The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the 17 Regional Teachers of the Year who have been selected as semifinalists for the 2022 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. The Teacher of the Year program spotlights the positive impact excellent teachers have on their students.
Melissa Ziegler, Medical Interventions and Biomedical Innovations instructor in the Biomedical Science program at Four Rivers Career Center, is among the semifinalists.
The list of semi-finalists includes teachers from multiple grade levels and subject areas and represents all of the state’s nine Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) areas:
• Eric Blankenship, Troy R-III — Music, Troy Buchanan High School
• Kristen Dowling, St. Louis — Science, Carnahan High School of the Future
• Donna Flood, Clark Co. R-1 — U.S. History, Clark County R-1 High School
• Matthew Good, Lee's Summit R-VII — Debate, Lee's Summit West High School
• Rachel Hensley, Carl Junction Schools — Gifted, Carl Junction Junior High School
• Gina M. Naas, Nevada R-V — School Counselor, Bryan Elementary
• Colin Pettegrew, St. Joseph — Mathematics, Robidoux Middle School
• Bethany Petty, Central R-III — Social Studies, Central High School
• Todd Schnake, Raymore-Peculiar — Theatre and Speech, Raymore-Peculiar High School
• Lauren Schoellhorn, Rockwood R-VI — Social Studies, Eureka High School
• Eleanor Taylor, Pattonville R-III — English Learners, Pattonville High School
• Vanessa Thomson, North Kansas City 74 — Elementary, Chapel Hill Elementary
• Richard White, Hollister R-V — Chemistry, Hollister High School
• Amanda Wyatt, Mehlville R-IX — English Learner Specialist, Forder Elementary
• James Young, Ferguson-Florissant R-II — Musical Theatre, Johnson Wabash Sixth Grade Center
• Dr. Suzy Zerr, Francis Howell R-III — Instructional Coach, Harvest Ridge Elementary
• Melissa Ziegler, Washington — Project Lead the Way - Biomedical Science, Four Rivers Career Center
The Teacher of the Year selection process began with the announcement of 35 Regional Teachers of the Year. Next, DESE will reveal the finalists for the 2022 Missouri Teacher of the Year award on Thursday, September 2.
School District of Washington Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart made the announcement of Ziegler being named a semifinalist during a Four Rivers Career Center staff meeting on Wednesday, August 18.
Ziegler is beginning her 20th year with the School District of Washington and 23rd year overall in education. She was named the School District of Washington and WINGS teacher of the Year in August of 2020.
The selection committee, comprised of teachers, business leaders and education organization leaders, will choose the Missouri Teacher of the Year following interviews with each finalist this fall. The winner and the finalists will be honored at a banquet on October 19 in Jefferson City. The new Missouri Teacher of the Year will serve as the state’s nominee for the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Melissa and her husband, Cary, have been married for 26 years and have three children. Noah, 24, who is a nuclear engineer, and Hannah 22, who is going to school to become a paramedic, both are Washington High School graduates. Zoey, 15, is a sophomore at WHS.
Melissa Ziegler, middle, has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2022 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. Also pictured are Four Rivers Career Center Director Andy Robinson and School District of Washington Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Kephart.