Jefferson City News

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has unveiled the 17 semi-finalists for the 2024 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. These educators have been recognized as Regional Teachers of the Year, representing a variety of grade levels and subjects across nearly every region in Missouri.

Among those honored are Carrie Hill from North Andrew Co. R-VI, who teaches second grade at North Andrew Elementary, and David Choate from Rockwood R-VI, an English Language Arts teacher at Lafayette High School. The list also includes Dustin Orton, who teaches Ancient World History at Holden Middle School; Greg Kester from Potosi R-III in Social Studies at Potosi High School; and Heather Helle, a music teacher at Scott City Elementary and Middle School.

Other semi-finalists include Janet Mees Reinert from Kirkwood R-VII for Library Media at Kirkwood High School; Jeffrey Collier teaching band at Hardin Middle School in St. Charles R-VI; Kathryn Victoria Inman for English Language Arts at Greenville Elementary School; Kaylin Bade in Agricultural Sciences at Washington Middle School; Maria F. Derner specializing in English Language Development at Belton High School; Matthew Willis teaching band at Brittany Hill Middle School in Blue Springs R-IV; Melissa Leibbrandt for Special Education at Claymont Elementary with the Special School District.

Additional honorees are Michelle Thompson teaching first grade at Ash Grove Elementary; Olivia Howard leading choir classes at Francis Howell Middle School; Sabria Mustafa El-Kurbu instructing high school English in Moberly High School; Sarah Mancusi teaching second grade at Mathews Elementary within Nixa Public Schools, and Zachery Ruble who teaches history at Pleasant Hope Ranch School.

The selection process commenced with 34 Regional Teachers of the Year chosen to represent each of Missouri’s nine Regional Professional Development Center areas. DESE will announce the finalists on Thursday, August 31.

Christina Andrade Melly was named as the 2023 Missouri Teacher of the Year. She is an English Language Arts teacher from Ritenour High School within the Ritenour School District.