USD 265 Goddard Public Schools -

Even though the school year just started, the Eisenhower High School (EHS) Tigers have lots to celebrate. Rachelle Blue, English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at EHS, is being honored with the 2024 High School Teacher of Excellence Award by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). The NCTE is devoted to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education. This award recognizes exemplary high school classroom teachers who demonstrate excellent practices and contributions in the classroom. Each recipient will be recognized with a certificate in November during the NCTE Annual Convention. The NCTE and the Kansas Association of Teachers of English (KATE) selected Blue as the 2024 honoree for this award, which was established in 2021.



Blue has been teaching in Goddard Public Schools for over two decades. She has been at EHS since it opened in 2011, and taught at Goddard High School (GHS) before that for seven years. Blue earned a Bachelor’s in Education from Pittsburg State University and a Master’s in Curriculum & Instruction from Wichita State University. Blue is additionally certified in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This accomplished English teacher even wrote the fight song and alma mater for EHS! Blue currently teaches ELA to EHS freshmen and seniors. When asked what she loved most about teaching, Blue responded, “I love the fact that every year, semester, and even every day feels like a fresh start! Yesterday’s mistakes are old news, and today is full of opportunities to thrive.”



Blue’s professional mission states, “I will create a classroom where students feel empowered to become the best version of themselves. I will faithfully support my ELA colleagues and facilitate a department that works together as a team.” Her classroom practices include whole group instruction, small group activities, and individual application time - all of which include both digital and traditional resources for her students. Blue helps her students learn about Latin word parts, literary terms, modern themes in classic literature, and writing to communicate. By journaling and studying grammar best practices regularly, her students gain communication skills and the experience articulating thought with purpose. Blue’s syllabus includes the following, “Students will learn to read for better understanding and improve their vocabulary. Students will learn to write to better communicate and fine-tune common writing errors. Students will learn to communicate better overall and work as a team.”



The nomination application for her award included the following, from EHS Assistant Principal Evan Manning, “Mrs. Blue is the type of teacher I wanted to become, and of whom I would want my own kids to learn from. She makes those around her better, and that is all I could ask for as an administrator, and as a colleague. Mrs. Blue attends as many trainings and conferences as she can to better herself and keep growing to help others. She is as involved as possible in helping building leadership create policy and make changes to help students and teachers succeed. She is willing to take extra time out of her day to help with job interviews, master schedule building, and IEP needs, not because she wants to control what is happening, but because she knows she can make a difference and make others around her better at the decisions we will all have to make.”



Helping Blue celebrate this prestigious award is her family: husband (Steve, EHS Basketball and Track Coach), children (Ella, Ava, and Miles), and the family dog (Teddy). The NCTE website notes that, “You (teachers) do exceptional things in the classroom every single day. NCTE is here to recognize them.” Congratulations to Rachelle Blue, her colleagues at EHS and her family! The mission of Goddard Public Schools is to educate all students for lifelong success, and through the efforts of exemplary educators like Mrs. Blue - that’s a reality each and every day. When reflecting on her 20+ year career in education, Blue commented that, “Even after over twenty years, I still feel like a new teacher some days; things are still hard and they are always changing. But when you work in a department like mine, in a building and district like this one, you share more than just students. You share successes, failures, laughter, tears, and growth. Being part of a team like this is everything.” On behalf of the entire #265Family, thank you!