A Free State High School history teacher is one of 32 teachers to receive the Kansas Horizon Award for exemplary first-year educators.

Jason Springer, co-chairman of Free State’s social studies department, will be recognized at a special luncheon Feb. 22, Kansas Education Commissioner Alexa Posny announced Tuesday.

The award is for teachers who have successfully completed their first year of teaching, and eight awards are given per congressional district.

Shara Reilly, a teacher at Mize Elementary School in De Soto, also won a Horizon Award. The award makes the teachers eligible for a network that offers professional-development programs through the year.