EducationPlus and the St. Louis Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) are proud to announce the St. Louis Regional 2024 Teacher of the Year Honorees. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors the contributions of the classroom teacher as no one has a greater impact on the education of a child than a teacher who creates a learning environment where children flourish and grow. The mission of the Missouri Teacher of the Year program is to honor, promote and celebrate excellence in the teaching profession.
These regional honorees will submit their applications to the Missouri State Teacher of the Year program. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will then select a Missouri Teacher of the Year in October 2024. The Missouri Teacher of the Year will automatically become a candidate for the National Teacher of the Year honor.
The honorees were nominated by their school districts and asked to submit an application. These applications were reviewed and scored by a committee of nine educational professionals. The ten honorees include:
Nicole Renee Ashray, Francis Howel R-III School District
Molly Clince, Rockwood R-VI School District
Courtney Duffy, Bayless School District
Beth Griffin, Fox C-6 School District
Thomas L. Harper, Jr., Mehlville R-IX School District
Jennifer Kist, Fort Zumwalt R-II School District
Hester Menier, Wentzville R-III School District
Staci L. Venatta, Northwest R-I School District
Tim Waters, Lindbergh Schools
LTC (R) Darrell M. Gray, Ferguson Florissant School District
On Monday, August 12, 2024, the honorees will be celebrated at a banquet along with their peers, school administrators and family members. Dr. Chris Kilbride, Ritenour School District Superintendent, will deliver remarks.