Maplewood Richmond Heights Educator State Finalist for MO Teacher of the Year

Seven finalists have been selected for the 2013-2014 Missouri Teacher of the Year title, and a Maplewood-Richmond Heights teacher is one of them.

That person is Heather Bailey, a first-grade teacher at Maplewood Richmond Heights  Early Childhood Center.

School districts had the opportunity to nominate teachers for the award. The finalists are chosen, based on their written application, by a selection committee the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education appoints.

This year's finalists include:

• James R. Anians, an English teacher at Hoech Middle School, Ritenour School District, St. Louis
• Heather Bailey, a first-grade teacher at Maplewood Richmond Heights Early Childhood Center, Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, Maplewood
• Jamie Manker, a social studies teacher at Rockwood Summit High School, Rockwood School District, Eureka
• Jason Navarro, a social studies teacher at Wheaton High School, Wheaton School District
• Amelia Ruzicka, a middle and high school math teacher at Bayless School District, St. Louis
• Christy Straatmann, a science teacher at the Valley Park Middle School, Valley Park School District
• Jacqueline Wilson, a culinary arts teacher at the Lake Career and Technical School, Camdenton School District