Welcome to Fordland, Missouri. A small, quiet community in southwest Missouri with good schools and a good quality of life.

The home page of the City of Fordland’s website provides a succinct description of what visitors will find in this quaint community, located in southern Webster County less than 30 miles east of Springfield.

However, what the depiction fails to note, the education community in the region already knows: Melissa Grandel symbolizes what a top-flight educator truly is; her commitment to her hometown district is unparalleled.

The importance of providing a safe school culture and a positive climate for students and staff alike headlined findings from the Missouri School Safety Task Force, of which members presented a final report to the Missouri State Board of Education on Tuesday.

In an effort to improve teacher recruitment and retention, results from a series of three focus groups were brought before the Missouri State Board of Education.

After receiving more than 240 nominations from citizens, school districts and charter schools throughout the state of Missouri, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced seven finalists for the 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. This year’s finalists represent five different regions throughout the state and highlight the broad range of course options that are helping prepare Missouri students for success beyond graduation.

The seven finalists include:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has released the names of 17 semifinalists for the 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year as it continues to honor and recognize excellence in the classroom. The Teacher of the Year program spotlights the positive impact excellent teachers have on their students. 

The list of semifinalists includes teachers of elementary grades and traditional middle and high school subjects as well as instructors of foreign languages and career and technical education opportunities:

More than 1,000 Missouri students earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy during the 2018-19 school year for demonstrating proficiency in English and any of the world’s languages through standardized assessments and local measures. Being fluent in more than one language may provide a competitive edge for students in their future careers. In addition, students who earn the award may receive 12-18 credit hours at participating Missouri colleges and universities.

An innovative and bipartisan committee designed to create a vision for the future of education in Missouri presented its findings to the State Board of Education on Tuesday. The Commissioner’s Educational Policy Committee (CEPC) outlined six foundational topics and discussed a series of action items the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) can take to make strides towards its stated mission of ensuring that every student graduates ready for success.

The Missouri State Board of Education appointed Karen Pierre to the Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB) for the Normandy Schools Collaborative, serving nearly 3,300 students. Her term will run through June 30, 2020.

Eight Pioneers in Education will be in the spotlight on Monday, July 29, in recognition of their commitment and contributions to public education in Missouri. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will recognize the 2019 Pioneers during the 58^th Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators. The ceremony will take place during a luncheon where more than 500 school district leaders are expected to be in attendance.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced the 2020 Missouri Regional Teachers of the Year this week, with the 35 selected teachers now eligible to be named the 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

Committees comprised of education peers and key stakeholders for each Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) in Missouri selected the 2020 Regional Teachers of the Year.

Agency for Teaching, Leading, and Learning