Semifinalists named for 2025 MO Teacher of the Year. Here are the 4 from SW Missouri

Four educators working in the southwest corner of the state have been named semifinalists for the 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. They are from Branson, Laclede County, Neosho and Spokane.

The list was released Monday, the first day of class for many districts.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that 16 regional Teachers of the Year winners will go on to compete for the state's highest teaching honor.

Each year, the Teacher of the Year program spotlights the positive impact top teachers have on their students.

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The Teacher of the Year selection process began with the announcement of 34 Regional Teachers of the Year. Finalists will be named Aug. 29. The winner will be named in October.

Here are the semifinalists, starting with the teachers from southwest Missouri:

• Jennifer Justice Webber, Branson — Kindergarten, Buchanan Elementary
• Melissa Willoughby, Laclede County — Special Education, Joel E. Barber Elementary
• Alison Corl, Neosho — Math, Neosho Junior High
• Shannon Truitt, Spokane — Reading (Library), Highlandville Elementary
• Courtney Duffy, Bayless — Math, Bayless Elementary
• Hester Menier, Wentzville — Art, Stone Creek Elementary
• Hope Hunter, St. James — Librarian, Lucy Wortham James Elementary
• Jennifer Jones, Lee's Summit — English Language Arts, Lee's Summit West High School
• Jennifer Kist, Fort Zumwalt — Special Education, Fort Zumwalt Early Childhood Center
• Jessica Backs, Richmond — Third Grade, Sunrise Elementary
• Kourtney Michael, Grain Valley — English Language Arts, Grain Valley High School
• Latricia Ferguson, North Callaway — Math, Williamsburg Elementary
• Lauren Hurst, Raytown — Spanish, Raytown High School
• Sarah Tillinghast, Eldon R-I — Kindergarten, South Elementary
• Stacy Walker, North Andrew County — Science, North Andrew Elementary
• Tim Waters, Lindbergh — Third Grade, Long Elementary

Greg Kester, a social studies teacher from Potosi High School, is the 2024 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Semifinalists named for 2025 MO Teacher of the Year. Here are the 4 from SW Missouri