LuAnn Fox awarded KATE's Steve Maack Distinguished Educator Award

This past weekend, at the 2024 KATE Fall Conference, longtime member, LuAnn Fox, was awarded the Steve Maack Distinguished Educator Award for her continued devotion to the profession of English education. 

Thank you for a lifetime of incredible tenacity and enthusiasm, LuAnn! This award is well deserved. Congratulations!

To view a photo from the Conference and read KATE Past President, Nathan Whitman's bestowal speech, click the 'Read More' link below! 

"The KATE Distinguished Educator Award first came into being upon the retirement of long-time KATE President and board member Steve Maack. Prior to his retirement, KATE did not have an award to present for lifetime accomplishments in ELA or contributions to the organization. Thus, in honor of Steve, the award carries an insignia of his signature trademark piece of formal attire: a bowtie. Today’s recipient has also contributed greatly to English Language Arts in Kansas, as well as our organization. In fact, I’m hard pressed to recall a conference within the last ten years – or more – that she didn’t present at KATE or join some committee on the board. She’s presenting two sessions this year, and I hope – despite her retirement – that she returns to support educators in future conferences.

"I remember when I first met LuAnn, how I was almost overwhelmed by her presence. As a young educator, I found myself thinking, “How could I ever hope to measure up to someone like her?” She was already a towering figure of achievement in our field. She’s also literally towering – have you seen her in killer heels? Yet it was her presence as one of the first openly queer educators I had ever encountered that left a lasting impact on me. LuAnn taught me something invaluable: how to stand in the classroom with both toughness and compassion, and to be authentically myself along the way. This is something that I know she’s taught her students. In fact, at last year’s open mic, I believe she told a story about a student in a very similar situation.

"One of LuAnn’s early – and unknown accomplishments (completely unrelated to English), but a fun fact nonetheless – is that she coached high school bowling for three years. It’s only apt, as her mother holds a place in the bowling hall of fame. 

"However, over the course of her career, there’s little she hasn’t done. She has taught AP, Pre-AP, and general education sophomores, inspiring students across all levels of high school English. And if you ever need proof of her expertise, just check the front attributions of the Pre-AP English 2 textbook—that’s LuAnn’s name you’ll find as a College Board consultant.

"LuAnn’s dedication to excellence has been recognized time and again: in 2018, she was named KATE’s Outstanding ELA Educator of the Year for Secondary, and in 2019, she received the NCTE High School Teacher of Excellence Award. More recently, in 2021, LuAnn was asked to work with KSDE, where she championed MTSS, leveraging her experience from K-8 and her LETRs training to support literacy at every level. It was also there that she became the trusted sidekick to her dear colleagues and friends, Mary Lonker and the late KATE KSDE Liaison JoAnn McRell.

"In every role, LuAnn has demonstrated that rare combination of expertise, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to her students and colleagues alike. It’s impossible to list all the ways she’s touched our lives or guided our paths. It is my great honor to introduce the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Educator Award, my dear friend and mentor (whether she realizes it or not) LuAnn Fox." 

Photo of Fox & Whitman Credit: Amanda Little