Eurekan Selected As Teacher Of The Year

Lori Knoblauch, of Eureka, was selected as the 2011 Teacher of the Year for Northwest R-I School District by Superintendent Paul Ziegler. She teaches seventh grade social studies at Northwest Valley in House Springs.

Knoblauch indicated in her application she thought an exceptional teacher is "above everything, knows that teaching is not about themselves or a particular subject. Good teaching has to be about the children. She leaves her ego at the door, and realizes that she has as much to learn from her students as she has to teach them.”

As part of the district award, the Educational Funding Group presented Knoblauch with a $1,000 check.

High Ridge-based Northwest staff members, community members, or administrators were eligible to nominate a teacher for consideration for the new Teacher of the Year program. Individual teachers were nominated at their schools. A building selection committee reviewed all nomination packets and selected one teacher as the building Teacher of the Year.

Ziegler said the selection committees looked for a nominee who possessed: knowledge of and enthusiasm for their discipline; strong teaching skills and the use of teaching strategies that inspire all students to learn; dedication and pride in the teaching profession; continued learning and self-improvement; excellent communication skills; and active roles in their school and community.