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2016

Teacher of the Year 2016 - Pam Miller, Grand River Technical School

R-2 Faculty, Staff Applauded
Education Banquet Tops $22,000
02/01/2017 By Catherine Stortz Ripley C-T

The Chillicothe Education Foundation celebrated its annual benefit dinner Wednesday evening at the home of Ed Milbank, foundation board member, and applauded the nominees and recipients of the Teacher of the Year Award and Beacon Award. Early estimates indicate that the event raised more than $22,000.

At the banquet, foundation president Ed Douglas thanked those who attended and gave special recognition to Milbank for having hosted the banquet for the last 20-plus years. An estimated 100 people attended. Douglas also introduced the rest of the foundation board members and thanked them for their service. "I am very appreciative of all you guys do," Douglas told those gathered. "Ed (Milbank) puts it on, but your contributions is what makes it work." Douglas stated that the foundation's purpose is to do projects that the school is unable to do by itself. According to Douglas, the foundation spends approximately $12,500 annually for Teacher of the Year and Beacon awards, and additional funds for teacher mini-grants which are awarded each year. "Because of your generosity, we increased the mini-grants from $4,000 a year to $6,000 a year," Douglas said. The foundation also makes funds available for teacher recruitment bonuses. CEF helped get the 60 acres for the school so they can expand; we recently helped with the road project (the road that will connect U.S. Highway 65 and the new elementary school) along with contributions from other foundations and the city; the Teacher of the Year Award for 25 years; and the Beacon Award program seven years ago." The fundraising for construction of the new Jerry Litton Memorial Stadium was headed by the education foundation, and the land the stadium sits on was also partly purchased by the foundation in 2003. Douglas noted that the foundation just signed paperwork transferring the land north of the high school to the school district. The foundation also has other ideas for partnering with the school district on more projects. He stated that the foundation hopes to endow the Teacher of the Year and Beacon Award program so that it is self-supporting.

Following his remarks Wednesday evening, Douglas introduced the school superintendent and building administrators, as well as the nominees and recipients of this year's Chillicothe R-2 Teacher of the Year and Beacon Award. Earlier in the school year, each school nominated one staff member for the Beacon Award. Those nominees were Sara Eller (Garrison), Marcella Murry (Dewey), Melody Munson (Field), Kathie Midgyett (Central), Cheri Waggoner (CMS), Pat Ewing (CHS), Mandy James (GRTS). This year's award winner was Kathy Midgyett. Midgyett has worked for the R-2 school district for 11 years and has been in her current position as Central School secretary for the last seven years. As the Beacon Award recipient, Midgyett received a $300 prize. All Beacon Award nominees received $100 apiece.

Nominees staff group picture

Nominees from left: Beacon of the Year Kathy Midgyett (Central School), Melody Munson (Field School), Sara Eller (Garrison School), Cheri Waggoner (Chillicothe Middle School). The staff members are shown here with Chillicothe School Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes (back left) and Ed Douglas (back right) president of the Chillicothe Education Foundation. Beacon Award nominees Marcella Murray (Dewey School), Pat Ewing (Chilicothe High School) and Mandy James (Grand River Technical School) were unable to attend the event. C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

Pam Miller, vocational child care instructor at Grand River Technical School, was named this year's Chillicothe R-2 Teacher of the Year. Miller has been teaching for 32 years, having served 22 years with GRTS. As Teacher of the Year, Miller was awarded a $1,500 prize and a $500 classroom prize. Each Teacher of the Year nominee received $1,000 and a $500 classroom prize for their nomination. Other Teacher of the Year nominees recognized at the banquet were: Ellen Hansen (kindergarten teacher at Dewey School), Katie Maples (third grade teacher at Field School), Donna Good (fifth grade teacher at Central School), Shaylee Rademacher (science teacher at Chillicothe Middle School), Lisa Rule (English, drama, speech and yearbook teacher at Chillicothe High School), and Diana Holcer (English language arts teacher at the Transition to Life Center).

teacher group picture

Front Row, from left: Teacher of the Year Pam Miller (Grand River Technical School), and nominees from each school: Ellen Hansen (Dewey School), Katie Maples (Field School), Donna Good (Central School), Shaylee Rademacher (Chillicothe Middle School), Diana Holcer (Garrison School), and Lisa Rule (Chillicothe High School). The teachers are shown here with Chillicothe R-2 Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes (back left), and Ed Douglas (back right), president of the Chillicothe Education Foundation. C-T Photo / Catherine Stortz Ripley

The Chillicothe Education Foundation Board consists of Ed Douglas, president; Roger Barnes, Ed Milbank, Julie McCoy, Mike Turner (treasurer), Inger Young, Lindy Chapman, Robin Westphal, Mary Staton, Trent Miller, Bruce Brodmerkle.

The Teacher of the Year Award began in the 1992-93 school year, and the Beacon of the Year Award was added in 2007. For a complete list of Teachers of the Year, visit our TOTY page.

Teacher of the Year, Beacon Award Winners Announced

12/06/16 CT
C-T Photo / Jaime Saucedo

Ed Douglas of the Education Foundation, Teacher of the Year award winner Pam Miller, Beacon Award winner Kathy Midgyett, and R2 District Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes.

Pictured left to right: Ed Douglas of the Education Foundation, Teacher of the Year award winner Pam Miller, Beacon Award winner Kathy Midgyett, and R2 District Superintendent Dr. Roger Barnes.

On Friday, December 2, 2016, the R2 School District held their 25th annual Teacher of the Year program at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center. The program also included the Beacon Award, presented to a support staff member, for their efforts in their role at their school. Each school offers a nominee for both the Beacon and Teacher of the Year. Candidates for Teacher of the Year submit an application which is scored and then interviewed by a panel of judges. The winner is selected by a combination of the judges scoring both the written application and the interview. Both panels consist of three superintendents from northwest Missouri schools. Each nominee was introduced with remarks by students and faculty who witness their work ethic and commitment on an daily basis.

Pam Miller of GRTS was awarded a $1500 prize and a $500 class room prize as the 2016 Teacher of the Year award recipient. Other teachers nominated were Diana Holcer - Garrison, Ellen Hansen - Dewey, Katie Maples - Field, Donna Good - Central, Shaylee Redemacher - CMS, and Lisa Rule - CHS. All received a $1000 prize and a $500 class room prize for their nomination.

staff group picture

Central School's Kathy Midgyett was presented the Beacon Award and a $300 prize for her unrelenting efforts as a support staff member. Other nominees were Sara Eller - Garrison, Marcella Murray - Dewey, Melody Munson - Field, Cheri Waggoner - CMS, Pat Ewing - CHS, and Mandy James - GRTS. All received a $100 prize for their nomination.

staff group picture

R-2 Announces Teacher of the Year Nominees

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

This year's nominees for Teacher of the Year and Beacon of the Year awards were recognized during November's Board of Education meeting last night. Candidates for Teacher of the Year are Diana Holcer (Garrison School), Ellen Hansen (Dewey School), Katie Maples (Field School), Donna Good (Central School), Shaylee Rademacher (Middle School), Lisa Rule (High School) and Pam Miller (GRTS). Nominees for the Beacon Award are Sara Eller (Garrison), Marcella Murray (Dewey), Melody Munson (Field), Kathy Midgyett (Central), Cheri Waggoner (CMS), Pat Ewing (CHS) and Mandy James (GRTS). Candidates for Teacher of the Year submit applications which are then scored, and candidates are then interviewed by a panel of judges. The winner is selected by a combination of the judges scoring both the written application and the interview. The Beacon Award is presented to a support staff member and is determined by first being nominated by a letter of recommendation and having that recommendation being scored by a separate panel. Both panels consist of three superintendents from northwest Missouri schools. The Teacher of the Year and Beacon awards presentation will be December 2 at 2 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.