George Washington Elementary first grade teacher Kristen Finney was shocked when she was honored today as the Keokuk Community School District (KCSD) Teacher of the Year at an assembly on Dec. 19, 2025, at GW.
Finney’s nominations stated that she is an enthusiastic teacher that uses creativity and her imagination to make learning fun and engaging for her students at GW. She was also nominated because she teaches students how to read and write in interactive ways and is organized because she has her “ducks in a row.”
For more than 30 years, a KCSD committee has gone through the process to nominate a Teacher of the Year candidate within the district. While the committee membership varies, it is always composed of representatives from the community, students, administrators and past recipients. Nominations for candidates were requested to include specific examples that demonstrate each educator’s best qualities. Each nomination was submitted on a form and supporting letters from parents, peers, students and members of the community demonstrating the involvement and impact the nominee has had on education were accepted.
Every year the Iowa Department of Education nominates one candidate from Iowa for the national Teacher of the Year distinction and each school district may nominate an individual for state consideration, Finney is the KCSD candidate for state consideration this year. To be equitable to all grade levels, the Keokuk Teacher of the Year is selected on a rotating basis of elementary and secondary, with this year’s rotation being from elementary.
For more information on the Iowa Teacher of the Year award, CLICK HERE.
