FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Spring Hill educator Cordelia Hanger honored with 2026 Kansas Horizon Award
Spring Hill USD 230 teacher Cordelia Hanger has been named a 2026 Kansas Horizon Award recipient, marking the second consecutive year a district educator has earned this prestigious state honor for outstanding new teachers.
SPRING HILL, Kan. — Cordelia Hanger, a teacher at Dayton Creek Elementary School in Spring Hill USD 230, has been named a recipient of the 2026 Kansas Horizon Award, one of the state’s top honors for new educators.
Presented by the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas Horizon Award recognizes outstanding new teachers who are nominated after their first year and honored during their second year in the classroom. Hanger is one of only 32 educators selected statewide and was named a Region 3 honoree.
This recognition marks the second consecutive year a Spring Hill USD 230 educator has earned the Kansas Horizon Award, further strengthening the district’s growing reputation for instructional excellence.
“Cordelia’s passion for students and commitment to learning truly set her apart,” said Dr. Link Luttrell, superintendent of Spring Hill Schools. “To have our teachers recognized at the state level in back-to-back years speaks volumes about the culture of support and professional growth we strive to provide.”
Spring Hill USD 230 has built a strong history of Horizon Award recipients in recent years, with district honorees including Cordelia Hanger (2026), Brock LaPlante (2025), Cooper Allison (2023) and Alyson Daniels (2022). Since the district began tracking recipients in 2015, 10 Spring Hill educators have earned this prestigious state recognition — a testament to the district’s sustained commitment to developing outstanding teachers.
The Kansas Horizon Award program allows each Kansas school district to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher annually. From those nominations, four elementary and four secondary teachers are selected from each of the state’s four congressional regions.
Hanger will be formally recognized during a special ceremony at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Feb. 20 in Topeka.
“I’m incredibly honored to receive the Kansas Horizon Award,” Hanger said. “I’m grateful for the support of my colleagues, administrators and students, and proud to be part of a district that truly values educators and student success.”
Spring Hill USD 230 is proud to celebrate Hanger’s achievement and the legacy of excellence represented by its Horizon Award recipients.
For more information about the Kansas Horizon Award program, visit the Kansas State Department of Education website at ksde.org.
About Spring Hill Schools
Spring Hill Schools is dedicated to fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence in education. Serving more than 4,000 students across ten schools, the district prioritizes preparing learners for a bright and prosperous future.
Media Contact:
Scott Peavey
Director of Communication and Engagement
Spring Hill Schools, USD 230
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