Vol. 39, No. 43
November 16, 2005
State Board of Education Honors Teacher of the Year and Finalists
The State Board of Education honored the Missouri Teacher of the Year and five finalists this week in Jefferson City. About 200 relatives, friends and colleagues of the teachers attended the recognition banquet Monday evening (Nov. 14) at the Capitol Plaza Hotel.
State Board of Education President Peter F. Herschend and Commissioner of Education D. Kent King conducted the award presentation.
Girard "Jerry" Thornton Jr., physical education teacher, Warren Elementary School, Francis Howell School District, is Missouri Teacher of the Year for 2005-06. The five finalists are:
- Paula Berner, music teacher, Litzsinger School, Special School District of St. Louis County
- Ross Bullington, eighth-grade science teacher, Washington Middle School, Mehlville School District
- Myra Collins, first-grade teacher, Kirksville Primary School, Kirksville School District
- Brad Peck, history teacher, Truman High School, Independence School District
- Christine Renault, English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, Highland Park Elementary School, Lee’s Summit School District
The Missouri Federation of Teachers, the Missouri National Education Association and the Missouri State Teachers Association sponsored a reception for the teachers and guests prior to the banquet.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education conducts the annual Missouri Teacher of the Year program and awards banquet. Boeing Company of St. Louis provides the primary financial support for this program. The teachers received cash awards and other prizes, including technology donated by SMARTer Kids Foundation, World Wide Technology, Microsoft and QA Technologies.