Area High School Teachers Recognized by ECC-NEA
High school educators have a profound effect on students in many capacities.
That’s why the East Central College chapter of the National Education Association (NEA) is celebrating the positive influence and dedication of those educators with the Inspirers of Excellence Award.
“We can’t accomplish what we aim to do for our students at ECC without the dedication of our high school colleagues,” said Susan Henderson, ECC-NEA vice-president. “We want to recognize that educational partnership in which we build upon the foundation they put in place.”
Each year, ECC students are asked to nominate a former teacher who has had an impact on their education.
This year, the ECC-NEA is recognizing two groups of recipients, those nominated in 2020 and those nominated in 2021. The educators received a certificate in the mail to recognize their contributions to the education of students.
Appreciation
Henderson said educators who received certificates were appreciative and honored to be recognized by former students.
- “Thank you for recognizing educators’ positive impact on their students. After a tough year like this one, I cannot express how much I appreciate hearing from former students — It makes the difficult times easier to bear when you feel like what you’ve done matters.”
— Dustin Klenke, Eureka High School.
- “Finding this certificate in my mailbox with the student’s note was very uplifting this week. Thank you for supporting our students.”
— Amanda Engelke, Rolla High School
- “Thank you so much for giving students the opportunity to recognize teachers, what a happy surprise to receive this.”
— Ellen Domijan, St. Francis Borgia Regional High School
Listed below are the 2020 Inspirers of Excellence Award recipients, followed by the high school where they teach and the student who nominated them:
2020 Recipients
Joe Obermark, Crawford County R-1, Rachael Hollmann
Chris Scheel, Bourbon High School, Krista Licklider
Lucille Behrendt, Cuba High School, Taylor Rives
Desiree Gentle, Dixon R-1 High School, Delaney Plemmons
Dustin Klenke, Eureka High School, Joseph Eilers
Nikki Locklear, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Venita Kuntz
David Bond, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland
Terrill Story, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland
Zack Rogers, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Kyle Hill,
Michelle Auxier, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Megan Copeland
Melissa Brumagin, Liberty Christian Academy, Brooklyn Hunt
Angie Combs, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Cheyenne Murdie
John Kinkead, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Jaclyn Helton
Ken Wilardson, Maries R-1 Vienna High School, Cheyenne Murdie
Jessica Smith, Mehlville High School, Hannah Baker
Chef Amber Moore, Nicholas Career Center, Andrew Maslen
Kayla Pyle, Owensville High School, Addison White
Shirley Wright, Owensville High School, Tabitha Davis
Adriana Grimm, Pacific High School, Tyler Mueller
Garret Andreasen, Pacific High School, Jarred Snider
Heidi Boyer, Pacific High School, Shelby Flynn
Dr. Keith Peterson, Rolla High School, Courtney Kelley
Dr. Gwendolyn Fleming, Rolla High School; Asst Prin Rolla Middle School, Macie Parsons
Christy Dalton, Rolla Junior High School, Nick Reising
Josh Adams, Saint James High School, Cody Jones
Benjamin Martin, St Clair High School, Adrianna Collins
Benjamin Martin, St Clair High School, Benjamin Schwanitz
Donald Dement, St Clair High School, Sebastian Montowine
Ellen Domijan, St. Francis Borgia High School, Cayden Schall
George McKee, St. Francis Borgia High School, Jacob Brinker
Kayla Eckelkamp, St. Francis Borgia High School, Jackson Broom-Morse
Angela Chamber, Sullivan High School, Patricia Gassner
Sarah Rochleau , Sullivan High School, Madison Rudisill
Sarah Rochleau , Sullivan High School, Sydney Harmon
Brandi Gremaud, Union High School, Brianna Shirley
Danika Novak, Union High School, Hanah Wilbers
Dennis Smith, Union High School, Rachel Dains
Melissa Bestgen, Union High School, Alexander Hanneken
Nathan Hoskins, Union High School, Nathan Hoskins
Tina Kluesner, Union High School, Maddison Hammon
Danika Novak, Union High School, Kaylee Wentz
Jennifer Schwentker, Union High School, Stephanie Sachs
Melissa Bestgen, Union High School, Brianna Cornman
Nathan Hoskins, Union High School, Hunter Triplett
Kerry Holtmeier, Washington High School, Molly Eckelkamp
Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Colton Souders
Rachel Stahl, Washington High School, Jenna Crider
Whitney Crabtree, Windsor High School, Meagan Ross
2021 Recipients
Emily Joseph, Cuba High School, Charley Leonard
Julie Munro, Cuba High School, Kaylah Highley
Cragon McBride, Farmington (Formerly Sullivan), Brandon Royal
Melanie Behrens, Hermann High School, Geena Lee
Patrick Dell, Hermann High School, Geena Lee
Patrick Dell, Hermann Middle and High School, Hannah Gale
Amanda Sikes, Homeschool, Samantha Sikes
Jean Schaible, Homeschool, Anna Schaible
Heather Carlson, Hunter High School, Granite School District, Utah, Vaimoana Moungaafi
Ashley Prawitz, John F. Hodge High School, St. James, Abby Parsons
Lea Hickerson, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla High School, Nick Reising
Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), Julia Unnerstall
Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), Lydia Otten
Kelsey McCroskey, New Haven High School (formerly), McKenzie Overschmidt
Amanda Peery, Newburg High School, Riley Jackson
David Peery, Newburg High School, Riley Jackson
Donna Hinson, Owensville High School, Gasconade County r2, Emily Copeland
Christopher Noce, Pacific High School, Chris Noce
Scott Hauser, Pattonville High School, Haylee Bartel
Amanda Engelke, Rolla High School, Nevaeh Skyles
Christy Green, Rolla High School, Janessa Metzen
Christy Dalton, Rolla Junior High School, Nick Reising
Rebecca Bolen, Rolla Technical Center, Angelica Gore
Charles Knipp, St. Clair High School, Sue Seyer
Sgt. Gregory Cohen, St. Clair High School, Kaitlyn Salsman
Jason Harbour, Sullivan High School, Madeline Marks
Jennifer Blankenship, Sullivan High School, Abbie Zelch
Dianne Smith, Union High School, Tina Makic
Michael Underberg, Union High School, Kaitlyn Salsman
Nathan Hoskins, Union High school, Hunter Triplett
Nicole Griffin, Union High school, Jasmyne Bradley
Teresa Springer, Union High School, Gavin Pickard
Nicole Griffin, Union High School, Alex Kuelker
Colin Flynn, Washington High school, Katherine Harrison
Dane Gough, Washington High School, Jena Spreckelmeyer
Grant Young, Washington High School, Emma Von Rump
Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Autumn Osia
Michelle Turner, Washington High School, Abby Riegel