Sproul Named 2026 Teacher of the Year

By Scout Nelson

Kelsy Sproul, a Kindergarten teacher at Sedan Elementary School, has been honored with the 2026 Teacher of the Year award by the Kansas Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (KFAC). This prestigious award recognizes educators who successfully integrate agricultural education into their curriculum, inspiring students to explore and appreciate agriculture.

In her three years of teaching, Sproul has effectively brought agriculture into various subjects such as science, math, English language arts, and social studies. Drawing from her experience as a rancher, she uses real-life examples to make lessons more engaging and relevant for her students. Sproul's goal is to connect classroom learning with real-world agricultural practices, especially since many of her students come from farming families.

Sproul’s classroom is filled with hands-on learning activities like soil studies, seed germination experiments, and a chick-hatching project. These activities encourage students to engage in journaling, counting, measuring, and scientific observation. Beyond her Kindergarten class, she dedicates extra time to teach agriculture to older students from first to fifth grade, ensuring that agricultural education remains a constant part of the school’s curriculum.

Sproul's approach also includes collaborating with the local high school FFA chapter. FFA members regularly visit her classroom to mentor the students and assist with agricultural projects, helping bridge the gap between early childhood education and future agricultural careers. This partnership fosters curiosity and a sense of connection to the broader agricultural community.

“Kelsy Sproul exemplifies the mission of KFAC by making agriculture an integral part of student learning,” said Nancy Zenger-Beneda, KFAC Executive Director. “Her commitment to hands-on, interdisciplinary agricultural literacy education enhances classroom instruction and fosters a lifelong appreciation for agriculture among her students. We are thrilled to recognize her dedication with this award.”

In recognition of her efforts, Sproul will receive an all-expense-paid trip to the 2025 National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minneapolis and be considered for the 2026 National Excellence in Teaching About Agriculture Award.

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