Dr. Karla Eslinger Commissioner | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Dr. Karla Eslinger Commissioner | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Kimberly Sixta, a Social Studies teacher at Ruskin High School in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District, has been named the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year. The selection was made by a committee composed of peers and education partners from across the state. Sixta is the 57th educator to receive this recognition since the program began in 1957.
Sixta holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Master of Science in Education from Avila University. She also has minors in Anthropology, Theology, and Secondary Education with an emphasis on History. Throughout her career, she has worked at Hickman Mills C-1 school district. At Ruskin High School, she serves as Social Studies Department Chair, ACT Test Coordinator, and sponsor for National Honor Society, Student Council, and Upward Bound.
In her statement about receiving the honor, Sixta said: “My most meaningful accomplishment isn’t tied to a program I created or a lesson I delivered; it’s found in the former students who return to say I helped them believe in themselves. Some tell me I gave them the confidence to speak up. Others say they found their voice in my classroom. That kind of transformation and that spark of self-belief is the core of what we do as educators.”
Commissioner of Education Dr. Karla Eslinger commented on Sixta's recognition: “No one person has a greater impact on the success of our children than the teacher who creates the learning environment. Sixta is a wonderful example of excellence. We are grateful for Sixta and all our educators for making a lasting impact on Missouri students beyond the time in the classroom.”
Sixta is recognized for her immersive simulations and civic-focused instruction, which encourage students to explore history, justice, and public policy through inquiry-based learning.
She will be honored at DESE’s Teacher of the Year recognition event scheduled for Monday, October 27 in Columbia. Other finalists, semi-finalists, and Regional Teachers of the Year will also be recognized at this event. Following this recognition, Sixta will represent Missouri in the National Teacher of the Year program.
The Missouri Teacher of the Year program aims to acknowledge effective teachers who work to provide high-quality education for their students. Jennifer Jones from Lee’s Summit West High School currently holds the title for 2025.
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