Five Jackson teachers receive Educator of the Year awards

JACKSON, MO (KRCU) - Five Jackson teachers got a silver apple Thursday night from the Jackson Chamber of Commerce in the Knights of Columbus Hall as their reward for earning the 2011 Educator of the Year award.

The educators received stress balls in addition to resolutions from area politicians and a cash reward.

The teachers were Becky Loenneke, Andy Helle, Kay Vangilder, Scott Vangilder, who will be retiring this year, and Tina Sides.

Tina Sides has been teaching for 13 years. She was teaching her middle school language arts class when the committee members came in to tell her she had won Educator of the Year.

“I actually thought when they came in that they were parents that were touring our school. I was very surprised. It was overwhelming and humbling,” Sides said.

To select Educator of the Year, the Education Committee reviewed applications submitted by the instructors’ peers and selected ​the best of them.

Rachel Weatherford, KRCU

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