in Administrator Spotlight

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Beth Houf didn’t set out to be a middle school principal. She loved classroom teaching. But a couple of years of professional development through DESE’s STARR teacher program several years ago provided her with the opportunity to train teachers. Beth realized that teachers benefit from strong administrators and that administrators support teachers’ efforts to do Read More

in Teacher Moments

Karen Pace with class.

If imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery, Karen Pace should be feeling pretty good. Two of her fellow math teachers at Salem High School were her students when they were in school. Karen’s philosophy in the classroom no doubt affected their choice to teach math. “You have to make math interesting so that Read More

in Guest Teacher Column

Lindsay Thompson Teaching

My first and most important job is to encourage learning. This only happens when students see me as a learner. This only occurs when I celebrate their uniqueness and join them in the process of learning. Writing with students can be intimidating, but the vulnerability they watch me have, helps them be open to sharing Read More

in Guest Teacher Column

Cathy Cartier with class

It’s two weeks into a new school year, and everyone is adjusting.   A former student passes my door, stops and, flashing her metal-filled smile, says, “Mrs.  Cartier, how are you? I miss your class already. I’m kind of nervous about AP Lang.”  I take in her pony-tailed red hair, her thin runner’s build complete with Read More

in Administrator Spotlight

Jim Pritchett

During his 25-year career in Missouri schools, Dr. Jim Pritchett has seen a lot of change in education and the world.  Information now travels lightning fast, and students can be bombarded by messages – both positive and not-so-positive – from hundreds of different sources. Pritchett, principal of Rolla High School, said one thing hasn’t changed, Read More

in Teacher Moments

Diana Haynes 4

For generations, people have grown up and joined the family business. In a way, that’s what Diana Haynes did when she chose a career in education. “My dad spent 38 years training teachers at Missouri Western,” says Diana, who is in her 27th year of teaching. “My mom was a school nurse. My grandmother taught Read More

in Guest Teacher Column

Ray Parks

Each child is a gift filled with zest, creativity and untapped resources awaiting discovery. All students are gifted and talented and can learn at high levels when presented with complex stimuli in small bites over time. Teaching is an art that is both rewarding and challenging. An outstanding teacher must be committed and also have Read More

in Teacher Moments

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Shelli Lee, a preschool teacher in the Lafayette County C-1 school district and a finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year in 2009, has some advice for other educators involved in early learning: be flexible enough to go with children’s interests from day to day, but also be intentional in directing their learning. “You can Read More

in Teacher Moments

Amy Mailhot 3

“There’s no place like home.” Dorothy’s mantra in The Wizard of Oz no doubt rings true for Amy Mailhot. Amy teaches at Lakewood Elementary in North Kansas City – the same school she attended as a child. “It’s surreal,” Amy said. “I can see my parents’ house from the school, just like I could when Read More