their classrooms.

The Kansas Association of Teachers of English is thrilled to congratulate Miller on this achievement and recognition as a winner of the 2023 Horizon Award. We are proud to have him as a member and look forward to his continued success in the field of education. 

You can contact Aaron via email at Valley Center High School.