Meramec Valley R-III School District’s 2022 Teacher of the Year is Stephanie Bray, Reading Specialist at Robertsville Elementary. District superintendent Dr. Carrie Schwierjohn shared, “I am so proud and thankful for all Mrs. Bray does for our students, staff, and the district. Stephanie is an outstanding teacher and a leader on our staff, as she often goes above and beyond to help train and support other staff members in order for all students to achieve success in reading.”
In Bray’s years in MVR-III, she has remained steady with her vision of “kids first.” Bray reports, MVR-III has a great team of people that support the children of the community where she also grew up as a child. Bray said, “I will continue to follow research, trends, and new things to support readers and teachers in the MVR-III School District.”
Mrs. Bray will now be a candidate for Missouri’s regional and statewide Teacher of the Year. When asked about what policy or state-wide initiative for Missouri public schools she would like to see in place for students, Bray said, “I would like to see universal preschool for every child.” Since the start of her career, Bray has been a pioneer in making a difference for kids in the Meramec Valley School District. She was instrumental in helping develop the district’s first Early Childhood Program in 1994, which has since developed into a thriving program at Doris Hoffman Early Learning Center and Nike Elementary. Additionally, Bray has taught college level reading methods courses to preservice teachers for nearly twenty years at East Central College and Missouri Baptist University. Bray said, ''I take my role seriously as I know the novice teachers could someday be teaching my children and grandchildren.”
Please helps us congratulate all MVR-III District Teacher of the Year finalists:
Jamie Harris, First-Grade Teacher, Nike Elementary
Beth Meyers, Reading Specialist, Pacific Intermediate
Dean Penberthy, Jobs for America’s Graduates Teacher, Pacific High School
Emily Puls, Art Teacher, Riverbend Middle School