photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World File Photo

In this Journal-World file photo from Feb. 27, 2018, Sunset Hill kindergarten teacher Nicole Corn gets hugs from several of her students after an all-school assembly in which Corn received a surprise recognition as the district's elementary teacher of the year. On Sept. 9, 2018, Corn was named a finalist for the Kansas Department of Education Teacher of the Year Award.

Nicole Corn, a kindergarten teacher at Sunset Hill Elementary School in Lawrence, has been named a finalist for the Kansas Department of Education Teacher of the Year Award.

According to a press release from the department, Corn was presented with Region 2 Elementary Teacher of the Year Award and the $2,000 prize that comes with it at a Sunday ceremony in Topeka.

She will now compete with three other regional elementary teacher winners and four secondary teachers named regional winners for the Kansas Teacher of the Year Award, according to the release. The winner will be announced Nov. 17 in Wichita.

The Journal-World previously reported that Corn has been teaching at Sunset Hill for five years. She came to Lawrence after teaching in her hometown, Topeka, for seven years.

Cari Davis, a Liberty Memorial Central Middle School teacher of English for speakers of other languages, was a semifinalist for the Region 2 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Related stories:

• In one Sunset Hill classroom, kindergartners are using technology to connect with kids across the globe, April 27, 2017

• District surprises Sunset Hill educator with elementary teacher of the year honor, Feb. 27, 2018

• District leaders surprise LMCMS educator with Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year award, March 1, 2018