During the monthly assembly, Wed. Jan, 17. at Wright City High School, Principal Matt Brooks honored the Teacher of the Year nominees. Nominations were offered to various staff members to highlight the deserving teachers of this esteemed award.
After the Support Staff of the Year nominees were announced, Teacher of the Year nominees began. Brooks first called Lisa Dicken, a science teacher. The crowd was in an uproar of excitement. Dicken delightedly shared her motive for her students, “I am always looking for ways to show how science applies to everyone’s lives and where it might take us in the future.” She has served as a teacher at Wright City for two years, but it is her thirty-fourth year in public education. Student’s certainly represented their love for the next nominee, Social Studies Teacher, Student Council Co-Sponor, and Trap Shooting Co-Sponsor, Mallory Bruno-O’Leary. Bruno has taught at Wright City for five years. “I felt loved when I heard all of the student’s cheering and clapping for me.” She said.
The next nominee has also been teaching at Wright City for five years, exceptionally involved, Whitney Schuenemeyer. Schuenemeyer is primarily a health science teacher, but also spends a lot of time as the sponsor of Health Occupation Students of America, Student Council, The Senior Class, and Dungeons & Dragons Club. Happy to be nominated, she is more enthused by her colleagues receiving deserved recognition. “I just try my best, but the other nominees have many deserving qualities.” She proclaimed. Schuenemeyer also mentions many admirable traits about the remaining nominees, including: Tarysha McLaughlin, Lisa Dicken, Mallory Bruno-O’Leary, Julie Hernandez, Taylor Dougan, Kelsey Kemry, Shannon Wells, Jacob Wallace, and Hannah Pohl.
Pohl, the AP Government and Criminal Justice teacher also serves as the Senior Class and Educators Rising sponsor. When asked what it would mean to her to be awarded this recognition, she excitedly responded, “This would be a huge honor for me, especially being so young in education.” Pohl is currently in her third year of teaching at Wright City. “I don't know that I deserve this recognition more than any other teacher.” She humbly responded, “Our teachers are always going above and beyond for students.” Pohl expresses her effort for growth as a teacher, her overall goal is the success of students. “I've helped build Edrising into an official CTSO, but at the end of day it wouldn't be successful without the members efforts.” She says. “The senior class has been amazing to work with as senior and have accomplished great things. I can't claim any of that success. At the end of the day, I'm here to lay down the foundations for students.”
The winner of the well-deserved Teacher of the Year award will be recognized on Feb,15. Good luck to all candidates, and stay tuned for the results in a future edition of the WC Connection.