Meramec Valley R-III School District is pleased to announce that Jerri Anding, kindergarten teacher at Zitzman Elementary, is the 2024 District Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Anding was informed of this distinction today by MVR-III central office administrators and her building principal.
MVR-III Superintendent Dr. Carrie Schwierjohn said, “I am so proud of and inspired by the remarkable contributions of Mrs. Anding during her 26 years of tenure with the district. Her kindness, passion, and dedication to fostering academic growth in our youngest learners, while nurturing a lifelong love of learning, shines through in all that she does for our district. Mrs. Anding’s unwavering commitment to excellence and building a positive school community serves as an inspiration for all educators.”
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Mrs. Anding holds a Bachelors in Education and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction with teaching certifications in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She taught second grade for 12 years and has been teaching kindergarten for the past 14 years, all at Zitzman Elementary.
Outside of the classroom, one of Anding’s greatest contributions in the MVR-III School District is being a founding board member to the Meramec Valley Bridge Foundation where she serves as the Fundraising Chairperson. Another accomplishment is being a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the Franklin County foster care system. Additionally, Mrs. Anding is an active volunteer within the Pacific High School and Little League Wrestling Programs.
In 2022, Mrs. Anding became a certified yoga instructor and created a YogaKIDS club to improve physical and mental health, reduce stress, and increase motivation and productivity for students. Since introducing YogaKIDS, over 150 students have participated in the program.
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Zitzman principal Mr. Orris said, “Mrs. Anding consistently approaches everything she does with a positive mindset and determination, making her a standout teacher at Zitzman Elementary. She excels as an educator, instilling not only academics but also essential core values like kindness and empathy. Furthermore, Mrs. Anding generously volunteers her time outside of the classroom to support the whole child. I’m so happy for Mrs. Anding; she truly deserves this recognition!”
“Mrs. Anding truly exemplifies our district mission of, Together We Make A Difference In Doing What's Best For Kids!” said Dr. Schwierjohn.
As District Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Anding will now be advanced as a candidate for Missouri’s regional and statewide Teacher of the Year awards. MVR-III congratulates the other district finalists as well: Micki Brehe (Doris Hoffman Early Learning), Amber Gann (Nike), and Mark Mulligan (Riverbend). The District wishes Mrs. Anding success as she advances to the Teacher of the Year regional level.