One on One: Lauren Palmer

LCPA favorite teacher was recently awarded “Teacher of the Year” of all the KCPS district and with it was given the opportunity to throw first pitch at a Kansas City Royals game. Photo Courtesy: KCPS

Favorite teacher, Lauren Palmer, IB History teacher at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy was awarded “Teacher of the Year” of all the KCPS district. She was given the opportunity to throw the first pitch at a Kansas City Royals game. 

All the attention and hearing “Teacher of the Year” after her name is very unusual for Palmer. 

“It’s attention I’m not used to getting, makes me feel bashful,” she said. “But I worked hard for it so I’m definitely very proud of it.” 

Just the thought of throwing the first pitch at a Royals game would make anyone nervous. “I was so nervous, I expected a stadium full of people, by far the most nerves I’ve felt in a while,” Palmer said. 

Will this be your first time pitching a baseball? Either in general or at a professional game. This would be a first for Palmer and pitching in general for quite some time.

“Might have been my first time pitching a baseball since 4th grade gym class. Me and Mr. Palmer went to the UIA a few times prior and did a few practice throws,” Palmer said. 

Palmer has taught for 15 years and this her sixth year at Lincoln. Her favorite part of teaching of course involves the students. 

“My favorite part is kids are so passionate about me being able to help them with what they love, “ Palmer said. “Like when planning an event and they get to carry it out.” 

In those many years she recalls a favorite memory. 

“My first year doing prom over at my first school South West. It was the last graduating class because the school was closing down,” Palmer said. “I had the students since they were in sixth grade. Being able to plan such an event was so memorable for the seniors, it was like a big bow on top of everything.” 

Her favorite part about this accomplishment was not the opportunity to throw the first pitch yet her students’ comments of her receiving the award. 

“It’s been so special to see the student’s reaction to it. Like, maybe I do deserve it, you know? Nobody’s been like ‘You? Got the award?’,” Palmer said. 

Palmer described why she thinks she received the award. 

“I hope it’s because I focus on inside academic stuff and outside, it all really matters, that it’s not about focusing on a kid not just as a student but as a person,” she said. 

If Palmer wasn’t teaching she just might have appeared on a voting ballot. 

“I originally wanted to go into politics, I went into teaching to get some experience in the world but then got hooked so I stayed with it,” Palmer said.