HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio and community partners are excited to bring back the Classroom Hero Award, presented by Heartland Credit Union, for the 2026-2027 school year.
Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce this month’s Classroom Hero Award recipient as Prairie Hills Middle School Special Education Teacher Kathryn Blake.
Each month, Ad Astra Radio honors a different educator, selected from community nominations to receive the Classroom Hero Award and a “hero” gift basket, courtesy of community partners Heartland Credit Union, Midway Motors of Hutchinson, Stutzman’s Greenhouse, Hutch Putt and The Foto Cowboy.
Mrs. Blake has been teaching at Prairie Hills for two years, but has been teaching a total of about 21 years overall.
“My very first job was at a special school back in Melbourne, Australia, and I was there for three years and I taught high school students there,” Blake said.
Mrs. Blake was born in America, but her parents moved to New Zealand when she was one. Then they moved to Australia when she was seven.
“My husband always wanted to move here [to the U.S.] so we thought we would give it a go,” Blake said.
One reason that she and her husband chose Kansas is because her brother lives nearby and currently works at McPherson College.
“We just thought it would be easier to move somewhere where we knew someone rather than moving to somewhere completely new,” Blake said. “But my brother and his wife spoke very highly of the Buhler district so I was excited to come over.”
What Mrs. Blake loves most about teaching is the ability to watch her students grow. “And being someone who is consistent in their lives because not all students have that,” she added.
Mrs. Blake has always known she wanted to teach Special Education. A big inspiration for her career path is because she has a brother with Down syndrome.
“That was probably where the passion stemmed from,” Blake said. “Just knowing that these guys can be pushed to succeed and they can be successful and I think having a brother with Down syndrome has given me a bit more of an insight and compassion with students who struggle with learning.”
In a nomination submitted to adastraradio.com, Mrs. Blake was described as an exceptional educator who meets every student right where they are.
“She creates a deeply inclusive, patient, and encouraging learning environment where students with diverse needs feel safe to learn and grow,” the nominator added. “Her tireless commitment to her students’ personal and academic milestones makes her a true hero in the Buhler USD 313 district.”
The Classroom Hero Award seeks to highlight the hard work and dedication of those on the front lines of our local schools. Nominations can be submitted at https://www.adastraradio.com/classroomhero/.
Ad Astra Radio has been locally owned and operated since 1986 and is proud to be your hometown radio station.
