Great Bend USD 428 announces Natalie DeForest, fourth-grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, and Norbert Muth, eighth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Great Bend Middle School, as the district’s nominees for the 2028 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award.
Selected by a local committee of past district KTOY honorees and administrators, DeForest and Muth will submit their state applications by November 6 to be considered for the 2028 state-level competition.
The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes exemplary elementary and secondary classroom teachers across the state. Sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), the program aims to build a network of educator-leaders who contribute to school improvement, student success, and elevating the teaching profession.
“Both Natalie and Norbert represent the very best of Great Bend USD 428,” said Superintendent Khris Thexton. “They are outstanding teachers whose dedication makes an incredible difference in the lives of our students every single day. Beyond their work in the classroom, their contributions to our profession are invaluable—they serve as exceptional mentors to our new staff, helping shape the next generation of educators in our district.”
Elementary Nominee:
Natalie DeForest
Natalie DeForest has served as an educator for 14 years, all at Jefferson Elementary School. During her tenure, she spent six years as an ELA instructional coach—leading district in-service trainings on dyslexia, the science of reading, and literacy programs—and has served on Jefferson’s Building Leadership Team for 12 years. She actively mentors first-year teachers and hosts student teachers from Fort Hays State University. Outside the classroom, DeForest is involved in community initiatives, including 100+ Who Care for Barton County, fundraising for the Family Crisis Center, and supporting the local CASA auction.
DeForest emphasizes active engagement and confidence-building through peer collaboration strategies such as “Think, Pair, Share” and “Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up.”
“Learning is so, so important, but being valued for who we are, being seen and feeling seen, and having the opportunity to shape a child’s confidence are the biggest things I want for kids,” said DeForest. “My teaching philosophy is simply to show up for our kids the way we wanted our teachers to show up for us.”
Secondary Nominee: Norbert Muth
Norbert Muth brings 30 years of teaching experience to his role as an eighth-grade ELA teacher at Great Bend Middle School. Over his three-decade career, Muth has served on building leadership and Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) teams, mentored incoming educators through the KSDE Mentoring Program, supervised student teachers, and earned the USD 428 R.O.S.E. Award as well as the KSDE Seal of Literacy. His community involvement includes guiding student-athletes in local service projects and supporting charitable causes such as Kans for Kids and the Golden Belt Humane Society.
Muth bases his instructional approach on the Explicit Learning Model and the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) framework, combining strong classroom structure with meaningful relationship-building.
“An effective teacher must build positive relationships with students and peers, maintain a high level of knowledge in their content area, and create a well-managed classroom,” said Muth. “Teaching and coaching is the only profession I ever considered. The teachers and coaches I had growing up were the people I loved and respected the most, and I only hope that someday the students and athletes I have taught feel as though I made a positive impact on their lives.”
About the Kansas
Teacher of the Year Program
The state program comprises local, regional, and state-level selection processes. Regional selection committees—composed of teachers and administrators—review state applications across Kansas’s four congressional districts. Each committee selects six semifinalists (three elementary and three secondary) before naming two regional finalists (one elementary and one secondary) to advance in the state program. For more information regarding the Kansas Teacher of the Year program or local selection details, please contact Andrea Bauer at andrea.bauer@usd428.net.
About Great Bend
Public Schools - USD 428
The mission of Great Bend Public Schools - USD 428 is to provide a safe and supportive learning environment where all are empowered to become responsible citizens and lifelong learners in an ever-changing world. Learn more at GreatBendSchools.net.
