When USD 416 Superintendent Sharon Zoellner walked into Louisburg High School government teacher Jason Nelson’s class last week unannounced, he was taken aback to say the least.

“I was mortified,” he said, adding he thought she might be there for a student.

But instead, Zoellner was making the rounds with two school board members and assistant superintendent Pam Best to announce this year’s teachers of the year, with Nelson being one of them.

“It’s not every day that the superintendent and board members come in with flowers and a balloon,” he said.

Nelson, along with Rockville Elementary kindergarten teacher Beth Dixon, is being recognized as Louisburg’s teacher of the year, with about 90 altogether from across the state being chosen to advance to the next level. One secondary and one elementary teacher from each school district are chosen, with three from each category being chosen by state committee members as semifinalists.

Nelson is just happy to be part of the educational system, never anticipating any recognition for his work, but rather just enjoying it.

Nelson said he never considered himself the best student when growing up, but was influenced by his own high school government teacher, who in turn inspired him to become a teacher.

“There’s no way I’d be in education if I didn’t have her influence,” he said.

He attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan., after moving to the state from San Diego. His first job wasn’t in education, and he wasn’t satisfied with how it was playing out, so he decided to go back to school to acquire his master’s degree.

“It just wasn’t fulfilling,” he said of his first job, “I didn’t feel like I had an impact the way I wanted to have an impact on society.”

He attended graduate school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and when he got into the classroom himself to teach, he started out as a government teacher for middle and high school students in Pleasanton. He stayed there for four years before going on to West Franklin, where he also taught history.

It’s always been about politics, government and history for Nelson.

“It’s definitely my favorite subject to teach,” he said.

Nelson became interested in history and government long before he started teaching it, referencing the 2000 presidential elections as a turning point for him.

“What I love about government is that it can be totally applicable to the kids,” he said. “If the kids realize how it’s going to affect them when they graduate, I think they’ll be more active participants in government.”

Nelson tries to teach with realistic examples in the classroom, giving his students examples of actual cases occurring in Topeka or in Washington, D.C.

This is Nelson’s third year teaching at LHS, and he said he has appreciated each and every day he’s been here.

“There’s not one day in my three years that I’ve woken up and not wanted to go to work. The kids are absolutely fabulous. My colleagues are phenomenal, the administration is equally phenomenal. You wake up and look forward to work,” he said.