Melissa Ziegler, Medical Interventions and Biomedical Innovations instructor in the Biomedical Science program at Four Rivers Career Center, has been named a Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year in the South Central region, as announced by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Ziegler is one of two South Central regional winners and 35 regional winners state-wide who have the opportunity to apply for the Missouri Teacher of the Year award.
“It’s very exciting. This would not happen without the support of the people I work with. I’m very grateful for them and for the opportunity to work in the School District of Washington.” Ziegler said. “This is a reflective process. You have to be able to talk about what you’ve done over your teaching career, how you’ve grown as an educator, and how you work with the students. It just reminds me how grateful I am and all the experiences I’ve had in education.”
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 nomination form for the SDOW and WINGS Teacher of the Year included the following about Ziegler:
“Melissa is an exemplary educator and a consummate professional. In order to teach the courses she does, she has completed rigorous training through Project Lead the Way. The training requires her to be away from home for two weeks while totally immersed in the curriculum she teaches in the program. The students engage at such high levels under her direction. She’s been an elementary teacher at Clearview, an instructional coach/curriculum coordinator, a middle school science teacher, and now works with our students in one of the most rigorous programs in the area of Biomedicine. We are lucky our students have this amazing instructor to inspire their learning experience.”
The Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year award is part of the Missouri Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by DESE. The Missouri Teacher of the Year program recognizes the efforts of effective teachers in providing a quality education to their students. Preparing, developing and supporting effective educators is one of DESE’s primary goals.
Ziegler is eligible to compete for Missouri Teacher of the Year for 2022. 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.
“I love teaching at the Career Center with the labs we do and having students who are passionate about learning,” Ziegler said. “It’s amazing what things can be accomplished in the classroom when you have students who are excited about being there. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to help them reach their potential.”
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, will be a sophomore at WHS.
Melissa Ziegler