History teacher Heather Millard one of 17 instructors selected for semifinalist honors in state award

By Gregory Orear

General Manager Editor

TROY – A history teacher at the Troy ninth grade center is one step closer to receiving the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced last week that Heather Millard has been selected a semifinalist for the annual teaching award, along with 16 other teachers throughout Missouri.

The Teacher of the Year selection process began with the announcement of 34 Regional Teachers of the Year who represented each of the state’s nine Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC) areas.

Next, DESE will announce the finalists for the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year award on Thursday, Aug. 28.

The finalists and Teacher of the Year recipient will be honored at a banquet Oct. 27.

Other semifinalists include:

Alisha Rinne, Warrensburg R-VI — Maple Grove Elementary, Prekindergarten;

• Aubrey Shortino, Lee’s Summit R-VII —Trailridge Elementary, Kindergarten; 
• Christa Price, Stockton R-I —Stockton R-I Schools, K-12 Gifted; 
• Danielle O’Neil, Springfield Public Schools —Sherwood Elementary, K-5 Physical Education; 
• Paul Stephen Wright, City of St. Charles School District —St. Charles High School – SUCCESS Campus, High School English Language Arts; 
• Jennifer Shook, Verona R-VII —Verona R-VII, Pre-K-6 Special Education; 
• Keaton Denney, Lone Jack C-6 —Lone Jack Middle and High School, Grades 6-12 Choir; 
• Kimberly Sixta, Hickman Mills C-1 —Ruskin High School, Grades 10-12 Social Studies; 
• Matthew Kennedy, Kirksville R-III —Kirksville High School, Social Studies; 
• Melissa Maness, Special School District St. Louis Co. —South Technical High School, Grades 11-12 Culinary Arts; 
• Rachel Stoll, Jefferson C-123 School District —Jefferson C-123 Elementary, Prekindergarten; 
• Robert Wofford, Salem R-80 —Salem High School, Grades 10-12 English Language Arts; 
• Sara Buckley, Potosi R-III —Trojan Intermediate School, Grade 6 English Language Arts; 
• Sarah Kirksey, Ladue School District —Ladue Horton Watkins High School, Journalism; 
• Stephanie Gladbach, Salisbury R-IV —Salisbury High School, Business; 
• Timothy G. Ryan, Ferguson Florissant R-II —McCluer North High School, English Language Arts.

Jennifer Jones, an English teacher at Lee’s Summit West High School in the Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, is the 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year.