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

• Courtney Dameron, Springfield R-XII – family consumer science, Hillcrest High School
• Melissa Grandel, Fordland R-III – English language arts, Fordland High School
• Zachary Hamby, Ava R-I – English language arts, Ava High School

Central RPDC

• Keri Borchers, Santa Fe R-X – English language arts, Santa Fe High School
• David Honeycutt, Lafayette Co. C-1 – English language arts, Lafayette Co. High School

Heart of Missouri

• Clara Bennion, Camdenton R-III – science, Camdenton High School
• Kevin Lay, Gasconade Co. R-II – physics/physical science, Owensville High School
• Regina Roe, Jefferson City – mathematics, Jefferson City High School

Kansas City RPDC

• Deb Caywood, Liberty 53 – fifth grade, Epic Elementary
• Maria Derner, Harrisonville R-IX – Spanish, Harrisonville Middle School
• Blake Little, Lee’s Summit R-VII – history, Lee’s Summit High School
• Cindy Long, Grandview C-4 – first grade, Martin City Elementary
• Jennifer Spiegel, North Kansas City 74 – English language arts, Antioch Middle School
• Michelle Sumler, Belton 124 – mathematics, Belton High School

Northeast RPDC

• Marie Ebbesmeyer, Paris R-II – second grade, Paris Elementary
• Alison Robinson, Macon Co. R-I – English language arts, Macon High School

Northwest RPDC

• Denise Henggeler, Northeast Nodaway Co. R-V – fourth grade, Northeast Nodaway Elementary
• Mark Korell, St. Joseph – social studies, Robidoux Middle School
• Sandra Wood, Maryville R-II – Spanish, Maryville High School

South Central RPDC

• Dan Brinkmann, Washington – automotive technology, Four Rivers Career Center
• Olga McFadden, Waynesville R-VI – German, Waynesville High School

Southeast RPDC

• Mary Hall, Chaffee R-II – mathematics, Chaffee Junior/Senior High School
• Shannon Porter, Zalma R-V – English language arts, Zalma Elementary

Southwest Center

• Christopher Huhn, Carl Junction R-I – industrial technology/engineering, Carl Junction High School
• Sarah Morris, Bronaugh R-VII – first grade, Bronaugh Elementary

St. Louis

• Kelsie Ballmann, Ft. Zumwalt R-II – all academic areas, social skills, Rock Creek Elementary
• Nicole Boyer, Jefferson Co. R-VII – English language arts, Jefferson High School
• Trimiel C. Cole, Jennings – mathematics, Northview Elementary
• Mark Garascia, Hancock Place – alternative education & credit recovery, Hancock Place High School
• Angela Kelly, Ladue – reading, Ladue Fifth Grade Center
• Sheneé McCoy, Ritenour – fifth grade, Kratz Elementary
• Meghan Menchella, Rockwood R-VI – history, Crestview Middle School
• Jeremiah Simmons, Pattonville R-III – computer science, Pattonville High School
• Rachael Wilcox, Francis Howell R-III – first grade, Independence Elementary
• Michelle Wirick, Valley Park – first grade, Valley Park Elementary

The Regional Teacher of the Year program began in 2016 in an effort to celebrate outstanding teachers from all areas of the state. The 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year will be selected in August.

Shelly Parks, an English language arts teacher from Francis Howell North High School (Francis Howell R-III), is the current Missouri Teacher of the Year.

DESE conducts the Missouri Teacher of the Year program with financial support provided by the Boeing Company and Bayer AG.