ST. LOUIS – Seven teachers from the St. Louis region have advanced to the semifinalist stage as nominees for the 2024 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. This program highlights the crucial role that outstanding teachers play in their students’ lives.
On August 18, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced the 17 Regional Teachers of the Year who are competing for the prestigious 2024 Missouri Teacher of the Year award.
The selection process started with 34 regional teachers who represented each of Missouri’s nine Regional Professional Development Center areas. The final candidates will be unveiled on August 31.
Last year, Christina Andrade Melly, an English Language Arts teacher from Ritenour School District’s Ritenour High School, was named the 2023 Missouri Teacher of the Year.
St. Louis area:
Carrie Hill, North Andrew Co. R-VI — Second Grade, North Andrew Elementary
David Choate, Rockwood R-VI — English Language Arts, Lafayette High School
Janet Mees Reinert, Kirkwood R-VII — Library Media, Kirkwood High School
Jeffrey Collier, St. Charles R-VI — Band, Hardin Middle School
Kaylin Bade, Washington School District — Agricultural Sciences, Washington Middle School
Melissa Leibbrandt, Special School District — Special Education, Claymont Elementary
Olivia Howard, Francis Howell R-III — Choir, Francis Howell Middle School
Missouri:
Dustin Orton, Holden R-III — Ancient World History, Holden Middle School
Greg Kester, Potosi R-III — Social Studies, Potosi High School
Heather Helle, Scott City R-1 — Music, Scott City Elementary and Middle School
Kathryn Victoria Inman, Greenville R-II — English Language Arts, Greenville Elementary School
Maria F. Derner, Belton 124 — English Language Development, Belton High School
Matthew Willis, Blue Springs R-IV — Band, Brittany Hill Middle School
Michelle Thompson, Ash Grove R-IV — First Grade, Ash Grove Elementary
Sabria Mustafa El-Kurbu, Moberly School District — High School English, Moberly High School
Sarah Mancusi, Nixa Public Schools — Second Grade, Mathews Elementary
Zachery Ruble, Pleasant Hope R-VI — History, Pleasant Hope Ranch School